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stepriot's review against another edition
5.0
I love Anthony Trollope. He has a way of making even bad people sympathetic.
alice_horoshev's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.75
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
Drawn out but well characterised historical saga
3.5 stars
I've read a Trollope recently, and quite enjoyed it. This was just as easy to read, the language is down-to-earth and accessible, but it IS an incredibly long story and felt as though it could have been condensed somewhat. I listened to the audiobook version, which didn't help the running length.
The story concerns a small number of connected families in 19th century upper-class England, including a brought-low Carbury family, the French Augustus Melmotte and his daughter, and her connection to Felix Carbury.
With multiple entanglements and engagements, social climbing), the seeking of fortunes, I felt it was a cross between the Dorian Gray images of the seedier side of the upper classes and the family story of The Forsyte Saga.
There are definite characters to root for, to detest, to pity. There wasn't much in the way of humour or light-heartedness. It's not one I can say I enjoyed, but I did get a good feel for the period and a certain class of person living at the time.
3.5 stars
I've read a Trollope recently, and quite enjoyed it. This was just as easy to read, the language is down-to-earth and accessible, but it IS an incredibly long story and felt as though it could have been condensed somewhat. I listened to the audiobook version, which didn't help the running length.
The story concerns a small number of connected families in 19th century upper-class England, including a brought-low Carbury family, the French Augustus Melmotte and his daughter, and her connection to Felix Carbury.
With multiple entanglements and engagements, social climbing), the seeking of fortunes, I felt it was a cross between the Dorian Gray images of the seedier side of the upper classes and the family story of The Forsyte Saga.
There are definite characters to root for, to detest, to pity. There wasn't much in the way of humour or light-heartedness. It's not one I can say I enjoyed, but I did get a good feel for the period and a certain class of person living at the time.
spoko's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
baker75's review against another edition
5.0
For years I’d ignorantly dismissed Trollope as an inferior Dickens - but how wrong I was. The writing is beautiful and the characters psychologically acute. I shall be reading more of his novels!
gabbylikestoread's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good read! It was very complex and there were many characters to follow but I enjoyed that aspect the most. Each character was given such personality and a back story that kept me engaged the whole way through. There were so many unlikely heroes; people that were pushed aside and were flawed in one way or another but all in all, were heroic in the way that they put aside what they truly wanted for the sake of others happiness!
My only critique was when it came to following who lost to who in the card games, I was a bit lost. I recommend this to anyone who loves a story with a bunch of interconnected characters navigating love, work and family life. It reminded me of Anna Karenina, full of characters to root for and despise.
My only critique was when it came to following who lost to who in the card games, I was a bit lost. I recommend this to anyone who loves a story with a bunch of interconnected characters navigating love, work and family life. It reminded me of Anna Karenina, full of characters to root for and despise.
karinlib's review against another edition
5.0
I rarely give 5 stars to a book, but I have thoroughly enjoyed one, as much as [b:War and Peace|656|War and Peace|Leo Tolstoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413215930s/656.jpg|4912783] or [b:Bleak House|31242|Bleak House|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1280113147s/31242.jpg|2960365].
cemoses's review against another edition
2.0
I found it very slow and could not relate to the main characters. It improved at the end.
jesscat's review against another edition
3.0
Frustrating. Enjoyable as it is to see Melmotte the proto-Trump experience his downfall, it's not enough to sustain a 900+ page novel. I found most of the romances unengaging & the politics not as sharply drawn as in the Barchester books.
I can see Trollope is a more mature & balanced author in this later work but tbh I missed the eccentric obsessions with ecclesiastical minutiae & clerical manoeuvrings found in, say, Barchester Towers.
I can see Trollope is a more mature & balanced author in this later work but tbh I missed the eccentric obsessions with ecclesiastical minutiae & clerical manoeuvrings found in, say, Barchester Towers.
nnjack68's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75