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bohoautumn's review against another edition
4.0
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This wasn't what I expected. As much as I enjoy escapism, I really dig these novels of realism. There is a connection with characters, love them or loath them, that reaches a whole different level.
I expected this to be a little dry, albeit interesting for it's ideas on emancipation. Instead, I became quite involved, if in a detached way, in the individual lives and stories, along with admiring the concepts and ideals behind it all.
The dramas that unfold are unromantic - offering neither the heart-flutterings of Austen nor the grit of Eliot. We're given real women, real possibilities, and, utterly believable endings. I found myself torn between heart and mind, but ultimately satisfied and proud to be classed amongst Woman.
Gissing writes well, if not as elegantly as some other writers of his era, but it suits his perspective.
This wasn't what I expected. As much as I enjoy escapism, I really dig these novels of realism. There is a connection with characters, love them or loath them, that reaches a whole different level.
I expected this to be a little dry, albeit interesting for it's ideas on emancipation. Instead, I became quite involved, if in a detached way, in the individual lives and stories, along with admiring the concepts and ideals behind it all.
The dramas that unfold are unromantic - offering neither the heart-flutterings of Austen nor the grit of Eliot. We're given real women, real possibilities, and, utterly believable endings. I found myself torn between heart and mind, but ultimately satisfied and proud to be classed amongst Woman.
Gissing writes well, if not as elegantly as some other writers of his era, but it suits his perspective.
221bees's review against another edition
4.0
Bored of seeing the same novels listed on every "must-read Victorian novels" list, I searched for lists of lesser-known Victorian works and found The Odd Women by George Gissing. George Orwell called The Odd Women one of Gissing's "masterpieces." I'd honestly never heard of Gissing before. Though perhaps not as verbose or witty as other Victorian authors like Dickens or Wilde, Gissing was, as the kids say, woke. For one, this is the most feminist Victorian novel I've ever read (had to keep reminding myself this was written by a dude born in 1857). I think I'd be hard-pressed to find a Victorian novel more progressive on the subject of gender roles.
As to the title: it was purported that there were half a million more women than men in Britain at the time this was written (1893) and thus the women were unable to be paired off in marriage; many of these women were also, punnily enough, seen as strange because they were intelligent, independent, and had no choice but to be self-sustaining.
The plot follows a few characters--sisters who are left orphaned, two women fully entrenched in the "movement" (presumably that of the New Women) who run a vocational school for women, a conservative older man who believes women belong in the home, and a man who has reformed his initial narrow-minded view of women and now greatly admires/is fascinated by women with independent thought--and heavily focuses on the institution (and associated perils) of marriage and women's emancipation from it. I mean heavily. It's all anyone talks about for all ~430 pages of the novel. You'd think that'd be boring, but it was pretty interesting to read from all the different perspectives of the flawed, complex female characters (Rhoda Nunn is a standout here and I'm not sure why she isn't classed as one of the great female characters of the 19th century).
This is a novel that offers refreshingly wonderful female characters. It's also a great resource for anyone studying the first wave of feminism or interested in how Gissing's so-called "odd women" of the 1890s navigated and thrived in society.
As to the title: it was purported that there were half a million more women than men in Britain at the time this was written (1893) and thus the women were unable to be paired off in marriage; many of these women were also, punnily enough, seen as strange because they were intelligent, independent, and had no choice but to be self-sustaining.
The plot follows a few characters--sisters who are left orphaned, two women fully entrenched in the "movement" (presumably that of the New Women) who run a vocational school for women, a conservative older man who believes women belong in the home, and a man who has reformed his initial narrow-minded view of women and now greatly admires/is fascinated by women with independent thought--and heavily focuses on the institution (and associated perils) of marriage and women's emancipation from it. I mean heavily. It's all anyone talks about for all ~430 pages of the novel. You'd think that'd be boring, but it was pretty interesting to read from all the different perspectives of the flawed, complex female characters (Rhoda Nunn is a standout here and I'm not sure why she isn't classed as one of the great female characters of the 19th century).
This is a novel that offers refreshingly wonderful female characters. It's also a great resource for anyone studying the first wave of feminism or interested in how Gissing's so-called "odd women" of the 1890s navigated and thrived in society.
buttons_buttons's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.5
stephxsu's review against another edition
2.0
The writing is not too bad, as it reads easily, but the story is pretty mundane and directionless, with women in various stages of late-nineteenth-century feminism circling in or around the institution of marriage, and then ending up exactly where they started. Some critics claim that THE ODD WOMEN is a naturalist novel, in which everything must and will revert back to its original state of entropy. But I never got emotionally invested even in the characters’ long circle back to their original states. Overall, a mindless, slightly pleasant but mostly forgettable read.
musingswithmiranda's review against another edition
3.0
George Gissing’s The Odd Women was written in 1893 and is set during the Victorian period in England. This was my first time reading any of Gissing’s work, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting a male writer during this time to exhibit feminist ideology. The author takes inspiration from “odd women,” or the women who were left over as other men and women married, especially considering that women greatly outnumbered men during this time. However, some of these women simply made this choice of not marrying for themselves.
The Odd Women follows a variety of women who must navigate the expectations society sets for them. Most notably, this includes Alice Madden, Virginia Madden, Monica Madden, Mary Barfoot, and Rhoda Nunn. Gissing uses these characters to explore ideas about marriage and morals while testing the traditional ideas about women’s roles in society. Many believed that women must marry and have nothing else going for them. However, some of these women are “odd women” and use this role to advocate for female emancipation through job training and education. It is interesting to see how Gissing contrasts these main female characters with their different opinions about life and marriage. Readers follow them through many trials and tribulations among themselves and with men, but I personally was rooting for them all in the end.
Gissing’s The Odd Women is not only enjoyable and entertaining but insightful as well. I learned a lot more about “odd women” and feminist views during this time. I appreciated how well-written the novel was as well. However, some parts seemed to drag on and some characters were definitely more likable than others. I was also expecting a bit more out of the ending. Regardless, The Odd Women was a fun and interesting read.
The Odd Women follows a variety of women who must navigate the expectations society sets for them. Most notably, this includes Alice Madden, Virginia Madden, Monica Madden, Mary Barfoot, and Rhoda Nunn. Gissing uses these characters to explore ideas about marriage and morals while testing the traditional ideas about women’s roles in society. Many believed that women must marry and have nothing else going for them. However, some of these women are “odd women” and use this role to advocate for female emancipation through job training and education. It is interesting to see how Gissing contrasts these main female characters with their different opinions about life and marriage. Readers follow them through many trials and tribulations among themselves and with men, but I personally was rooting for them all in the end.
Gissing’s The Odd Women is not only enjoyable and entertaining but insightful as well. I learned a lot more about “odd women” and feminist views during this time. I appreciated how well-written the novel was as well. However, some parts seemed to drag on and some characters were definitely more likable than others. I was also expecting a bit more out of the ending. Regardless, The Odd Women was a fun and interesting read.
asiachudzik's review
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a genuinely gripping novel that explores modern themes I wouldn’t have expected to be discussed in that era. somewhat heartbreaking ending too.
tabitha997's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
420blazeit's review against another edition
1.0
the title of this book should've been "too bad, so sad", bc damn did everyone struggle in this book. had to read for my last history assignment and boy am i glad that is over. next time i wanna feel depressed about being a woman, i'll pick up this handy dandy novel. thanks george! #ripmonica
emilywoodruff's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0