A review by lenareadsstuff
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this one for my Literature class and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's layered and full of social commentary, specifically Defoe engages with themes like love/money, societal taboos, class and work, and also womanhood in a lot of ways. While the narrative becomes sort of repetitious after a while (Moll is in need of money, she finds a husband, something is wrong, they part ways, and repeat) and contains many instances of moralizing that were rather preaching (this might be intentional though?), I did like the glimpse into the ways in which a woman like Moll navigated her way through 17th/18th century British society.