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delimeatz's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
what a delightful little book! read for my victorian womens lit class and it’s the only one i seem to have actually enjoyed thoroughly so far (more reviews coming shortly). found myself relating very much to ann veronica unfortunately but i loved it!!!!
heather_freshparchment's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexism
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Pregnancy, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Infidelity
kansass's review against another edition
4.0
Se podría considerar una novela con fuertes tendencias protofeministas, ya que lo que cuenta es la historia de una chica, Ana Verónica, que comienza a rebelarse contra el fuerte patriarcado de principios del s.XX, y en la época en que empezaron a surgir en el Reino Unidos los primeros movimientos sufragistas.
Ana Verónica no está contenta con su vida, no puede estudiar, no puede disfrutar de su libertad, lo único que se pide de ella es que se esté quietecita en casa y se dedique a ejercer de joven modosita. La chica se rebela ante este patriarcado tan injusto y se va de casa a disfrutar de su libertad y poder estudiar; pero una vez sola e independiente se da cuenta que el mundo sigue perteneciendo a los hombres y que todo son trabas. El caso es que es una novela muy interesante, sobre todo viniendo de quién viene, de H.G. Welles, el padre de algunas de las más populares novelas precursoas de la ciencia ficción.
La verdad es que me ha gustado mucho aunque también entiendo que ese final tan ·"politicamente correcto"y que me pareció un poco inconsecuente con el resto de la novela, tuvo que responder a imperativos comerciales, de lo contrario, quizás ni siquiera se la hubieran publicado. Así y todo, Wells lanza muchas reflexiones en torno a la mujer en aquella época, y solo por eso merece la pena.
Ana Verónica no está contenta con su vida, no puede estudiar, no puede disfrutar de su libertad, lo único que se pide de ella es que se esté quietecita en casa y se dedique a ejercer de joven modosita. La chica se rebela ante este patriarcado tan injusto y se va de casa a disfrutar de su libertad y poder estudiar; pero una vez sola e independiente se da cuenta que el mundo sigue perteneciendo a los hombres y que todo son trabas. El caso es que es una novela muy interesante, sobre todo viniendo de quién viene, de H.G. Welles, el padre de algunas de las más populares novelas precursoas de la ciencia ficción.
La verdad es que me ha gustado mucho aunque también entiendo que ese final tan ·"politicamente correcto"y que me pareció un poco inconsecuente con el resto de la novela, tuvo que responder a imperativos comerciales, de lo contrario, quizás ni siquiera se la hubieran publicado. Así y todo, Wells lanza muchas reflexiones en torno a la mujer en aquella época, y solo por eso merece la pena.
snackygayle's review against another edition
5.0
I had to wait until after I finished this book until I decided to create a review for it, mostly because I was just really excited and surprised! I rated this at a 4.5, not a 5 star, but I’ll briefly explain.
This is a story about Ann Veronica coming of age and being unaccepting of her prospects and situation in society. Ann is disappointed with the constraints pushed on her- and she rebels.
Biggest Pro:
I really loved how Ann felt like a 3 dimensional character! I was a bit apprehensive, as sometimes women by authors who predominantly write sci-fi don’t treat their womanly characters all too well, but I thought Wells treated Ann with respect, understanding, and fairness. Lots of her ideas were fair about the world, and none of the usual negative tropes of women characters written by men were truly present. I felt like I really knew her.
I have only two cons:
1. Most of the complains by Ann were routinely repeated. I guess I can understand, as almost all of her life was shaped by her constraints, but maybe it would have been nice to see Ann think of anything other than her situation. Although, she does address this. It’s just a bit of a slog to read the same woes for 45 pages of a 300 page book. (15%+ of this book being of the same complaints really is not a too far off estimate).
2. While Ann has her adventure, it’s treated as an a d v e n t u r e, not a new life for her. Ann wanted the people in her life to change their minds and come to a truce, and I wished instead her goal was to go on living a new life as she originally had said. I also didn’t appreciate at all that she was fine obeying and doing all of those rules, if it was to “the right man” (the book describes this, and also describes her loving “blind obedience”). I really did not like that element of her character or of the book at all…and she goes right back to the same people she left. However, I really do appreciate her commitment to family despite having complex relationships, wanting to make them happy despite her differing wishes is a common experience many share. As well as wanting to find a person she really loves. Perhaps this complaint is a result of Ann doing the best she can to wish of an improved lifestyle within the constraints of her social period. She wants more, but isn’t willing to do too much in the final end.
—-
Overall, I’m very surprised. I now love H.G. Wells, there aren’t many authors of his time or before that would treat a female character this well. I just wish since he went this far and that this book was a scandal, that he really went all in and didn’t make Ann Veronica just another woman in the time who finishes as a blind, obedient woman. He went so far with giving Ann freedom, come on just let her ending be that far too. But, I now admire H.G. Wells and I’m very interested in reading more of his works.
