madcrazymoviereviews's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
A satisfying read, a bit slow, loves it's characters
ipb1's review against another edition
5.0
Virginia Woolf critically lambasted him, which should have attracted me to his work earlier, but nonetheless this is my first Arnold Bennett novel, and what a brilliant novel it is. In brief it is the lives of two sisters, pretty much from cradle to grave. One mundane, parochial and domestic. The other in Paris during the Franco-Prussian war and the Paris commune. If that latter half sounds a bit rich for your blood don't worry - those events happen mostly 'off-stage' and we are more concerned with the equally mundane and domestic. On reflection it seems a hard sell, plot-wise, but somehow it works wonderfully well, fully engaging you in these two lives. I can't wait to read more Bennett, which I guess is the highest praise you can give an author.
fallchicken's review
5.0
I was a bit doubtful about this book when I first started it, but really loved it in the end. Engrossing for a plane flight also. Kind of like a slightly more modern Dickens. Lots of funny bits. Very enjoyable. Need to learn more about Arnold Bennett (whose name I keep confusing with Alan Bennett).
victoriaj's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mavenbooks's review
2.0
I'm not sure why I kept reading through to the end (or very near it). It was slightly interesting at first, but then it just dragged on...and on... and on. I hoped it would pick up or do something to redeem itself later on, but it never really did. I only wish I'd stopped reading earlier on...
emily_britton's review
4.0
Good, solid English literature. If you like Hardy, Dickens, and that ilk, you will enjoy Bennett. He is great at amplifying the drama of every day life.
mylogicisfuzzy's review against another edition
4.0
This is really good but uneven too. While meticulously observed and cutting at times, it does drag on occasion and really only picks up with Sophia.
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