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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
The story of a young-ish man cast out from his obscure religious sect who goes to live a life of isolation in the countryside becomes a miser only to have his life turned around by a series of unexpected events. A novel in the true sense of the word George Eliot gives us the life story of Silas Marner from near-beginning to near-end and executes a complete character arc and any other loose ends are tied up appropriately. Fitting a remarkable amount of information into one-hundred and fifty pages, Eliot does an impressive job of generating dramatic tension almost at will when there's most often none, particularly in a book with a reputation for being boring. Thefts, deaths, drug addicts, all sorts of things appear out of the ether when the banality of country life threatens to go on just a tad too long but never without being believable. In between dramatic scenes Marner and other cast members reflect on human nature in simplistic (being the only way they know how) ways which makes their thought processes very digestible but not easily dismissed.
This brand new book was found in the trash at the end of the school year when all my students cleaned out their lockers. I thought, Hey, free (skinny) book! I also figured that because Ralphie's 3rd grade class in A Christmas Story was reading it, it would be a quick and easy read. WRONG! I got maybe 30 pages in, and found myself reading and re-reading passages because they were boring, convoluted, and my mind kept wandering. Officially giving up!
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
not much happens in this book, though i don’t think thats a bad thing. the first half felt a little too long and the latter a little too short, but all in all a pleasant read, though i don’t think i will revisit it soon (except maybe the audiobook)
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
cute, but almost too cute. I feel like I might have missed the literature-y point behind it. Lots of random philosophy and there's an entire chapter almost totally devoted to small talk...mostly about a cow?
The word that comes to mind when trying to describe Silas Marner is cozy. The atmosphere is wonderful, the main character utterly lovable, the ending happy (though predictable and anticlimactic, like the whole plot really). The faults in the story line didn´t bother me too much in such a short little book however, it is completely enjoyable if not much more.
The term "classic" does not automatically make a book good. I did not enjoy reading Silas Marner during high school, I found it quite dull. I think it is very wise to keep students in touch with the classics, but I believe there are much better options than Silas Marner.
September 2023:
Not only did I (naturally) enjoy this more than when I was 15 and forced to do it for exams, I actually think it's a book I could easily come back to and not get tired of it (especially because it's Eliot's shortest novel, and surprisingly accessible). There is a special place in my heart for lonely misanthropic men in fiction adopting an equally lonely child and rejuvenating and redeeming them both.
Not only did I (naturally) enjoy this more than when I was 15 and forced to do it for exams, I actually think it's a book I could easily come back to and not get tired of it (especially because it's Eliot's shortest novel, and surprisingly accessible). There is a special place in my heart for lonely misanthropic men in fiction adopting an equally lonely child and rejuvenating and redeeming them both.
Unlike the last horrible book about community I read, I think this one did a lot better. Marner removes himself and is removed from his local community, he is still untrusting of others because of his past and the others are weary of this person who they don't know and who holds himself apart. That of course changes when he is robbed, he begins to rely on the community for more help and of course when he ends up adopting an orphan girl that is found one night he is brought even closer to others that want to help him raise her. Marner never really does anything wrong, but had been shunned, a contract to the sons of the rich and well respected Squire Cass. One of the sons is the thief that stole Marner's savings, the other is the father of the mysterious child. Godfrey, the father, continues to deny parentage in order to marry his love only to be turned away by his daughter years later when she is an adult. It is interesting to read a book from this time period that discusses 'goodness' and class and also have a character turn down the life of a lady to continue to live what she deems to be a fuller life in a lower class. It can be difficult to get into and a bit tedious, but a classic story that is worth the read.
I thought I wasn't enjoying it, but then found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading so I think I liked it more than I realized. It's an interesting story with more twists and intrigue than I was expecting.