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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Five things about Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope. 3/5⭐️s
1. I really did enjoy this third installment in Barchester Chronicles.
2. Yet, I still find Trollope a bit dull overall. This one was pleasant and the storylines familiar- as seen throughout Victorian literature. There was no gut wrenching at the end as I felt with The Warden but also no side splitting laughter as I felt much of the time with Barchester Towers.
3. I suppose I should commend Trollope for his versatility but even through the variety there’s an overarching sky of placidity that just makes his writing feel muted.
4. I am officially halfway through the series now and until this moment there was no guarantee that I’d continue on to the end but I’m committed is.
5. I suppose I’ll just have to accept that my Victorian passion is to be more likely found in Dickens, Collins, or Bronte than within Trollope’s Barset.
1. I really did enjoy this third installment in Barchester Chronicles.
2. Yet, I still find Trollope a bit dull overall. This one was pleasant and the storylines familiar- as seen throughout Victorian literature. There was no gut wrenching at the end as I felt with The Warden but also no side splitting laughter as I felt much of the time with Barchester Towers.
3. I suppose I should commend Trollope for his versatility but even through the variety there’s an overarching sky of placidity that just makes his writing feel muted.
4. I am officially halfway through the series now and until this moment there was no guarantee that I’d continue on to the end but I’m committed is.
5. I suppose I’ll just have to accept that my Victorian passion is to be more likely found in Dickens, Collins, or Bronte than within Trollope’s Barset.
You must marry money!
This was so delightful. I’ve absolutely been charmed to bits by Anthony Trollope’s playful and realistic take on people being weird about money. It also tackles topics like alcoholism, aristocratic hypocrisy and the strength of friendship. Trollope is the most caring of authors, always worrying about the readers comfort and dropping in now and again to reassure.
He’s the kind of guy who can write about catty ladies for days and I’m sure he’d keep everyone hanging on to every word. He’s got to be one of my favorite Victorian authors.
This was so delightful. I’ve absolutely been charmed to bits by Anthony Trollope’s playful and realistic take on people being weird about money. It also tackles topics like alcoholism, aristocratic hypocrisy and the strength of friendship. Trollope is the most caring of authors, always worrying about the readers comfort and dropping in now and again to reassure.
He’s the kind of guy who can write about catty ladies for days and I’m sure he’d keep everyone hanging on to every word. He’s got to be one of my favorite Victorian authors.
While the author insists this book is really about Dr. Thorne (hence the title), essentially it is a love story, between Mary, the doctor’s illegitimate but well raised niece and Frank, the son of the local squire who faces bankruptcy. Frank reminded me a bit of Fred Vincey from Middlemarch who also loved a girl named Mary, although Fred actually did have to work for a living eventually. Frank and Mary's main obstacle, besides the fact that his extended family tell him constantly that he must marry money, is his mother, Lady Arabella, a consummate snob who is determined to keep Mary from Frank at all costs. In their corner, however, is the delightful Miss Dunstable (I wish there had been more of her in the book)and the ever constant Dr. Thorne.
If The Warden and Barchester Towers are satires on C of E politics, Dr. Thorne is a satire on heredity and snobbery. The ending is pretty much telegraphed from the beginning of the book, there is little suspense for such a long novel, but I loved it anyway. In keeping with the two Trollope books I have read previously, it is both very funny and very moral.
If The Warden and Barchester Towers are satires on C of E politics, Dr. Thorne is a satire on heredity and snobbery. The ending is pretty much telegraphed from the beginning of the book, there is little suspense for such a long novel, but I loved it anyway. In keeping with the two Trollope books I have read previously, it is both very funny and very moral.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I highly enjoyed the second in the Barchester Chronicles series (“Barchester Towers”) about ten years ago, and always meant to return there. But I wasn’t sure if the characters would be the same and I wasn’t ready for more of Mrs. Proudie! It turns out, this book isn’t connected very much to the first two Barchester books, except by way of general vicinity. It could easily be read as a standalone novel.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book over 400 pages and I was afraid of getting stuck halfway through this one. However, I have been experiencing somewhat of a revival in my reading life and didn’t have a problem, though it took me longer to get through. Nevermind,– I was just proud of myself for completing it!
Fortunately, Mrs. Proudie stars in only a small cameo appearance. But we meet other interesting characters, and Lady Arabella and her sister Lady de Courcy take the place as “women who rule the roost”.
I was looking forward to some great Trollope quotes, but alas this story wasn’t as peppered with the same wit as BT. This story features a sweet love story between two young characters, but the suspense wasn’t enough to really hold fast my attention. I felt it dragged on a bit too long and I started to become antsy to finish and be on to another book.
Although, I have to say that it makes for wholesome reading, especially in a day and age when couples often prove fickle, take no thought for each other’s future or well being, and do not prove constant. I think readers will find a wonderful role model for young ladies (or anybody) in the character of Miss Mary Thorne. Virtues such as faithfulness, sacrifice, and genuine love never go out of style.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book over 400 pages and I was afraid of getting stuck halfway through this one. However, I have been experiencing somewhat of a revival in my reading life and didn’t have a problem, though it took me longer to get through. Nevermind,– I was just proud of myself for completing it!
Fortunately, Mrs. Proudie stars in only a small cameo appearance. But we meet other interesting characters, and Lady Arabella and her sister Lady de Courcy take the place as “women who rule the roost”.
I was looking forward to some great Trollope quotes, but alas this story wasn’t as peppered with the same wit as BT. This story features a sweet love story between two young characters, but the suspense wasn’t enough to really hold fast my attention. I felt it dragged on a bit too long and I started to become antsy to finish and be on to another book.
Although, I have to say that it makes for wholesome reading, especially in a day and age when couples often prove fickle, take no thought for each other’s future or well being, and do not prove constant. I think readers will find a wonderful role model for young ladies (or anybody) in the character of Miss Mary Thorne. Virtues such as faithfulness, sacrifice, and genuine love never go out of style.
I didn’t quite enjoy this as much as Barchester Towers, but Trollope won me over by the end.
“Frank must marry money!” I couldn’t help but be put in mind of Austen. Trollope’s themes in regard to birth, family, social rank, and, of course, money echo hers. If I have any complaint, it is that the story is much drawn out due to the serialization of Victorian novels. Austen handles those themes with an admirable economy and I tended to get impatient at times with Trollope’s perhaps unnecessarily long narrative. Overall, though, it’s jolly good fun.
“Frank must marry money!” I couldn’t help but be put in mind of Austen. Trollope’s themes in regard to birth, family, social rank, and, of course, money echo hers. If I have any complaint, it is that the story is much drawn out due to the serialization of Victorian novels. Austen handles those themes with an admirable economy and I tended to get impatient at times with Trollope’s perhaps unnecessarily long narrative. Overall, though, it’s jolly good fun.
I’m starting to see why Trollope is considered one of the more under-appreciated Victorian novelists. While some things happen in this book a little too conveniently for the ending to be wrapped up more nicely, Trollope’s writing is strong, precise, and very, very clever.
The depictions of alcoholism were fascinating. I enjoyed Mary and Doctor Thorne quite a lot. They had more modern viewpoints at times which made them seem quite spunky. Lady Arabella, while realistic, was infuriating. Like in other Trollopes I’ve read, I think there was too much repetition of ideas and conversations. Too often did I read “Frank must marry money.” I look forward to continuing with the series, though!
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated