Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The Return of the Native

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

5 reviews

nelakubala's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Inwoven with the heath

“O deliver my heart from this fearful gloom and loneliness; send me great love from somewhere, else I shall die.”

“To be loved to madness--such was her great desire. Love was to her the one cordial which could drive away the eating loneliness of her days. And she seemed to long for the abstraction called passionate love more than for any particular lover.”

You know how they say a book's first page must pique the reader's interest? Well, this one did, for sure. A while back, I came across the free audio version narrated by A. Rickman, and the excellent writing (among A.R.’s delivery of the lines) prompted me to purchase my own physical copy of this masterpiece. Ever since I first opened the book, I found myself frequently returning to previous pages, reading the same sentences over and over, which prolonged my reading experience but served as a good reminder that reading is not about speed but rather appreciating another person’s labour of love while discovering bits of our own soul within other worlds.

Hardy has a profound and unique sense of scenery, and his writings exhibit the power and beauty of literary language. His cinematic vision, a keen perception of the natural world, and distinctive descriptions, which he combines with practical as well as historical knowledge, enhance the effect of the real, and I was constantly in awe of his descriptive abilities. The heath in which the story takes place becomes a character in its own right, and witnessing this alone makes the novel worth reading.

While the plot covers a number of characters, Eustacia is the one who grabs the reader's interest the most. As Hardy writes, “Eustacia Vye was the raw material of a divinity. On Olympus she would have done well with a little preparation. She had the passions and instincts which make a model goddess, that is, those which make not quite a model woman.” She is a creature of the heath and one set against it; she is both rebellious and traditional, energetic and docile. Eustacia feels trapped, dissatisfied, and powerless. She despises the slow, quiet life on the heath, and yearns for the glamour and sophistication of big cities. Her independence, disregard for societal conventions, and defiance of the boundaries of the heath draw us in, yet the banality of her dreams frustrates us. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't discover aspects of myself in her narrative.

However, the overall complexity of the characters may not provide the reader with enough satisfaction. Simply put, this is a story about misunderstandings, and for readers who are looking for a happily-ever-after, the general amount of misfortune and angst may become a source of absolute frustration. The love and hope residing in some pages are primarily overshadowed by delusion and tragedy.

Hardy’s rich descriptions might turn into tediously long paragraphs, which is why I’d recommend this piece to those who enjoy when not only characters but also their surroundings come to life. It is not a quick, simple read and the antiquated style requires a greater amount of focus. However, the complexity of the characters make for a truly captivating story with occasional witticism. Fans of Anna Karenina, Wuthering Heights or other Thomas Hardy novels will definitely enjoy this book.

The miscommunication trope is not one I particularly enjoy, but this book gave it new life, demostrating the need for clear communication and the potentially catastrophic consequences of misunderstanding. The Return of the Native may not be to everyone's taste, but I'm glad I succumbed to its beauty and tragedy. This book reminded me why I love the art of storytelling and how powerful and creative language can be.

Content Warnings