reading_fox's review against another edition
4.0
"My delusion is gone, I know him now, and nothing can restore the love, respect of confidence"
2021 the year I became obsessed with Louisa May Alcott! I loved this book, especially within the context of what I learned from reading her biography. It was never published within her lifetime because the editor deemed it too scandalous. Before Little Women LMA would write sensationalist stories in order to support her family financially, much like Jo March.
Although, not as well written as LW, it's still a really great read. With themes of death, obsession, stalking, murder and religion. LMA longed for excitement in her life and to be free from the domestic chains and poverty that left her bored and frustrated. She wrote this after returning from her trip around Europe and it definitely speaks to her feelings at the time.
2021 the year I became obsessed with Louisa May Alcott! I loved this book, especially within the context of what I learned from reading her biography. It was never published within her lifetime because the editor deemed it too scandalous. Before Little Women LMA would write sensationalist stories in order to support her family financially, much like Jo March.
Although, not as well written as LW, it's still a really great read. With themes of death, obsession, stalking, murder and religion. LMA longed for excitement in her life and to be free from the domestic chains and poverty that left her bored and frustrated. She wrote this after returning from her trip around Europe and it definitely speaks to her feelings at the time.
lenny9987's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
2.75
shanviolinlove's review against another edition
3.0
wow. this is not normally my cup of tea, the overdramatic love stories. but i found i could not put the book down. i completely agree with the person who compared this to emily bronte---that was EXACTLY what i was thinking...tempest? hmm. heathcliff? yesss.
i myself hated heathcliff's guts, and i did feel that tempest needed to be knocked off so rosamond and ignatius could hook up...but i also fear that, due to the hipe that wuthering heights gets for being a "romance novel," there are chicks out there rooting for tempest. (frustrated sigh!)
i myself hated heathcliff's guts, and i did feel that tempest needed to be knocked off so rosamond and ignatius could hook up...but i also fear that, due to the hipe that wuthering heights gets for being a "romance novel," there are chicks out there rooting for tempest. (frustrated sigh!)
al836's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
charnrudai's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.25
Can this really be the same Louisa May Alcott who cranked out Little Women? This novel plays out more like a soap opera on crack.
alli_always_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
chenillereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
princessleia4life's review against another edition
3.0
It was an interesting read in the fact that it is so different from what else Louisa May Alcott wrote, but it was too gothic and dramatic for my taste.
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This book is different from anything else Alcott has written (that I have read). It is much darker in tone and action. It is the story of a young woman -unloved, innocent, and lovely- who falls in love with an older, more experienced man. Time reveals him to be a villian, unworthy of her love and companionship, and she leaves him. Thus begins the long fatal love chase.
I really enjoy the evolution of Rosamund's character. She is always strong-minded, with a determination to do right. One of my favorite moments, though, comes when she is given two distinct examples of love: the selfish, demanding, deceptive love that Phillip Tempest feels for her, as opposed to the self-sacrificing, disinterested love that Father Ignatius shows for her. It was hard to see her fleeing this dangerous man, while still feeling a helpless, foolish love for him. It was delightful to see her cured of it by being brought to a knowledge of what love truly looks like.
I've read this book before; this time, I think I'll actually buy it for my personal library.
I really enjoy the evolution of Rosamund's character. She is always strong-minded, with a determination to do right. One of my favorite moments, though, comes when she is given two distinct examples of love: the selfish, demanding, deceptive love that Phillip Tempest feels for her, as opposed to the self-sacrificing, disinterested love that Father Ignatius shows for her. It was hard to see her fleeing this dangerous man, while still feeling a helpless, foolish love for him. It was delightful to see her cured of it by being brought to a knowledge of what love truly looks like.
I've read this book before; this time, I think I'll actually buy it for my personal library.