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A review by piedwarbler
The Odd Women by George Gissing
4.0
I read this for Victober.
Is Gissing a feminist? I am still unsure. It seems most of the trouble with marriages in this book can be laid at the feet of the women characters.
I struggled with the middle section, which read more like a tract than a novel, but, towards the end, the narrative drive picked up, and I enjoyed the denouement, although it seemed convenient for plotting purposes.
Gissing definitely seems very taken with Ruskin and his writings, and the novel is also rich with allusions to Shakespeare and classical themes. I enjoyed spotting these. The footnotes weren’t specially helpful and often pointed out the obvious.
I know it’s often said that the women characters are very well drawn. I didn’t find them all that convincing. I think Gissing is grappling with modern ideas about marriage and relationships but can’t quite separate himself from blaming his wives for their weaknesses.
Is Gissing a feminist? I am still unsure. It seems most of the trouble with marriages in this book can be laid at the feet of the women characters.
I struggled with the middle section, which read more like a tract than a novel, but, towards the end, the narrative drive picked up, and I enjoyed the denouement, although it seemed convenient for plotting purposes.
Gissing definitely seems very taken with Ruskin and his writings, and the novel is also rich with allusions to Shakespeare and classical themes. I enjoyed spotting these. The footnotes weren’t specially helpful and often pointed out the obvious.
I know it’s often said that the women characters are very well drawn. I didn’t find them all that convincing. I think Gissing is grappling with modern ideas about marriage and relationships but can’t quite separate himself from blaming his wives for their weaknesses.