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A review by leekaufman
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really liked Bathsheba--she is smart, bold, and independent. But I found the constant comparisons of her against other women tiring at best and offensive at worse; the "she's not like other girls" vibe negates a lot of the good female character building.
I did like that the men in this book were caricatures (as the women often are in classic lit). All their character traits seemed just slightly exaggerated, in a way that fulfilled the pastoral tropes while still feeling mostly realistic.
The beginning is quite slow, but readable. Unlike other books that are best read in longer sittings, I found that I could pick this up and put it down pretty easily because there are so many small scenes that centre around an event. The last third of the book really picks up and kept my interest.
I did like that the men in this book were caricatures (as the women often are in classic lit). All their character traits seemed just slightly exaggerated, in a way that fulfilled the pastoral tropes while still feeling mostly realistic.
The beginning is quite slow, but readable. Unlike other books that are best read in longer sittings, I found that I could pick this up and put it down pretty easily because there are so many small scenes that centre around an event. The last third of the book really picks up and kept my interest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism