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zwagrowska's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
cazxxx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
hornsofelfland's review against another edition
5.0
I'm always hesitant to review, or give star ratings to well-established works of classic literature. If I love it, what can I say that hasn't been said? Or if I dislike it, it's more likely a problem with me than the book.
But, since I've spent a month with Edmund Spenser—which due to my extremely fast reading speed is nearly unheard of, I want to mark the occasion somehow.
Allegory and I don't really get along. While I like some ‘softer’ allegory, I can't stand Pilgrim's Progress, despite its popularity in my circles. So I was very apprehensive about reading a 1000 page, allegorical poem. There were points where I found myself getting very annoyed at the heavy-handed allegory, or at his flattery of Queen Elizabeth. But I was drawn in by his gorgeous writing, and stunningly vivid imagery. Spenser’s abilities at painting vibrant pictures with words is nearly unparalleled. And after a while, I nearly forgot I was reading allegory, until it would sneak up on me that oh, of course, that's what that meant.
Towards the end of book one, I reached one wonderful moment where the characters started to act more as humans than just symbols. I nearly forgot I was reading allegory until the allegory beautifully intertwined with the faerie world and human characters. I nearly cried when the Redcrosse Knight was in the cave of Despayre. Despite the fact that I did have some trouble getting through sections of the poem, Spenser made me care about an allegory—even a super obvious, hit-you-over-the-head allegory that I usually despise.
Book II never clicked with me. I didn't like Guyon much—he lectured about temperance, without much temperance himself, and he lacked the Redcrosse Knight's growth. Britomart, on the other hand, was awesome, and I appreciated Spenser’s active, not one-size-fits all view of her virtue.
Books IV and V struck me as a lot more disjointed, and I nearly gave up. But I fell in love with book VI, which I know is considered one of the weirder books of the Faerie Queene and is well known for it's side tangents. But I like having the characters wrestle with and struggle for their virtue.
"The waies, through which my weary steps I guyde,
In this delightful land of Faery,
Are so exceeding spacious and wyde,
And sprinckled with such sweet variety,
Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye,
That I nigh rauisht with rare thoughts delight,
My tedious trauell doe forget thereby;
And when I gin to feele decay of might,
It strength to me supplies and chears my dulled spright."
But, since I've spent a month with Edmund Spenser—which due to my extremely fast reading speed is nearly unheard of, I want to mark the occasion somehow.
Allegory and I don't really get along. While I like some ‘softer’ allegory, I can't stand Pilgrim's Progress, despite its popularity in my circles. So I was very apprehensive about reading a 1000 page, allegorical poem. There were points where I found myself getting very annoyed at the heavy-handed allegory, or at his flattery of Queen Elizabeth. But I was drawn in by his gorgeous writing, and stunningly vivid imagery. Spenser’s abilities at painting vibrant pictures with words is nearly unparalleled. And after a while, I nearly forgot I was reading allegory, until it would sneak up on me that oh, of course, that's what that meant.
Towards the end of book one, I reached one wonderful moment where the characters started to act more as humans than just symbols. I nearly forgot I was reading allegory until the allegory beautifully intertwined with the faerie world and human characters. I nearly cried when the Redcrosse Knight was in the cave of Despayre. Despite the fact that I did have some trouble getting through sections of the poem, Spenser made me care about an allegory—even a super obvious, hit-you-over-the-head allegory that I usually despise.
Book II never clicked with me. I didn't like Guyon much—he lectured about temperance, without much temperance himself, and he lacked the Redcrosse Knight's growth. Britomart, on the other hand, was awesome, and I appreciated Spenser’s active, not one-size-fits all view of her virtue.
Books IV and V struck me as a lot more disjointed, and I nearly gave up. But I fell in love with book VI, which I know is considered one of the weirder books of the Faerie Queene and is well known for it's side tangents. But I like having the characters wrestle with and struggle for their virtue.
"The waies, through which my weary steps I guyde,
In this delightful land of Faery,
Are so exceeding spacious and wyde,
And sprinckled with such sweet variety,
Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye,
That I nigh rauisht with rare thoughts delight,
My tedious trauell doe forget thereby;
And when I gin to feele decay of might,
It strength to me supplies and chears my dulled spright."
elle_nari's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A...VERY epic poem by Spenser. Ooooh boy, it's an odd one. Lots of strange beasts, lots of strange psychological toiling, but overall what you'd expect from a 16th century piece of literature.
In all honesty...it's very long...VERY...LONG...
but if you're into reading a very old, very old, very strange poem by a Tudor poet, this will be right up your alley!
Truthfully, it's hard to review a book that's SO old
(P.S, I only read books I-II. There's six books altogether)
In all honesty...it's very long...VERY...LONG...
but if you're into reading a very old, very old, very strange poem by a Tudor poet, this will be right up your alley!
Truthfully, it's hard to review a book that's SO old
(P.S, I only read books I-II. There's six books altogether)
unlikely_bookish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0