Scan barcode
monazaneefer's review against another edition
Honestly, I don’t have the mental bandwidth or patience to be reading this. I don’t know if it’s me or just that this book is very demanding, way more than I remember Far From the Madding Crowd being.
I’m still interested in knowing more about the story so maybe I’ll pick it up some other time.
Hardy:
1. FFTMC: 5 stars
2. Tess: 3 stars
3. This, Mayor of Casterbridge + Desperate Remedies: DNF
4. Jude: either because the main character is male or I got a spoiler of the ending, I don’t seem to gravitate towards this one.
I’m still interested in knowing more about the story so maybe I’ll pick it up some other time.
Hardy:
1. FFTMC: 5 stars
2. Tess: 3 stars
3. This, Mayor of Casterbridge + Desperate Remedies: DNF
4. Jude: either because the main character is male or I got a spoiler of the ending, I don’t seem to gravitate towards this one.
ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
4.0
"She had pagan eyes, full of nocturnal mysteries"
This is my first Hardy's book and I'm glad I finally read one of his works.
It's been quite an interesting journey! His vividly depictions of the characters and places made me feel like I really was at Egdon Heath with them.
Thomas Hardy has thoroughly and marvellously woven an unforgettable story, allowing us to know about the lives of: generous and smart Clym Yeobright (the Native), clever and patient Diggory Venn (the Reddleman), capricious Eustacia, goodhearted Thomasin, frivolous Damon Wildeve, proud Mrs. Yeobright, and sweet Charley, among others.
I've learned so many interesting things about the life in the countryside by the end of the XIX century thanks to this novel. There's one that called my attention: The Reddleman, "a person whose vocation it was to supply farmers with redding for their sheep", and represented by Diggory Venn, who "was one of a class rapidly becoming extinct in Wessex".
I wish I could tell you more, but I'm afraid I could reveal more than necessary unintentionally.
This is my first Hardy's book and I'm glad I finally read one of his works.
It's been quite an interesting journey! His vividly depictions of the characters and places made me feel like I really was at Egdon Heath with them.
Thomas Hardy has thoroughly and marvellously woven an unforgettable story, allowing us to know about the lives of: generous and smart Clym Yeobright (the Native), clever and patient Diggory Venn (the Reddleman), capricious Eustacia, goodhearted Thomasin, frivolous Damon Wildeve, proud Mrs. Yeobright, and sweet Charley, among others.
I've learned so many interesting things about the life in the countryside by the end of the XIX century thanks to this novel. There's one that called my attention: The Reddleman, "a person whose vocation it was to supply farmers with redding for their sheep", and represented by Diggory Venn, who "was one of a class rapidly becoming extinct in Wessex".
I wish I could tell you more, but I'm afraid I could reveal more than necessary unintentionally.
smack_books's review against another edition
3.0
I’m so glad I listened to this as an audio book because I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it as much as I did if I just tried to physically read it. It was a pretty interesting plot to follow but all the characters were all such terrible ppl I didn’t really feel bad for them when they suffered cause they basically did it to themselves lmao. The book might’ve had more of an effect on me if they weren’t so awful but it was still good. Also I know that the book was supposed to end on the fifth part but the author was forced to write a sixth part and I 100% agree with him that the book should’ve ended on part five. That ending fitted the book way more.
laz_'s review against another edition
4.0
only thomas hardy and edith wharton can write novels that repeatedly leave me so empty and stunned i don’t know what to do with myself … not sure if that’s an honor but i damn well enjoy it every time
tessyoung's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first time I've returned to this novel since I read it at school circa 40 years ago! I have re-read a lot of Hardy but not this one I realised. I have to say part of the attraction to this 14 hour plus listen was that the narrator was Alan Rickman! He does a great job of bringing this story and its cast of characters to life. It's strange I haven't re-read this as it featured heavily in an A-level essay on how Hardy renders Egdon as both place and context, and effectively as a character shaping the action as much, if not more so, than many of the human actors. It is this ability to mobilise landscape that I love about Hardy.
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Interesting character, nice scenery, and lots of flirations with the gothic genre.
Interesting character, nice scenery, and lots of flirations with the gothic genre.
apparatinglibrarian's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This wasn't as tragic as Tess, or as lovely as Far From the Madding Crowd, but I liked it more than I thought I would. The first chapter was SOO hard to get through-- wordy and moved so slowly. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, because it picked up, especially at the end! The characters, I believe made their fates and found their place in the world in the end. They were all flawed characters--complicated people, who led complicated lives. In some ways the relationship and downfall of Eustacia Vye and Wildeve reminded me of the American story, "My Antonia." In some ways.
Alan Rickman narrating this was bliss. Are we surprised? Honestly, I think him reading this added to my interest of the story. I enjoyed his many accents of characters, and his emphasizes on phrases and words. He could read a phone book and make it interesting. I highly recommend going on Audible and listening to the Alan Rickman edition. Perfection.
Alan Rickman narrating this was bliss. Are we surprised? Honestly, I think him reading this added to my interest of the story. I enjoyed his many accents of characters, and his emphasizes on phrases and words. He could read a phone book and make it interesting. I highly recommend going on Audible and listening to the Alan Rickman edition. Perfection.
casparb's review against another edition
i'm sweet on Hardy it's fair. Native is a little generic for his oeuvre but its genericisms come before their finest examples so perhaps we'll call it a developing work. Anyway a nice piece and cosy. slightly more witchy than usual and a little dash of satan no less
wilde_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The opening of the second chapter seemed to me like the exposition in the opening of a Shakespeare play. Although, the book is written with a similar formula to Far From the Madding Crowd. The characters are memorable and the story very engaging. Once again, I had to slow myself down in the reading to let the words unfold the story. I didn't want to rush the pleasure!
slichto3's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely insightful about human nature and an exciting read even though it covers everyday sorts of occurrences. Written in a very engaging and descriptive style. The only downside, to me, was that the characters seemed destined to be miserable, and this downside became so much more powerful because of the reality of the characters.