Reviews

Middlemarch by George Eliot

schmidtellie's review against another edition

5.0

This book was soooooo long! (898 pages...), but it was so worth it.

brandidean's review against another edition

4.0

3.5? Maybe? Having trouble deciding whether to round up or down. Not sure that it was good enough (or had enough actually happen) to warrant 32 hours. But when you’ve spent that long with characters you can’t help but get a little interested, I guess. I really thought at the beginning that Celia was being set up as the main character. Dorothea seemed determined to make bad decisions. And I don’t think Eliot did an adequate job of explaining why she and Will were in love. But I enjoyed it well enough.

kelly_inthe419's review against another edition

5.0

Re-read Update: I’m thrilled to say I loved this book just as much 15 years after first reading it. This time I chose the audiobook narrated by the dynamic Juliet Stevenson. It definitely helped that I read it before because there are A Lot of characters. For that reason alone, I think I’d recommend a physical copy or ebook so it’s easier to keep everyone straight. This is probably one of my top 2 or 3 classics!

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I read this several years ago and it still resonates. The depiction of 17th Century life and the roles of women during that period were fascinating and revealing. Dorothea is still one of my favorite characters. And the ending provides an enduring quote:

“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs."

pennyleigh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

duke159's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

erinray82's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.0

kmthomas06's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this story though I had a hard time getting into it - also, I liked some characters better than other so when Eliot focused in on some stories and left other unfinished for awhile, I would get frustrated at times. Overall though, a great intelligent read.

katlow's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of those books you’re “supposed” to read. Over the decades (yes, decades) I’ve picked it up several times, read a few paragraphs, and then put it back down. But then I picked it back up and instead of reading a few paragraphs, I read a few chapters. And kept reading. This book is genius.

selbyr's review against another edition

5.0

Before I read this book, I was stupid. After I finished I was less stupid. Not a lot less, but nonetheless….less. This book launched me into the quest to try to fix my stupid. If you feel stupid, read this book.

Spark Notes Meter: Raging Inferno

deepdonutprincess's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-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

4.0