Reviews

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

madeleineweng's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

burningupasun's review against another edition

4.0

Setting/World Building: 5/5
Main Character: 4/5
Other Characters: 3/5 (mostly they were background people)
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Triggering/Issues: 4/5 (Cheating, but it didn't trigger me too much, also marital issues.)

AVERAGED TOTAL: 4.3/5, rounded down to 4.

This is definitely my favorite book that I've read so far for my American Novel class. I remember reading this when I was younger, but it didn't speak to me the same way that it did now. I know that's because older!me is also post!divorce me... and post!divorce me really, really understood Edna. So much so that there were times I had to put the book down because it hit too close to home in a discomforting way. All in all I think this book is a fascinating reveal of a woman trapped in a life she was never really meant to, despite the dictates of society; a woman who in the end, finally found a way to take control.

alibi313's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

hiitzii's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

kristenbooks's review against another edition

I like the morals and ideas in the book, and the countless feminist, musical, and artistic quotes littered throughout the book, but I just found it hard to read.

gabiy's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

martina_otr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

vanashke's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely breathtaking. For a time, I truly felt submerged in Edna’s world. 

eleanorryd's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

haydenms15's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

This book was actually insane. Edna's journey was wild, but I loved every minute of it. Kate Chopin's writing style is so elegant, and I loved the symbolism and juxtapositions throughout the entire novel. The bird and ocean symbolism was beautiful, and while the ending was tragic it felt very fitting.