Reviews

Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson, Cathy N. Davidson

mjbrown77's review

4.0

i read this for my english class, and i did not expect to enjoy it NEARLY as much as i did. this book is basically just a huge cautionary tale about straying from “virtue”, indulging in pleasure, and allowing yourself to fall victim to the vices of french women. (just kidding! (but not really)) it is narrated in the third person, but the author loves to pause to talk to the audience directly, which created a sense of humor i did not expect to find in a book from 1791. i highly recommend if you want a quick historical read written by a woman. i know it is criticized by some for being melodramatic, but it did make me cry. maybe i’m just simply an empath. just kidding! (or am i)

elisekath's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

voglesby's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

imtrying_okay's review

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Honestly? This book was a riot fr. I was kinda bogged down with it at first but around 20 pages in or something shit gets juicy. i never thought i'd get this worked up over like a romantic period novel but this was the most drama and intrigue and betrayal i've ever read and y'all will get a kick out of it. Multiple gasps were gusped out loud and my notes while reading were scathing(affectionate). 

there will be lots of word googling but its worth it 

also the shade the author gives in the fourth wall breaks is hilarious 

honestly tho i cant give it 5 stars just cuz structure wise its kinda wack and also cuz its not something i think im gonna re-read but i had a hoot for this first time reading it 

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Content Warnings

major character death

jolly_holly's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jcath's review

3.5

Read for women's lit class. I honestly enjoyed it a lot, I wouldn't recommend to someone to read for fun - but as far as book club or class books I think this one is worth doing all the readings for.

ava15's review

This was assigned for class, and the book wasn’t bad, but I didn’t have time to do all the readings bc I was studying for my physics midterm 😭

bubblesofbayla's review

adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

averyrhyan's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

jackieeejw's review

adventurous dark emotional informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Definitely requires placing in historical context to fully enjoy, but even without that, Charlotte Temple is well written, entertaining and heartfelt in a way that escapes most of the novels of its time period. I personally found the authorial interjections endearing too, although I could see how someone could find that (and the prose itself) grating.