A review by pk1
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

Finally got around to my re-read 5 years later, and my rating is remaining the same. The first half is honestly a little boring. The second half is much more entertaining. While this isn't one of my favorite Hardy's (partly due to the fact that his beautiful nature writing isn't present here, and Sue is a bit annoying in a way I don't find his other heroines), this novel explores Hardy's probably most interesting and dynamic relationship. Hardy includes blatant challenges of social norms against class, education, religion, marriage, and sexual relationships. One of the reasons I love Hardy so much is that he is able and willing to confront Victorian boundaries and conventions in a relatively short page count compared to his peers. It's unfortunate that he received such visceral hate once this was published that he gave up writing novels entirely. Just think what else he could have done for the remaining 30-some years of his life! 

([b:Tess of the D'Urbervilles|32261|Tess of the D'Urbervilles|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633063778l/32261._SY75_.jpg|3331021] and [b:Far From the Madding Crowd|31463|Far From the Madding Crowd|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631259654l/31463._SY75_.jpg|914540] will forever by my favorite works of his, though).