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eagoldberg's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Anne Brontë is slept on holy shit
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
lyricallit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
First exposure to Anne Brontë! I could see a re-read of this one, especially since I think my audiobook version might have suffered from the removal of passages that have long plagued poor Anne's work. I listened to this one via Audrey, which includes a helpful guide.
Here I will include my final post from the readalong, hidden for spoilers: I enjoyed the read and I'm so glad I had this readalong to encourage some analysis of the text. I am perhaps not as severe upon Gilbert as others have been. Maybe I should be, and I do think it is a text I could re-read, and I look forward to how my opinions of him may shift. What I saw in the post-diary section of the novel was some growth for our young gentleman farmer. He does go and apologize to Frederick -- it may not be a GREAT apology but there was acknowledgement of wrong and remorse and a branch of friendship. He seems 10x more respectful of boundaries - not begging or demanding word from Helen but instead respectfully accepting what Frederick is willing to offer. When he rushes to her aunt's estate and then gets cold feet, I thought of that scene from the beginning when he ignored the signs and encroached on her being alone to paint. In this later scene, he gives in to the impulse to go to her -- but then checks himself! His pause is from being humbled by the fact that she has wealth & position (i.e., power) without him! I see this (perhaps overly dramatic self-pitying) moment of him waiting outside the gate as an acknowledgement by a man - at last - of a woman's boundaries.
Do I wish that this story had been entirely told to us by Helen, like Jane Eyre? 💯 But I can understand why Bronte frames it the way she did -- after all, she needed a male penname to tell her own stories, too! In a patriarchal society, Gilbert is the authorizing ally to lift up Helen's voice, just as "Acton Bell" was Anne's.
Here I will include my final post from the readalong, hidden for spoilers:
Do I wish that this story had been entirely told to us by Helen, like Jane Eyre? 💯 But I can understand why Bronte frames it the way she did -- after all, she needed a male penname to tell her own stories, too! In a patriarchal society, Gilbert is the authorizing ally to lift up Helen's voice, just as "Acton Bell" was Anne's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
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
annaonthepage's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
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
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
mmehdi_auteur's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Death, and Misogyny
Minor: Child abuse and Infidelity
eve81's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Murder