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peonydancer's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
hjb_128's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Misogyny
mothling's review against another edition
3.5
Torn on this one a little bit because it's really slow and dull at times and the ending kind of makes everything work out very... conveniently? however, I think it is overall very fascinating and audacious for the time period it was written in and I mean, I like it more than Jane Eyre haha
To put it simply, really interesting within the context of when it was written, does not hold up as just an engaging story outside of that context.
To put it simply, really interesting within the context of when it was written, does not hold up as just an engaging story outside of that context.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcoholism
roache's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Infidelity, Addiction, and Alcoholism
hphipps's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
lindseyhall44's review
dark
emotional
slow-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
5.0
“Whatever I am, you will be the same, and therefore, cannot possibly regret it; and whatever that change may be, we know it must be for the better.”
The Tennant of Wildfell Hall is an absolutely breathtaking novel, and one which I never wanted to end. A feminist text way ahead of its time, the story uncovers the dark past of Helen Graham, who lives alone in Wildfell Hall with her son Arthur.
This was one of the first novels to bluntly discus divorce, alcoholism, and other taboo topics, so much to the point that Charlotte Bronte did all in her power to stop its publication. For any fans of the Brontes, or those looking to get into their woks, I would highly recommend. I can’t wait to read Agnes Gray.
The Tennant of Wildfell Hall is an absolutely breathtaking novel, and one which I never wanted to end. A feminist text way ahead of its time, the story uncovers the dark past of Helen Graham, who lives alone in Wildfell Hall with her son Arthur.
This was one of the first novels to bluntly discus divorce, alcoholism, and other taboo topics, so much to the point that Charlotte Bronte did all in her power to stop its publication. For any fans of the Brontes, or those looking to get into their woks, I would highly recommend. I can’t wait to read Agnes Gray.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
nicolesbookreviews's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Terminal illness
saliwali's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Bullying, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
mattiedancer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Writing: 5⭐️/5
Anne Brontë’s writing, much like her sister’s, is thoughtful, intentional, poignant, and full. Reading a Brontë novel feels filling and, even as these novels tend to start slow, they’re always worth the payout. Most of this novel is beautifully written, even stunningly so. No notes.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
It was refreshing to see Gilbert’s immense growth through the story. From starting as a bit of a stuck-up farming boy to a thoughtful and moral man was an entertaining read. Similarly, I love Helen with my whole heart, deeply appreciating her desire to be more than just a wife or mother, while also placing those roles and their corresponding responsibilities on a bit of a pedestal. Her feminism was refreshing and her fight against her husband’s control reminded me a lot of bits and pieces of my own life and how, looking back, you realize how blind you’ve been. I struggled a bit with Lawrence, Helen’s brother, and his slightly inconsistent character, but where he failed to deliver, every other character seemed to step up.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
I’m going to start with my critique, which is that one of our main characters, in a fit of rage, horrendously injures our other character’s brother. Gilbert is quick to apologize once he realizes the connection between the characters, but it felt like a large obstacle that was shoved conveniently out of the way. Otherwise, I think this novel’s plot progressed nicely, though slowly. I enjoyed the switch of perspectives as it gave a fullness to the story and, even though the switch was the majority of the novel, it felt perfectly timed and well-structured.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of the Brontë sisters
- Fans of classic literature
- Those looking for a slow, romance-heavy read that bends toward feminism
Content Warnings?
- Misogyny, sexism, infidelity, emotional abuse, classism, death of a parent, death, injury, terminal illness, pregnancy, bullying
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
I love Helen and Gilbert.
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
aeshred's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
***slight spoilers ahead***
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë has rapidly shot up to join the ranks of my favorite novels of all time, the ones that I would not hesitate to recommend and rave about to anyone who asks. While it is mostly well known and regarded as a feminist novel, I would venture to say that it is even more than that. Barring the difficult language, as it usually is with classics (especially to someone like me who has English as my third language), its writing and the themes it explores throughout the book transcends time and could have been written through the modern lens of someone from the 21st century. It presents an argument on how children are raised, double standards, the independence and rights of women, divorce and domestic violence in different forms. Furthermore, though not as obvious as the others, I believe that it also presents a criticism on Christian morality and belief through Helen Huntingdon’s own personal beliefs (that could be annoying at times with how sanctimonious she can be) and how it has both positively and negatively affected her decisions.
