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nal1031's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
laurra_'s review against another edition
3.0
I would like to believe this is the 1800s version of reality tv
kikiwest's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to like this, since it’s a classic. It was painful to get through. Could have (SHOULD have) been a novella instead of a full length novel.
I read pretty quickly, but I had to crawl (through glass) to get to the end. There’s so much filler, it’s nearly incomprehensible the language is so old, and it’s just too sad. I hate the ending, I hate the characters… why does it feel wrong to rate a classic so poorly?
I read pretty quickly, but I had to crawl (through glass) to get to the end. There’s so much filler, it’s nearly incomprehensible the language is so old, and it’s just too sad. I hate the ending, I hate the characters… why does it feel wrong to rate a classic so poorly?
hadeanstars's review against another edition
3.0
I just about liked this book, but it wasn't easy to like. The style is ponderous, involved and there's not much going on. The enjoyment is all in the subtle (albeit dated) observations of interaction between the 4 main characters. Despite its creakiness there is real observational genius in the personality of Chillingworth, warped by his controlling need for revenge and too in Dimmesdale's moral cowardice. Hester and Pearl are the 'strong' characters in this tale, the women are strong, the men weak!
But it's NOT easy to read. Almost nothing happens, and all the 'action' is bound up in a few intense, but understated exchanges between Hester and either Dimmesdale or Chillingworth. Hester makes for a very admirable woman, and she grows into her conviction and power quite magnificently. That's the joy of it. I won't read any more Hawthorne though, one in a lifetime is enough!
But it's NOT easy to read. Almost nothing happens, and all the 'action' is bound up in a few intense, but understated exchanges between Hester and either Dimmesdale or Chillingworth. Hester makes for a very admirable woman, and she grows into her conviction and power quite magnificently. That's the joy of it. I won't read any more Hawthorne though, one in a lifetime is enough!
lovemydolphins's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. This book was just...ugh.
I get that it's a classic, but the writing style annoyed me. Apparently Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote it to make it seem even more old-style than the time period in which it was written. Seriously, there were so many run-on sentences, dashes everywhere, multiple (and I mean too many) thoughts in a sentence, punctuation such as commas everywhere, etc.
As for the story, it was decently interesting. I found myself semi-invested in the story. Unfortunately, I can't call it a "page turner" because the writing style really turned me off. I think that if the writing style was simply...normal, I'd really like this book. But it wasn't.
Story: 4 of 5 stars
Writing style: 1 of 5 stars (maybe even zero)
I get that it's a classic, but the writing style annoyed me. Apparently Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote it to make it seem even more old-style than the time period in which it was written. Seriously, there were so many run-on sentences, dashes everywhere, multiple (and I mean too many) thoughts in a sentence, punctuation such as commas everywhere, etc.
As for the story, it was decently interesting. I found myself semi-invested in the story. Unfortunately, I can't call it a "page turner" because the writing style really turned me off. I think that if the writing style was simply...normal, I'd really like this book. But it wasn't.
Story: 4 of 5 stars
Writing style: 1 of 5 stars (maybe even zero)
richy007's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
messia's review against another edition
3.0
3,5/5
Really glad to have finally read this classic of American literature. The storytelling, with adresses to the reader, is well done. It feels as if someone is telling us a cautionary tale by a campfire, with a new turn in each chapter. However the extensively descriptive style was sometimes a bit much and would get me out of the story.
The characters, the New England setting, the plot, the depiction of Puritanical hypocrisy and of women’s treatment, all make for an interesting read.
Really glad to have finally read this classic of American literature. The storytelling, with adresses to the reader, is well done. It feels as if someone is telling us a cautionary tale by a campfire, with a new turn in each chapter. However the extensively descriptive style was sometimes a bit much and would get me out of the story.
The characters, the New England setting, the plot, the depiction of Puritanical hypocrisy and of women’s treatment, all make for an interesting read.
vuch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0