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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
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
Reviewed for Books and livres
"You must marry money !"
For a Victorian novel written in a time when it was not respectable to talk about money, it's surprisingly all... about money ! And social criticism, noble men and women marrying rich commoners for their money, are birth and wealth worth everything, are love and goodness worth nothing ? Pride versus prejudice ? A noble man falls in love with an illegitimate daughter, nothing new maybe, but this book delighted me.
The more I read Anthony Trollope, the more I adore him. His novels are so witty and funny and the social criticism is exhilaratingly done. I'm certain he was a kind man, because even if he can be ironic and critic, he's mostly human, his characters too. Dr Thorne, who gives his name to the title, is not the main character, but his silence about something he is the only one to know is what the plot is all about.
"Then, indeed, there was war in Barsetshire. If there was on Dr Thorne's cranium one bump more developed than another, it was that of combativeness. Not that the doctor was a bully, or even pugnacious, in the usual sense of the word ; he had no disposition to provoke a fight, no propense love of quarrelling ; but there was that in him which would allow him to yield to no attack."
Ah, the war between doctors ! "Poor" Lady Arabella ! And strong-minded Mary ! And sir Roger ! Miss Dunstable and her lovers ! Honestly, the characters were wonderful. Some also had wonderful names, like "Mrs Rantaway - late Miss Gushing".
"Lady Amelia, (...) whom no de Courcy ever born was more wise, more solemn, more prudent, or more proud. The ponderosity of her qualifications for nobility was sometimes too much even for her mother, and her devotion to the peerage was such that she would certainly have declined a seat in heaven if offered to her without the promise that it should be in the upper house."
"A man raises a woman to his own standard, but a woman must take that of the man she marries."
I will add no more quotes, because I could almost rewrite the book here. I love Trollope's writing, his wonderful sense of humour, I laughed out loud many times and was kept highly entertained throughout the novel. One thing, though : maybe it was a tad too long, some repetitions, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
(It is to be noted that men, in Trollope's novel, cry. Manly, but they do.)
Last year, I watched the mini-series adapted from this novel and had a great time doing so. I will rewatch it soon now that I've read the novel and see if I still like it as much. I should : superb cast, great photography, Julian Fellowes strikes again.
"You must marry money !"
For a Victorian novel written in a time when it was not respectable to talk about money, it's surprisingly all... about money ! And social criticism, noble men and women marrying rich commoners for their money, are birth and wealth worth everything, are love and goodness worth nothing ? Pride versus prejudice ? A noble man falls in love with an illegitimate daughter, nothing new maybe, but this book delighted me.
The more I read Anthony Trollope, the more I adore him. His novels are so witty and funny and the social criticism is exhilaratingly done. I'm certain he was a kind man, because even if he can be ironic and critic, he's mostly human, his characters too. Dr Thorne, who gives his name to the title, is not the main character, but his silence about something he is the only one to know is what the plot is all about.
"Then, indeed, there was war in Barsetshire. If there was on Dr Thorne's cranium one bump more developed than another, it was that of combativeness. Not that the doctor was a bully, or even pugnacious, in the usual sense of the word ; he had no disposition to provoke a fight, no propense love of quarrelling ; but there was that in him which would allow him to yield to no attack."
Ah, the war between doctors ! "Poor" Lady Arabella ! And strong-minded Mary ! And sir Roger ! Miss Dunstable and her lovers ! Honestly, the characters were wonderful. Some also had wonderful names, like "Mrs Rantaway - late Miss Gushing".
"Lady Amelia, (...) whom no de Courcy ever born was more wise, more solemn, more prudent, or more proud. The ponderosity of her qualifications for nobility was sometimes too much even for her mother, and her devotion to the peerage was such that she would certainly have declined a seat in heaven if offered to her without the promise that it should be in the upper house."
"A man raises a woman to his own standard, but a woman must take that of the man she marries."
I will add no more quotes, because I could almost rewrite the book here. I love Trollope's writing, his wonderful sense of humour, I laughed out loud many times and was kept highly entertained throughout the novel. One thing, though : maybe it was a tad too long, some repetitions, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment.
(It is to be noted that men, in Trollope's novel, cry. Manly, but they do.)
Last year, I watched the mini-series adapted from this novel and had a great time doing so. I will rewatch it soon now that I've read the novel and see if I still like it as much. I should : superb cast, great photography, Julian Fellowes strikes again.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An excellent story about class. Lovely characters with great growth. I took one star off because it's longer than it needs to be.