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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is some beautiful writing here, especially in the first couple chapters, and I love the abundant fairy tale elements. I also think it is very thoughtfully structured, with many interesting echoes within the text.
BUT. I don't get George Eliot. I hated this type of romanticization of "simplicity" when I was a Christian. I am no longer, and I really, really don't get why an intellectual non-believer would celebrate pious ignorance like this. Gilead (Marilynne Robinson) is Christian and smart. Middlemarch is brilliant and secular. This has some great writing and many lovely layers, but it also displays all the worst impulses of Christian literature. So painful, because it could have been really wonderful.
BUT. I don't get George Eliot. I hated this type of romanticization of "simplicity" when I was a Christian. I am no longer, and I really, really don't get why an intellectual non-believer would celebrate pious ignorance like this. Gilead (Marilynne Robinson) is Christian and smart. Middlemarch is brilliant and secular. This has some great writing and many lovely layers, but it also displays all the worst impulses of Christian literature. So painful, because it could have been really wonderful.
See commnets here: http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/17/some-things-read-this-week-11-17-feb-2007/
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggled with the first half, which was wholly depressing and filled with characters that came off a bit flat. However I'm so glad that I stuck it out because the second half was so beautiful. All about the power of love and the wonder of redemption. Once I understood Silas's pain, I sympathise with his motivations and came to love him. Definitely a book I will read again.