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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
This is the first book I read for my Gothic Literature class, and I just have to say, I hated and loved it at the same time. First off, the pacing of this novel is incredibly slow. The first few chapters, maybe even the whole of volume 1, was filled with scenery descriptions and a kickstarter for the main plot. But to be fair, these give the characters, specially Emily, more of a real feel. In volume 2 the plot thickens. Ghosts, castles, and mysteries; what else could you ask for?
As for the characters, Emily might not be the most groundbreaking protagonist, but I definitely cared about her. All the emotions, the dramatic poetry, and over the top reactions made my reading experience amazing. I have to say though, I didn’t take them too seriously, so I kept laughing whenever Emily fainted. Nevertheless, she is a protagonist you can like and care for.
The descriptions are beautifully written, yet they are pretty slow at times. If you like descriptions, I would definitely recommend this novel; yet if you like more action-ey books, maybe this is not the one for you. Either way, it was a great gothic novel.
As for the characters, Emily might not be the most groundbreaking protagonist, but I definitely cared about her. All the emotions, the dramatic poetry, and over the top reactions made my reading experience amazing. I have to say though, I didn’t take them too seriously, so I kept laughing whenever Emily fainted. Nevertheless, she is a protagonist you can like and care for.
The descriptions are beautifully written, yet they are pretty slow at times. If you like descriptions, I would definitely recommend this novel; yet if you like more action-ey books, maybe this is not the one for you. Either way, it was a great gothic novel.
I suppose I can't really fault one of the first books to give raise to the Gothic Romance trend for being too melodramatic but it was that. I suppose I just wasn't prepared for such so passive and her lover to be so ineffectual. I was more impressed by Emily's aunt. She may have been superficial and cruel but she at least stood up to Montoni and didn't give in to his scheming. I enjoyed parts of it but not enough to give it more than three stars.
Just got bored, looked up the synopsis, was not impressed
I misteri di Udolpho, conosciuto anche come gli svenimenti di Emily
Not only is it on the 1,001 Books list but also referenced in The Jane Austen Book Club and I wanted to understand more fully what the references meant and how they applied.
Udolpho is this mysterious castle hidden away from the world and everyone is scared of it, including Emily, who is also intrigued by the nature of this forbidden place. At first I wasn’t sure if I would actually enjoy the story, not one for ghosts in castles, but the more I read the more I wondered what was going on and the stories, plus all the little hints to the past and Emily’s father. By the time the story ended I felt fulfilled by the revelations and not at all let down by the workings of Udolpho and other mysteries within the story.
Udolpho is this mysterious castle hidden away from the world and everyone is scared of it, including Emily, who is also intrigued by the nature of this forbidden place. At first I wasn’t sure if I would actually enjoy the story, not one for ghosts in castles, but the more I read the more I wondered what was going on and the stories, plus all the little hints to the past and Emily’s father. By the time the story ended I felt fulfilled by the revelations and not at all let down by the workings of Udolpho and other mysteries within the story.
Please feel free to add this title to the list of Bad Decisions Alaina Has Made In Life.
For the full review - including the sentence with the most commas Alaina has ever seen - follow the link to That's What She Read.
For the full review - including the sentence with the most commas Alaina has ever seen - follow the link to That's What She Read.
This book left me with much sadness that it felt like a draft of a better novel. And in reality the planning of it seems rushed and slowed at random times. The beat part is about 200 pages long leaving the remaining 500 to be a slog to read. It is still good, the 200 pages are incredible, Udolpho comes to life in many ways even if the castle is constantly shadowed by the characters.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Esta foi uma leitura laboriosa. Estava à espera de mais gótico e menos melancolia, tem bastantes páginas com descrições da paisagem e muitas vezes a mesma, com a protagonista a suspirar pela beleza da paisagem.
Eu compreendo que tenha feito sucesso no séc. XVIII, mas para uma leitora do séc. XXI (euzinha!) acabei por aborrecer-me muitas vezes, a protagonista é demasiado boazinha, suspira demasiado e nem vou falar da quantidade das vezes que ela desmaia (a internet diz que são 10 vezes, mas pareceram-me muito mais). É suposto ser um romance, mas a parte do romance não me comoveu minimamente, muito neutro e aborrecido, queria antes mais gótico, mais arrepios, mas não senti nada disso.
Num livro de mais de 600 páginas que se concentrou mais em melancolia e pureza, acabou por ter todos os mistérios e todo o romance resolvidos nas últimas páginas, o castigo dos vilões foi apressado, acabei o livro como se tivesse vindo de um castigo, li este livro por causa de Northanger Abbey de Jane Austen e posso dizer que Catherine Morland tinha muito mais imaginação que a protagonista, Emily, e também é mais interessante que Emily. Percebo a importância desta obra para os autores que vieram depois, mas não será uma releitura.
Eu compreendo que tenha feito sucesso no séc. XVIII, mas para uma leitora do séc. XXI (euzinha!) acabei por aborrecer-me muitas vezes, a protagonista é demasiado boazinha, suspira demasiado e nem vou falar da quantidade das vezes que ela desmaia (a internet diz que são 10 vezes, mas pareceram-me muito mais). É suposto ser um romance, mas a parte do romance não me comoveu minimamente, muito neutro e aborrecido, queria antes mais gótico, mais arrepios, mas não senti nada disso.
Num livro de mais de 600 páginas que se concentrou mais em melancolia e pureza, acabou por ter todos os mistérios e todo o romance resolvidos nas últimas páginas, o castigo dos vilões foi apressado, acabei o livro como se tivesse vindo de um castigo, li este livro por causa de Northanger Abbey de Jane Austen e posso dizer que Catherine Morland tinha muito mais imaginação que a protagonista, Emily, e também é mais interessante que Emily. Percebo a importância desta obra para os autores que vieram depois, mas não será uma releitura.
adventurous
dark
mysterious