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c_totume's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
pretty random but funny
jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
3.0
This slim novella tells the story of the Rackrent family, their estate, and fortune, as told by their loyal servant, Thady (and an anonymous Editor, that he tells his story to, and who provides a glossary explaining Irish traditions to the English reader). The plot is very slight; it is mostly a chronicle of each generation’s faults and mismanagement of their estate. However, Thady’s colorful, often very understated descriptions of events are charming, and the work as a whole highlights many yet-to-be common trends in the English novel as a whole, and the Gothic in particular. I was expecting a bit more social commentary on the state of Ireland at the time. It’s there, but Edgeworth leaves it to the reader to draw conclusions. A quick read, and worth the small investment of time.
thereaderintherye's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
4.0
A humorous novella of Irish history and some personalities. Interesting note on Turgenev.
mom0629's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cathdm's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bookishwendy's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting as a historical document, but choppy and hard to get into from a reader's perspective. This "satirical" history of the fictional Rackrent estate, as related by an aged family servant, has its moments but left me feeling drained, like I'd just spent hours listening to a shaggy dog joke. My favorite part was the glossary, which either pokes fun at the Irish, or pokes fun at the English poking fun at the Irish--I'm not sure, but the humor came through for me here in a way it didn't in the actual narrative.
flock5229's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
bookmarkhoarder's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0