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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
carolinebl's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This is my least favourite of the Brontë sister novels I have read thus far. I enjoyed the large middle section told in Mrs Graham’s hand, but I could not stand the narrator! Mr Markham is violent, impatient, obsessive, self-centred and a whole manner of unpleasant characteristics that make me question Helen’s taste (though her first husband was certainly worse). Hopefully our narrator proves a better husband than a friend. I could not root for him, so the ending was not a satisfying resolution. Furthermore, it was too easy for Mr Huntingdon’s death to wrap the narrative up so neatly. Disliking a character does not necessitate disliking a novel, but I don’t think that he was supposed to be so unlikeable, especially considering the strong religious messaging throughout. This is a bold story with some great twists, but also a few considerable flaws.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
cvbazley's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
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
atuin's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
I can see why my younger sibling loves this book. A heartrendingly relevant story on domestic abuse, double standards, and alcoholism. I'll admit the "novel within a novel" section did throw me, but it does say a lot on how taboo a topic domestic abuse is then and now. It felt astounding how many issues feel familiar to the modern day despite being written in the 19th century. Furthermore, I thought the characterization was on point, where each person felt unique in their vices, virtues, and voice. The writing was also great, with some later portions in particular really standing out in how memorable and interesting they were. I hope more people give this book a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
megnut's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Animal cruelty
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
emgrace4's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Alcoholism