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irisloehr's review against another edition
5.0
Cried for the last 80 pages. It's an injustice, but I think the tears mean it was well executed.
hello_itsbee's review against another edition
4.0
I have no time to finish so I'm sparknoting the rest. But I liked what I read, and if I really finished, easy four stars.
alanyoung's review against another edition
5.0
a thoroughly enjoyable experience with interesting characters, dramatic themes, rural insights, delightful dialogue and wonderful use of the English language.
I would recommend this book unreservedly.
The one glaring weakness is the handling of Hetty's pregnancy.
In all her ruminations about running away during her betrothal to Adam there is no hint that she is already pregnant.
Also the 'affair' with Arthur seemed to leave no opportunity for her actually getting pregnant.
A naturally slim girl would not be able to hide a term pregnancy!
I would recommend this book unreservedly.
The one glaring weakness is the handling of Hetty's pregnancy.
In all her ruminations about running away during her betrothal to Adam there is no hint that she is already pregnant.
Also the 'affair' with Arthur seemed to leave no opportunity for her actually getting pregnant.
A naturally slim girl would not be able to hide a term pregnancy!
rebeccacider's review against another edition
5.0
So much I could say, but it's probably been said elsewhere by someone less sleepy. Totally compelling and thought-provoking themes of the relationship between intelligence and moral judgment, gender and power, and human nature. Also wonderfully rendered characters, extreme drama, and general awesomeness.
Stylistically, it kept surprising me with the beauty of its prose, particularly its descriptions of the characters' inner lives. I also really, really enjoyed the northern English dialect, which is something, because usually dialect makes readers run away in fear. Generally I thought it did a superb job of portraying a small farm community without falling into pastoral cliche. Certain books entitled Tess of the D'Urbervilles had made me assume that I did not like pastoral novels, but in fact in turns out that I simply do not like annoying pastoral novels.
Eliot's first full-length novel, and one of her best that I've read so far. If I was going to criticize it, I would say that the ending was too tidy, but everything did fit together with a pleasing logic. Also, all Dinah's religious speeches were a bit much, but considering that Eliot was agnostic, I don't think she was trying to be preachy.
Of all her books I think I will look most forward to rereading this one.
Stylistically, it kept surprising me with the beauty of its prose, particularly its descriptions of the characters' inner lives. I also really, really enjoyed the northern English dialect, which is something, because usually dialect makes readers run away in fear. Generally I thought it did a superb job of portraying a small farm community without falling into pastoral cliche. Certain books entitled Tess of the D'Urbervilles had made me assume that I did not like pastoral novels, but in fact in turns out that I simply do not like annoying pastoral novels.
Eliot's first full-length novel, and one of her best that I've read so far. If I was going to criticize it, I would say that the ending was too tidy, but everything did fit together with a pleasing logic. Also, all Dinah's religious speeches were a bit much, but considering that Eliot was agnostic, I don't think she was trying to be preachy.
Of all her books I think I will look most forward to rereading this one.
soloscrivener's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
laviaenrose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
DNF
This book caused my reading slump, and thus I put off reading it for a while. Came back to it today and still wasn’t enjoying it. I just don’t think it’s a story for me. I wasn’t invested in the characters or the plot. I don’t even know what happened in the first 62 pages I read? It might be a book I one day come back to, but for now I don’t really feel like finishing it.
This book caused my reading slump, and thus I put off reading it for a while. Came back to it today and still wasn’t enjoying it. I just don’t think it’s a story for me. I wasn’t invested in the characters or the plot. I don’t even know what happened in the first 62 pages I read? It might be a book I one day come back to, but for now I don’t really feel like finishing it.