Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman by Thomas Hardy

40 reviews

bubothereader's review against another edition

slow-paced

0.25

• Despised this book—absolutely abhorrent. 
• Literally every bad thing that could happen, did. I find it absolutely unbelievable.
  • Pregnant by rape, abandoned by husband because her thought her unpure, reconnects with rapist, husband comes back after years, she murders the rapist, and then she gets hanged. WTAF
• The writing was beautiful in some places; however, it was MOSTLY arduous to read. Likely because it was originally a serial.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

bruceclarklois's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

this book is really just unending shitty things happening to Tess bc "life sucks 🤪" it's misogynistic bullshit I loathe this book. only finished this shit bc I had to for class

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

caidyn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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? Yes

3.75

I can't believe I remained largely spoiler free for this book. But, I did enjoy it... if that's the right word for it. All in all, I would revisit it again. A solid read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexism, and Murder

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent

pauls's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

hannahr's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

megloveswords12's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder

nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Tess of the d'Urbervilles tells the story of a young woman whose father is an alcoholic farmer with a tendency to pass out drunk in the local pub. When he is told that he is a descendant of a landed family, his Durbyfield name a perversion of what was once d'Urberville, his willingness to work dwindles, and Tess, her mother, and her siblings become desperate to make up for his delusions of grandeur. Tess is sent to purported relations, another family who has claimed the d'Urberville name, and becomes the favorite of a young Alec d'Urberville. Their relationship is fraught and complicated and has tremendous effects on Tess's life. 

When she moves to a dairy farm to work as a milkmaid, she both intimidates and awes the other young women, who admire her beauty and fortitude. The same qualities entrance Angel Clare, a pastor's son who has decided not to pursue a career in the church, rather hoping to buy and run a farm of his own. This ill-fated love story takes one depressing turn after another, and it is difficult to read about the life of Tess, who is subject to countless double standards based on her sexuality and wealth.

This book has stunning descriptions of nature and rural life, and it is meaningful for its early criticism of the expectations of young women and their purity. However, I found it phenomenally boring until the completely surprising ending, which seemed to come out of nowhere, and to be honest, I didn't really buy the whole premise of the Durbyfields descending from the d'Urbervilles. I wasn't convinced by the peasant, and it frustrated me that everyone accepted this truth outright, which really threw off my enjoyment of the entire book. Frankly, it seemed like more of a plot device than anything, serving more to bring Tess and Alec together than to actually impact the character of our heroine, and I found this to be distracting and frustrating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

debyik's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Not an uplifting book, but one that is true to life.

The main character has unpleasant things happen to her and now has to deal with the consequences of someone else's choice for the rest of her life.

This is a classic that teaches and entertains at the same time. There are some fun light-hearted chapters as well as the darker and sadder ones, but overall it showcases determination and survival. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

litbrett's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Murder