With that said, Anne really does not hold back her punches in writing her characters as all of them are extremely flawed in many ways, even Helen and Gilbert. Especially Helen and Gilbert. They can be uncomfortable at best and extremely unlikeable at worst but these flaws, I believe, give more emphasis to their character development. This applies to other characters as well, wherein sometimes, some of them become even more flawed and worse than they were at the beginning of the novel.
Helen could be, as mentioned, sanctimonious and infuriating in some of her decisions but later on she learned from some of them and she did reap the consequences of these choices but she is also a strong-willed, independent and committed woman. Gilbert can be seriously petty and dramatic and might have anger issues but he admonishes himself for it and openly admits his previous mistakes in judgment. Characters like Arthur Huntingdon may be a rage-inducing asshole but he is realistic and Arthur as thecheating alcoholic husband who emotionally and psychologically abuses his wife exists in real life.
Understandably, these characters can be difficult to read and I admittedly had to put down the book a couple of times due to how enraged or astounded I was at their thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, as I believed that they were written this way intentionally and character behaviors and traits have paralleled each other, or their development later on throughout my reading, I was able to enjoy the book as it is. I ended up loving how these characters and their circumstances were written, flawed and infuriating as they are.
Hence, I think this is such an important and insightful novel that is worth a read and should be revisited, whether we liked it or hated it the first time.
tldr;
- very modern ideas despite its date of writing
- includes themes on child rearing, morality and feminism
- epistolary format, unreliable narrators
- character-driven, flawed characters that either learns and grows or gets even worse
- very slow paced
Recommendation:
Though it is a fairly digestible novel as compared to some of the classics I’ve read (though they are few), I think that this book is best read with a pre-existing knowledge on the circumstances and societal norms at that time. Furthermore, Anne’s author preface is an important read before diving into the novel as it gives us a perspective on the mindset she has as she wrote this and provides a deeper understanding on the complexities of the very flawed and sometimes unlikeable traits of her characters.
It is a book that benefits more when read slowly and with intention and patience, and quite frankly, should I have read this at an earlier time of my life, I might have even disliked it knowing what my preferred reading pace used to be. Perhaps what helped me get through this book and end up liking it as much as I do now is because I came in reading this with the intention to annotate and reread passages of the book, and that might not be for everyone. But if you like to sit on a book for a while, annotate, get pissed off some characters regarding their choices, actions, beliefs and thoughts, and take your sweet sweet time reading (and googling words every now and then if you’re like me who has a hard time with classics), then this might be your cup of tea.
Some of my favorite passages/quotes from the book and its context in my own words:
“Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore, it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.”
- Helen’s aunt speaking facts and predicting her future
“...but if I hate the sins I love the sinner, and would do much for his salvation…”
- Helen in her "i can fix him" era with her toxic crush
"My cup of sweets is not unmingled; it is dashed with a bitterness that I cannot hide from myself, disguise it as I will. I may try to persuade myself that the sweetness overpowers it; I may call it a pleasant aromatic flavour; but say what I will, it is still there, and I cannot but taste it.”
- just Helen being in denial that her husband’s an ass
“...he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation.”
- Helen about Arthur isolating her, toxic asf but the line is pretty
Note:
Might reread in the future after I’ve read all the works of the Brontë sisters.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë has rapidly shot up to join the ranks of my favorite novels of all time, the ones that I would not hesitate to recommend and rave about to anyone who asks. While it is mostly well known and regarded as a feminist novel, I would venture to say that it is even more than that. Barring the difficult language, as it usually is with classics (especially to someone like me who has English as my third language), its writing and the themes it explores throughout the book transcends time and could have been written through the modern lens of someone from the 21st century. It presents an argument on how children are raised, double standards, the independence and rights of women, divorce and domestic violence in different forms. Furthermore, though not as obvious as the others, I believe that it also presents a criticism on Christian morality and belief through Helen Huntingdon’s own personal beliefs (that could be annoying at times with how sanctimonious she can be) and how it has both positively and negatively affected her decisions.
With that said, Anne really does not hold back her punches in writing her characters as all of them are extremely flawed in many ways, even Helen and Gilbert. Especially Helen and Gilbert. They can be uncomfortable at best and extremely unlikeable at worst but these flaws, I believe, give more emphasis to their character development. This applies to other characters as well, wherein sometimes, some of them become even more flawed and worse than they were at the beginning of the novel.
Helen could be, as mentioned, sanctimonious and infuriating in some of her decisions but later on she learned from some of them and she did reap the consequences of these choices but she is also a strong-willed, independent and committed woman. Gilbert can be seriously petty and dramatic and might have anger issues but he admonishes himself for it and openly admits his previous mistakes in judgment. Characters like Arthur Huntingdon may be a rage-inducing asshole but he is realistic and Arthur as the
Understandably, these characters can be difficult to read and I admittedly had to put down the book a couple of times due to how enraged or astounded I was at their thoughts and actions. Nevertheless, as I believed that they were written this way intentionally and character behaviors and traits have paralleled each other, or their development later on throughout my reading, I was able to enjoy the book as it is. I ended up loving how these characters and their circumstances were written, flawed and infuriating as they are.
Hence, I think this is such an important and insightful novel that is worth a read and should be revisited, whether we liked it or hated it the first time.
tldr;
- very modern ideas despite its date of writing
- includes themes on child rearing, morality and feminism
- epistolary format, unreliable narrators
- character-driven, flawed characters that either learns and grows or gets even worse
- very slow paced
Recommendation:
Though it is a fairly digestible novel as compared to some of the classics I’ve read (though they are few), I think that this book is best read with a pre-existing knowledge on the circumstances and societal norms at that time. Furthermore, Anne’s author preface is an important read before diving into the novel as it gives us a perspective on the mindset she has as she wrote this and provides a deeper understanding on the complexities of the very flawed and sometimes unlikeable traits of her characters.
It is a book that benefits more when read slowly and with intention and patience, and quite frankly, should I have read this at an earlier time of my life, I might have even disliked it knowing what my preferred reading pace used to be. Perhaps what helped me get through this book and end up liking it as much as I do now is because I came in reading this with the intention to annotate and reread passages of the book, and that might not be for everyone. But if you like to sit on a book for a while, annotate, get pissed off some characters regarding their choices, actions, beliefs and thoughts, and take your sweet sweet time reading (and googling words every now and then if you’re like me who has a hard time with classics), then this might be your cup of tea.
Some of my favorite passages/quotes from the book and its context in my own words:
“Because, my dear, beauty is that quality which, next to money, is generally the most attractive to the worst kinds of men; and, therefore, it is likely to entail a great deal of trouble on the possessor.”
- Helen’s aunt speaking facts and predicting her future
“...but if I hate the sins I love the sinner, and would do much for his salvation…”
- Helen in her "i can fix him" era with her toxic crush
"My cup of sweets is not unmingled; it is dashed with a bitterness that I cannot hide from myself, disguise it as I will. I may try to persuade myself that the sweetness overpowers it; I may call it a pleasant aromatic flavour; but say what I will, it is still there, and I cannot but taste it.”
- just Helen being in denial that her husband’s an ass
“...he knows he is my sun, but when he chooses to withhold his light, he would have my sky to be all darkness; he cannot bear that I should have a moon to mitigate the deprivation.”
- Helen about Arthur isolating her, toxic asf but the line is pretty
Note:
Might reread in the future after I’ve read all the works of the Brontë sisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Sexism