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edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.0
This was actually not boring at all. I mean, maybe I'm being nicer just because it's a classic, but it was good! I actually liked it more than I expected, so in my ratings is 3 ⭐
It was an easy read, easy to understand. I had a difficult time at the beginning with the narrator because I’m not used to the British accent, but I liked how Steven Crossley did the voices and narrated the story.
I started this classic not expecting much because I knew most of it would be just social life, people talking and about how some are rich and some are poor, and that’s exactly what I got.
In my opinion, Margaret and Helen are characters ahead of it's time. It’s actually surprising to me to remember this was written by a man because the way the sisters behaved I kept waiting for some other character to call them out or make a big negative comment, but apart from some minor comments from Mr. Wilcox that didn’t happen and I’m glad.
My favorite one was Margaret definitely, she got married when she was around 30 yo (when that’s odd for women back then), openly saying she’s glad she doesn’t have children, was never afraid to say what she was thinking or be involved in topics not common for women or act on what she thought it was right.
Mrs. Wilcox had some old ideas about women but honestly she was the only decent person in that family. Everyone else either did something bad or barely appears. Also,
I’m glad at the end Margaret and Helen keep Howard’s End, is the least they deserve because 1) Mrs. Wilcox left it to Margaret in the first place and 2) Charlie killed Helen’s baby’s father.
I’ll be watching the movie starring Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter, and the tv show starring Hayley Atwell. I’m not sure when, but I’d like to see both adaptations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
There’s spoilers ahead, so read with caution:
Classism: Talk about the poor and the rich.
Sexism / Misogyny: This book was written in 1910, so… clearly some outdated ideas about women, but it isn't as bad as I expected.
Death of parent / Grief: Happens near the beginning.
Infidelity:
Pregnancy: Happens near the end.
Murder: Happens near the end.
lori3n's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, and Pregnancy
eve81's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism
writtenontheflyleaves's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Howards End by E.M. Forster ☂️
🌟🌟🌟✨
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☔️ The plot: A brief failed romance between Helen Schlegel and Paul Wilcox at the latter’s family home, Howards End, draws two very different upper-class families into an association that neither can shake. When Helen accidentally takes the umbrella of poor clerk Leonard Bast at a concert, the entanglement becomes even more fraught, and the consequences for all involved will be far-reaching, and even explosive.
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This is a novel about human relationships and how important they are; it is equally a novel about privilege, and the ways that material wealth smooth our passage through the world and make us ignorant or callous. I’m sure there are essays on these subjects and you’re probably better off reading them than anything I could write – instead, what struck me most was the way that Forster illustrates the intense friction between ideals and reality, particularly in times of social upheaval.
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The novel is set around 1910, a time of huge change in British society, and you can really feel it: women discuss the merits of voting themselves versus influencing their husbands’ votes; socialism is debated, and London is described as a great groaning behemoth swallowing up everything around it (still very relevant imo). All of the characters – whether they’re an idealistic Schlegel or a materialistic Wilcox – have ideas of how the future should be and are disappointed or chagrined when their expectations are jarred and they are forced to adapt.
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It was an interesting read, but I can’t say I loved this one. I enjoyed the wry narration but the book felt quite dense and it wasn’t until the final third that I was really hooked. I think if I were discussing it at uni I’d love it, but as a casual read it didn’t quite work for me. I’m open to reading more Forster though!!
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📚 Read it if you’re interested in the seam between the Victorian period and modernity now – the social change aspect of the novel was fascinating!
-
🚫 Avoid it if you don’t like too much intellectualising in your novels, or if you’re even more of a contemporary reader than I am and would find the setting and mindset of the characters alienating.
🌟🌟🌟✨
-
☔️ The plot: A brief failed romance between Helen Schlegel and Paul Wilcox at the latter’s family home, Howards End, draws two very different upper-class families into an association that neither can shake. When Helen accidentally takes the umbrella of poor clerk Leonard Bast at a concert, the entanglement becomes even more fraught, and the consequences for all involved will be far-reaching, and even explosive.
-
This is a novel about human relationships and how important they are; it is equally a novel about privilege, and the ways that material wealth smooth our passage through the world and make us ignorant or callous. I’m sure there are essays on these subjects and you’re probably better off reading them than anything I could write – instead, what struck me most was the way that Forster illustrates the intense friction between ideals and reality, particularly in times of social upheaval.
-
The novel is set around 1910, a time of huge change in British society, and you can really feel it: women discuss the merits of voting themselves versus influencing their husbands’ votes; socialism is debated, and London is described as a great groaning behemoth swallowing up everything around it (still very relevant imo). All of the characters – whether they’re an idealistic Schlegel or a materialistic Wilcox – have ideas of how the future should be and are disappointed or chagrined when their expectations are jarred and they are forced to adapt.
-
It was an interesting read, but I can’t say I loved this one. I enjoyed the wry narration but the book felt quite dense and it wasn’t until the final third that I was really hooked. I think if I were discussing it at uni I’d love it, but as a casual read it didn’t quite work for me. I’m open to reading more Forster though!!
-
📚 Read it if you’re interested in the seam between the Victorian period and modernity now – the social change aspect of the novel was fascinating!
-
🚫 Avoid it if you don’t like too much intellectualising in your novels, or if you’re even more of a contemporary reader than I am and would find the setting and mindset of the characters alienating.
68w
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Death and Murder