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anitolanova's review against another edition
2.0
Sometimes it's okay to just watch the BBC miniseries...
2beenough's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
champers4days's review against another edition
1.0
I am not quite sure how it is that people, and female readers in particular, enjoy this novel. It is criminally depressing, miserably misogynistic and poorly written.
I do not think I am letting the cat out of the bag here by saying that happy endings were pretty much non-existent for Tess. We are talking House of Mirth levels of despair without the clever title and Wharton’s even more clever writing. If you seeking out a blue phase, here is one heck of a depression-inducing book for you!
A primary reason for this book's abject misery was the fact that virtually EVERY man in Tess' life was a jerk! If you want to hate 50% of humanity, read this book. With all of these lazy, abusive, hypocritical and unforgiving men running around, you will have a LOT of man hate to exorcize. Anyone remember Meg Ryan's character's quote about men from French Kiss: 'I never thought I'd be the type to say this, but it's true. All men are bastards.' She undoubtedly had just read this book ;-)
And finally, the writing was atrocious! Tess read like a cautionary, victim-blaming tale, as opposed to say, a romance, historical novel or period piece, with heavy emphasis on a male-centric view of morality. This book was not about Tess unsuccessfully rebuffing the advances of one man and falling in love with another, but about the different ways the men in Tess' life forced her to 'yes' when she had clearly and cogently said 'no.'
I never thought I would be the type to say this, but just writing this review is giving me the male-hating chills!!
I do not think I am letting the cat out of the bag here by saying that happy endings were pretty much non-existent for Tess. We are talking House of Mirth levels of despair without the clever title and Wharton’s even more clever writing. If you seeking out a blue phase, here is one heck of a depression-inducing book for you!
A primary reason for this book's abject misery was the fact that virtually EVERY man in Tess' life was a jerk! If you want to hate 50% of humanity, read this book. With all of these lazy, abusive, hypocritical and unforgiving men running around, you will have a LOT of man hate to exorcize. Anyone remember Meg Ryan's character's quote about men from French Kiss: 'I never thought I'd be the type to say this, but it's true. All men are bastards.' She undoubtedly had just read this book ;-)
And finally, the writing was atrocious! Tess read like a cautionary, victim-blaming tale, as opposed to say, a romance, historical novel or period piece, with heavy emphasis on a male-centric view of morality. This book was not about Tess unsuccessfully rebuffing the advances of one man and falling in love with another, but about the different ways the men in Tess' life forced her to 'yes' when she had clearly and cogently said 'no.'
I never thought I would be the type to say this, but just writing this review is giving me the male-hating chills!!
teraesia's review against another edition
5.0
Uff, to som teda čítala dlho, no musím povedať, že to stálo za to. Vôbec som nečakala takýto koniec, to, ako sa hlavná postava stávala temnejšou... Ako sa jej pomaly krivil úsudok, ako bola zaslepená citmi. A predsa jej v istom zmysle rozumiem, a povedala by som, niekedy až kvitujem (v jej situácii).
Hardy vedel zaťať do živého vtedajšej škrupulóznej viktoriánskej spoločnosti. Budem rada, keď si niekedy prečítam aj niečo z jeho skoršej tvorby.
Hardy vedel zaťať do živého vtedajšej škrupulóznej viktoriánskej spoločnosti. Budem rada, keď si niekedy prečítam aj niečo z jeho skoršej tvorby.
caitlyn_baldwin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing is beautiful and theres definitely artistry in the metaphorical comparisons drawn, but I feel like this novel is just one long lesson in pain lol
emi_dilli's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, emotive descriptions of landscape and the machines that came with the Industrial Revolution. This novel raises tough ethical questions around innocence, vulnerability, poverty, guilt, responsibility, and villainy.
temichka123's review against another edition
5.0
„В живота има неща, които уравновесяват и компенсират неприятностите; и ето че събитието, което я бе превърнало в нещо като предупреждение за общността, сега за мнозина правеше Тес най-интересната личност в селото.“
„Благодарение на натрупания опит […] след дълги скитания откриваме краткия път.“
„А и да си признаем, жените обикновено преодоляват болката от подобни унижения, възвръщат духа си и отново се оглеждат наоколо с любопитство. Убеждението, че човек се надява, докато е жив, не е чак толкова чуждо на „измамените“, както някои любезни теоретици биха искали да ни убедят.“
„Колкото по-умен е един човек, толкова по-интересни хора открива. Простият човек не вижда никаква разлика между хората“
„Сивите полутонове на зората не са като сивите полутонове на здрача, въпреки че може да са еднакво наситени. В утринния сумрак светлината изглежда активна, а тъмнината – пасивна, докато във вечерния здрач тъмнината е активна и нараства, а светлината се оттегля сънливо.“
„Достойнството на човека се крие не в умението му да спазва някакви си жалки условности, а да бъде сред онези, които са истинни, честни, справедливи, чисти, любезни и с добро име, каквато си ти, моя Тес!“
„Жестокостта на измамения честен човек, след като открие истината, нерядко е огромна и сега тя бушуваше в гърдите му.“
„Ако се беше скрила тук при други, по-приятни обстоятелства, щеше да се изплаши. Но сега не се страхуваше от нищо друго, освен от хората.“
„За Тес, както и за всеки друг, познал мъката, красотата се състоеше не в самото нещо, а в онова, което то символизираше.“
„Истинската история на човека зависи не от това какво е направил, а от това какво е искал да направи.“
„Ето как приливите и отливите – ритмични колебания – неумолимо се редуват във всичко под слънцето.“
„Благодарение на натрупания опит […] след дълги скитания откриваме краткия път.“
