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A review by anahammack
The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2.0
I feel bad giving this only two stars because I really don't think it was a bad book. I just really, really didn't enjoy it that much. Hawthorne is a great writer, and at times hilarious even by today's standards (whether he intends that or not.) I've LOVED The Scarlet Letter since I read it as a kid, and really enjoy his short fiction. He's an interesting character and an interesting writer because of it.
I'd had this on my shelf for a long time as a piece of longer fiction I wanted to try from him, and I'm glad I finally got to it. However, I just don't think it was for me. It wasn't at all what I expected. The writing was great, accessible and intriguing, and the plot was pretty packed for how short the book is. I was so much craving though exactly what Hawthorne was trying to avoid - a stance on the concept of an isolated utopian community. I had a hard time connecting both with these characters and the setting which is not at all what I would think would happen with a Hawthorne novel. The plot was scandalous in a way, yet predictable. I really only had fun laughing at Coverdale because he's such a ridiculous main character.
This isn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I really wanted something different out of this, and because of that, I think this book sort of failed at what it gave me instead. Maybe if I'd picked it up as soon as I'd heard of it and not had as much time to build up for it, my feelings would be different.
I'd had this on my shelf for a long time as a piece of longer fiction I wanted to try from him, and I'm glad I finally got to it. However, I just don't think it was for me. It wasn't at all what I expected. The writing was great, accessible and intriguing, and the plot was pretty packed for how short the book is. I was so much craving though exactly what Hawthorne was trying to avoid - a stance on the concept of an isolated utopian community. I had a hard time connecting both with these characters and the setting which is not at all what I would think would happen with a Hawthorne novel. The plot was scandalous in a way, yet predictable. I really only had fun laughing at Coverdale because he's such a ridiculous main character.
This isn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I really wanted something different out of this, and because of that, I think this book sort of failed at what it gave me instead. Maybe if I'd picked it up as soon as I'd heard of it and not had as much time to build up for it, my feelings would be different.