Reviews

Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore

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silver_illusion's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

All right so. 60%-ish of the way through this book, I wanted to give up. I put it back on my "to read" shelf and returned the book to the library. But I couldn't stop thinking about the characters! Yeah, it gets slow in parts (I really don't care about John Ridd going to London), but that's the story! John Is the narrator, and he puts in all the parts that are important to him. The atmosphere and descriptions really bring the reader into the world.

This is a reread for me, and I like it. A classic of English literature, that's a swashbuckling romance. I wish Blackamore had written "The Adventures of Tom Faggus"!

rosepoldark's review against another edition

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3.75

Hmm, i enjoyed it but some of i didnt seem to catch, i think i would understand it better on a reread. I enjoyed some parts better than others, but most of all i think it was more vibe than plot, though there is a plot.

nyooom's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

this book is so stupid i love it

slowreader09's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

kdmr's review against another edition

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adventurous relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

needagoodbook's review

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3.0

What a drag! This book was very hard work, with some interesting parts. Glad I'm finally done.

doritobabe's review

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3.0

Today I navigated over here wondering: "Did I ever write a review for Lorna Doone?" I guess not, so here goes...

I am writing this review a few weeks after actually finishing the novel. I looked at the measley 3 stars I gave it and wondered why I did that again... oh yah, because of LORNA.

Honestly, there is a lot that I love about this book: the writing is quite enjoyable, especially when you can feel Blackmore getting into his flow; John Ridd is probably one of the most wholesome characters ever written, and the tangled plot of religious strife and classism makes for an interesting read. Once Lorna was introduced as an adult, however, is when I started to lose my passion for the text. Slowly, I let it sit longer and longer on bed-side or kitchen tables, looking at the cover, wondering why I couldn't have more of Ridd mowing some wheat in harvest, or spending time with lovely Ruth Huckaback. Now there's a fiesty, intellegent, sweet character who actually has substance! For some reason I cannot/could not stand Lorna being coveted by John for her swooning frailty, her vapidness; boring "tenderness" -- which perhaps is just some frailty that I viewed as speaking to some kind of mental incompetence or an actual health problem.

To be frank: it made me frustrated! Why are the weak women used as the exemplary female? Why is a lack of skill, a constant fatigue and/or blush, and an indecisive air so appealing in a female? Wouldn't a farmer (i.e. John Ridd) get frustrated with having a wife like that? Someone so doting and BORING and who wouldn't be helpful AT ALL on a farm?

Some may bite me for this, pointing out the other obvious sexism within the text. I also had to overlook that; found myself rolling my eyes at the descriptions of women that Blackmore gives, but I feel like Lorna is a device used to shame others -- LIKE THE AMAZING RUTH -- by proving that they aren't the feminine ideal.

Spoiler

Ridd's obsession with Lorna would have been more justified if she had actually died by gunshot, as there is no way that a man can live with a woman like that for the rest of his life.