„А и да си признаем, жените обикновено преодоляват болката от подобни унижения, възвръщат духа си и отново се оглеждат наоколо с любопитство. Убеждението, че човек се надява, докато е жив, не е чак толкова чуждо на „измамените“, както някои любезни теоретици биха искали да ни убедят.“
„Колкото по-умен е един човек, толкова по-интересни хора открива. Простият човек не вижда никаква разлика между хората“
„Сивите полутонове на зората не са като сивите полутонове на здрача, въпреки че може да са еднакво наситени. В утринния сумрак светлината изглежда активна, а тъмнината – пасивна, докато във вечерния здрач тъмнината е активна и нараства, а светлината се оттегля сънливо.“
„Достойнството на човека се крие не в умението му да спазва някакви си жалки условности, а да бъде сред онези, които са истинни, честни, справедливи, чисти, любезни и с добро име, каквато си ти, моя Тес!“
„Жестокостта на измамения честен човек, след като открие истината, нерядко е огромна и сега тя бушуваше в гърдите му.“
„Ако се беше скрила тук при други, по-приятни обстоятелства, щеше да се изплаши. Но сега не се страхуваше от нищо друго, освен от хората.“
„За Тес, както и за всеки друг, познал мъката, красотата се състоеше не в самото нещо, а в онова, което то символизираше.“
„Истинската история на човека зависи не от това какво е направил, а от това какво е искал да направи.“
„Ето как приливите и отливите – ритмични колебания – неумолимо се редуват във всичко под слънцето.“
cjones16's review against another edition
4.0
I can't think of any word to describe it other than "extraordinary".
specialk136's review against another edition
4.0
Some of my favorite novels are the ones with endings that just break your heart. Tess of the D'Urbervilles will break your heart - but it's also gorgeously written, with a moving condemnation of societal double standards we still live with today. It's a super interesting read in the lens of the MeToo era to realize how far - and also not far - we've come in 128+ years since this novel was written.
Here be spoilers.
Tess reminded me a lot of Lily Bart in The House of Mirth (Edith Wharton...another author who writes gorgeous tragedies). Both are poor and must work within the unwritten norms of their societies if they want to better their positions. Both are abandoned by the men they love, only to see those men come to their senses too late. And both are more innocent than those around them chose to believe. But while Lily is observant and cunning and understands perfectly the rules of society she's dealing with, Tess is naive. "How could I be expected to know? I was a child when I left this house four months ago," she cries to her mother. "Why didn't you tell me there was danger? Why didn't you warn me?"
Tess is a victim of self-shaming from the get-go. She believes she's responsible for killing their only horse on the road, when she was only driving the cart because her father was too drunk to do it himself. She is raped and impregnated by her rich "cousin" Alec D'Urberville, who uses the classic playbook of the sexual predator we still see today. Already in a position of power (in this case, in control of her livelihood), he is incessant in his advances, ignoring her denials, and by the end of the book, puts the responsibility on her, telling her it's her fault she's so beguiling he can't help himself. She spends the whole book paying for her "sins," believing herself at fault, the worst part being when the man she truly loves finds out and believes it too. When we see victim-shaming today ("why didn't you fight?" "Look how she was dressed," "Why did she go to that party anyway?") we can see we may not be as evolved as we think.
Hardy has a way of creating a rich atmosphere, setting his scenes beautifully to pull you into his world (who knew milking cows could seem so romantic?). The story moves surprisingly fast. I found I had to keep reading to learn what happens to Tess. If I have minor qualms, some of his descriptions can ramble a bit, and D'Urberville has a bit of a moustache-twirling-villian feel. Overall, though, Hardy has created a lovely, tragic book that will stick with me for a while.
Here be spoilers.
Tess reminded me a lot of Lily Bart in The House of Mirth (Edith Wharton...another author who writes gorgeous tragedies). Both are poor and must work within the unwritten norms of their societies if they want to better their positions. Both are abandoned by the men they love, only to see those men come to their senses too late. And both are more innocent than those around them chose to believe. But while Lily is observant and cunning and understands perfectly the rules of society she's dealing with, Tess is naive. "How could I be expected to know? I was a child when I left this house four months ago," she cries to her mother. "Why didn't you tell me there was danger? Why didn't you warn me?"
Tess is a victim of self-shaming from the get-go. She believes she's responsible for killing their only horse on the road, when she was only driving the cart because her father was too drunk to do it himself. She is raped and impregnated by her rich "cousin" Alec D'Urberville, who uses the classic playbook of the sexual predator we still see today. Already in a position of power (in this case, in control of her livelihood), he is incessant in his advances, ignoring her denials, and by the end of the book, puts the responsibility on her, telling her it's her fault she's so beguiling he can't help himself. She spends the whole book paying for her "sins," believing herself at fault, the worst part being when the man she truly loves finds out and believes it too. When we see victim-shaming today ("why didn't you fight?" "Look how she was dressed," "Why did she go to that party anyway?") we can see we may not be as evolved as we think.
Hardy has a way of creating a rich atmosphere, setting his scenes beautifully to pull you into his world (who knew milking cows could seem so romantic?). The story moves surprisingly fast. I found I had to keep reading to learn what happens to Tess. If I have minor qualms, some of his descriptions can ramble a bit, and D'Urberville has a bit of a moustache-twirling-villian feel. Overall, though, Hardy has created a lovely, tragic book that will stick with me for a while.