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A review by blastoise
The Chase by Louisa May Alcott
4.0
4.25. Picked this up at a local book fair for a dollar, if I knew how much I'd enjoy it I would have gladly paid 20.
The author caught my eye and as I hadn't heard of this title I was intrigued. My interest spiked even further upon discovering that the book was so sensational it wasn't published in her lifetime, and instead over 100 years later in 1995.
A dark, thrilling, obsessive romance, The Chase delivers vibrant characters, intense emotional struggles, scandalous intrigue, and a solid critique of gender roles at the time.
I couldn't put this book down, I keenly felt for our heroine throughout, felt her frustration, her desparation and her suffering at the hands of the abusive, seductive, and deceptive antagonist. It's hard to believe this is from the write of Little Women, which is much tamer and domestic in contrast.
This book has romance, murder, adventure, scandal, cross-dressing, suicide, gender and class analysis, and is set all over Europe. It is exciting, heart-breaking, emotional, and a must-read for any period-drama enthusiast.
The main fault I highlight is the ending felt quite rushed, I was hoping the last scene was a ruse. I understand why she ended the story that way but can't help being disappointed, hoping for some kind of triumph and solace for our heroine after all she went through. I am not religious so I don't take comfort in the whole bittersweet love in heaven take. But at the same time I wonder if the ending the reader can't help but hope for, would have cheapened the novel somewhat.
I would love to see this faithfully adapted in film with the same respect Little Women has gotten.
The author caught my eye and as I hadn't heard of this title I was intrigued. My interest spiked even further upon discovering that the book was so sensational it wasn't published in her lifetime, and instead over 100 years later in 1995.
A dark, thrilling, obsessive romance, The Chase delivers vibrant characters, intense emotional struggles, scandalous intrigue, and a solid critique of gender roles at the time.
I couldn't put this book down, I keenly felt for our heroine throughout, felt her frustration, her desparation and her suffering at the hands of the abusive, seductive, and deceptive antagonist. It's hard to believe this is from the write of Little Women, which is much tamer and domestic in contrast.
This book has romance, murder, adventure, scandal, cross-dressing, suicide, gender and class analysis, and is set all over Europe. It is exciting, heart-breaking, emotional, and a must-read for any period-drama enthusiast.
The main fault I highlight is the ending felt quite rushed, I was hoping the last scene was a ruse. I understand why she ended the story that way but can't help being disappointed, hoping for some kind of triumph and solace for our heroine after all she went through. I am not religious so I don't take comfort in the whole bittersweet love in heaven take. But at the same time I wonder if the ending the reader can't help but hope for, would have cheapened the novel somewhat.
I would love to see this faithfully adapted in film with the same respect Little Women has gotten.