This is a story about Ann Veronica coming of age and being unaccepting of her prospects and situation in society. Ann is disappointed with the constraints pushed on her- and she rebels.
Biggest Pro:
I really loved how Ann felt like a 3 dimensional character! I was a bit apprehensive, as sometimes women by authors who predominantly write sci-fi don’t treat their womanly characters all too well, but I thought Wells treated Ann with respect, understanding, and fairness. Lots of her ideas were fair about the world, and none of the usual negative tropes of women characters written by men were truly present. I felt like I really knew her.
I have only two cons:
1. Most of the complains by Ann were routinely repeated. I guess I can understand, as almost all of her life was shaped by her constraints, but maybe it would have been nice to see Ann think of anything other than her situation. Although, she does address this. It’s just a bit of a slog to read the same woes for 45 pages of a 300 page book. (15%+ of this book being of the same complaints really is not a too far off estimate).
2. While Ann has her adventure, it’s treated as an a d v e n t u r e, not a new life for her. Ann wanted the people in her life to change their minds and come to a truce, and I wished instead her goal was to go on living a new life as she originally had said. I also didn’t appreciate at all that she was fine obeying and doing all of those rules, if it was to “the right man” (the book describes this, and also describes her loving “blind obedience”). I really did not like that element of her character or of the book at all…and she goes right back to the same people she left. However, I really do appreciate her commitment to family despite having complex relationships, wanting to make them happy despite her differing wishes is a common experience many share. As well as wanting to find a person she really loves. Perhaps this complaint is a result of Ann doing the best she can to wish of an improved lifestyle within the constraints of her social period. She wants more, but isn’t willing to do too much in the final end.
—-
Overall, I’m very surprised. I now love H.G. Wells, there aren’t many authors of his time or before that would treat a female character this well. I just wish since he went this far and that this book was a scandal, that he really went all in and didn’t make Ann Veronica just another woman in the time who finishes as a blind, obedient woman. He went so far with giving Ann freedom, come on just let her ending be that far too. But, I now admire H.G. Wells and I’m very interested in reading more of his works.
georgiamaebe's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
nwhyte's review against another edition
4.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3829332.html
This is a feminist story of liberation from the shackles of convention. Ann Veronica is a young woman who is studying science, much to her parents' disapproval, and makes a break for freedom; she is pursued by various different men, becomes a suffragette (the year is 1909) and eventually settles for one of the chaps. I liked this more than some of the other Wells non-sf novels that I have read; his wit at the expense of Ann Veronica's stuffily conventional family did not seem quite as patronising as in some other cases, and his sympathy for the heroine and her friends was contagious.
This is a feminist story of liberation from the shackles of convention. Ann Veronica is a young woman who is studying science, much to her parents' disapproval, and makes a break for freedom; she is pursued by various different men, becomes a suffragette (the year is 1909) and eventually settles for one of the chaps. I liked this more than some of the other Wells non-sf novels that I have read; his wit at the expense of Ann Veronica's stuffily conventional family did not seem quite as patronising as in some other cases, and his sympathy for the heroine and her friends was contagious.
sashagriffiths's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
For much of the novel this is a highly feminist book however the end is unconvincing and disappointing and ruined the novel for me to be honest
yangyvonne's review against another edition
4.0
A story set in London at the start of the Suffragette movement. Ann Veronica finds herself the unknot owing participant in the action when she leaves home after her father forbids her going to a ball. She quickly gets into trouble and ends-up returning to her home and engaged to a very "proper" man. However, she has tasted freedom and can't return to her old ways. Instead, she runs off with a married man and after 10 years returns to make amends with her aunt and father (of course, she married the scandalous man and he is a rich and famous author).
An interesting idea to say the least. I enjoyed the trouble Ann Veronica got herself into, but less so the ways she always ended-up on her feet. I wish she would have been able to make it on her own - or at least make a better attempt at it. I found myself upset that she would-up rich and happy at the end, especially as she was simply a spoiled brat who caused her family a lot of grief. More suffering seemed to be in order! I did like seedy Ramage - totally believable.
An interesting idea to say the least. I enjoyed the trouble Ann Veronica got herself into, but less so the ways she always ended-up on her feet. I wish she would have been able to make it on her own - or at least make a better attempt at it. I found myself upset that she would-up rich and happy at the end, especially as she was simply a spoiled brat who caused her family a lot of grief. More suffering seemed to be in order! I did like seedy Ramage - totally believable.
jessica90's review against another edition
3.0
Starts out great with a young woman who yearn for freedom and independence and tries to achieve it by leaving her father's house and living on her own in London. I really enjoyed her journey, with its highs and lows. Ann Veronica is a complex character, intelligent and brave but also naive and thoughtless. She's trying to find herself in this time where new ideas of feminism were challenging the old conventions of womanhood, sometimes with violent means. Then comes the forced and cliché HEA which cancels out Ann's character growth and ruins what could have been an amazing, realistic bildungsroman with a side of romance. Disappointed.