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A review by ashleylm
Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson
3.0
I prefer Pamela (it's finishable) but this does seem to be a better-written book, which makes sense--he invented the novel, in many respects, and once he had a go at it he felt he could do better. He certainly did longer. I liked it while I was reading it, but eventually it felt much like one of those television series you begin to binge, but by Season 3 you find yourself thinking "it's fine, but I'd rather be knitting/gardening/skiing/reading" etc.
But even though I did not finish (I got really, really far) it pains me that probably more people have read "His Shirtless Torso" (hypothetical book #17 in the "Torso" series of torrid romances) than will have tried this one. This has very much to recommend it—whereas that has very little, other than you don't have to look up words since it's written to a grade 3 level. (Sorry, a rant has been building for a few days).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
But even though I did not finish (I got really, really far) it pains me that probably more people have read "His Shirtless Torso" (hypothetical book #17 in the "Torso" series of torrid romances) than will have tried this one. This has very much to recommend it—whereas that has very little, other than you don't have to look up words since it's written to a grade 3 level. (Sorry, a rant has been building for a few days).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!