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cluckingbell 's review for:
Jude the Obscure
by Thomas Hardy
10/25: Go on, Mr. Hardy, tell us how you really feel about marriage. And the English class system. And religion. And equality between the sexes. But especially marriage.
This proved to be one of those books that was a lot more fun to talk and think about than it was to read in the first place—but well worth doing all three. Between my discussion partner's psychological training and my personal fear of cages, we were able to cover a lot of territory and sympathize with even the most questionable of characters, which is easy to do because I think Hardy sympathizes with all of his characters to some extent, or at least draws them fully enough for the reader to recognize the humanity within.
The unlikelihood of my ever rereading Jude cover to cover prevents me from giving it five stars (for now, at least), but there are so many nuggets of Hardy Gold that I will definitely be revisiting passages in the years to come. Hardy writes with a strong agenda, and while I would probably find that irksome in a modern author, there's something about Hardy that always has me going, "This. This. AND this!" as I mark passages I find insightful or damning.
Or just plain entertaining:
10/5: I'll write more later, but really, I don't know what all the fuss is about. This book is not that depressing. I mean, yes, I've been listening to a lot of Morrissey since about the 75% mark, but that can't possibly signify anything.
This proved to be one of those books that was a lot more fun to talk and think about than it was to read in the first place—but well worth doing all three. Between my discussion partner's psychological training and my personal fear of cages, we were able to cover a lot of territory and sympathize with even the most questionable of characters, which is easy to do because I think Hardy sympathizes with all of his characters to some extent, or at least draws them fully enough for the reader to recognize the humanity within.
The unlikelihood of my ever rereading Jude cover to cover prevents me from giving it five stars (for now, at least), but there are so many nuggets of Hardy Gold that I will definitely be revisiting passages in the years to come. Hardy writes with a strong agenda, and while I would probably find that irksome in a modern author, there's something about Hardy that always has me going, "This. This. AND this!" as I mark passages I find insightful or damning.
Or just plain entertaining:
"What must a woman's aversion [to her husband] be when it is stronger than her fear of spiders!" he said bitterly. (p. 219)
10/5: I'll write more later, but really, I don't know what all the fuss is about. This book is not that depressing. I mean, yes, I've been listening to a lot of Morrissey since about the 75% mark, but that can't possibly signify anything.