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A review by redbluemoon
The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe
4.0
I picked this book up because of my dissertation for this year, so it was not one of these books in which you enter certain you love everything. It was an unavoidable read for someone studying Gothic novels.
It's true that this kind of book is not fast-paced, not action-packed, that some readers may be bored. But, in fact, there is action: after all, Adeline is going through a lot! And there is always something going on, intertwined with reflections of the characters and poems.
What really surprised me in this book was Adeline. I read everywhere that Gothic heroins such as the ones in Ann Radcliffe's works were unbearable, naive, and super annoying. I didn't think this reading the book; on the contrary, I thought Adeline had some personality, she doesn't let people walk all over her - even if she still is a girl in distress confronted with people wanting to harm her. She still faints a lot, and is really, really, REALLY kind to people who don't deserve her kindness. But I was surprised not to be more annoyed with her. And one prejudice overcome, one!
Concerning Ann Radcliffe's writing, I have to say it is really good; but, as she describes, or when there are not dialogues for a long time, it can become a little lengthy, mostly between two great actions.
This book is not a five-star read because, when I read Gothic fiction, I love to get supernatural elements, and there were none here. We are led to understand that, when there is supposed to be a ghost, it's just Adeline's imagination, or fear. There are dreadful events, and secrets revealed, "haunted" places and themes like [SPOILER] incest [END OF THE SPOILER], but no "magic" we'll say. In fact, "ghosts" are simply results of guilt, the criminal assailled by remorse.
Of course, the end is stereotyped too; [SPOILER] there are some elements from fairy tales, such as the recognition in the end, or the happy (double!) wedding [END OF THE SPOILER].
To conclude, a very good book that gives some essential Gothic elements.
It's true that this kind of book is not fast-paced, not action-packed, that some readers may be bored. But, in fact, there is action: after all, Adeline is going through a lot! And there is always something going on, intertwined with reflections of the characters and poems.
What really surprised me in this book was Adeline. I read everywhere that Gothic heroins such as the ones in Ann Radcliffe's works were unbearable, naive, and super annoying. I didn't think this reading the book; on the contrary, I thought Adeline had some personality, she doesn't let people walk all over her - even if she still is a girl in distress confronted with people wanting to harm her. She still faints a lot, and is really, really, REALLY kind to people who don't deserve her kindness. But I was surprised not to be more annoyed with her. And one prejudice overcome, one!
Concerning Ann Radcliffe's writing, I have to say it is really good; but, as she describes, or when there are not dialogues for a long time, it can become a little lengthy, mostly between two great actions.
This book is not a five-star read because, when I read Gothic fiction, I love to get supernatural elements, and there were none here. We are led to understand that, when there is supposed to be a ghost, it's just Adeline's imagination, or fear. There are dreadful events, and secrets revealed, "haunted" places and themes like [SPOILER] incest [END OF THE SPOILER], but no "magic" we'll say. In fact, "ghosts" are simply results of guilt, the criminal assailled by remorse.
Of course, the end is stereotyped too; [SPOILER] there are some elements from fairy tales, such as the recognition in the end, or the happy (double!) wedding [END OF THE SPOILER].
To conclude, a very good book that gives some essential Gothic elements.