notsochattymadi's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jz_reads's review
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
basically an episode of teen mom but written in 1791 in an incredibly condescending manner.
oreoeasterbunny's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cinnabal's review
challenging
dark
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
jadyn_alcorn's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
adunnells's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lukescalone's review
3.0
If you have sex, you will get pregnant, and die.
This book is so melodramatic, I love it. It's like watching a Colombian telenovela. Say what you want about Rowson's writing, it isn't in the least bit wooden, and there are constant events that make matters worse. I think there's a feminist case that can be made about the necessity for women's liberation based around what we see here, but few critics have seen it as a feminist novel. Instead, Rowson maintains the status quo. Although Charlotte is a sympathetic victim, there's also the suggestion that if she hadn't eloped, everything would have been fine. Nevertheless, all of the people who pressured her to elope--Belcour, La Rue, Montraville--face brutal ends as well. Belcour gets stabbed, La Rue's husband leaves here, and Montraville lives out his life with constant bouts of melancholy and shame.
Having gone through more than 200 editions, there's little here that I could say that others haven't, but this was eminently readable in a way that most 18th century novels are not. Love it.
This book is so melodramatic, I love it. It's like watching a Colombian telenovela. Say what you want about Rowson's writing, it isn't in the least bit wooden, and there are constant events that make matters worse. I think there's a feminist case that can be made about the necessity for women's liberation based around what we see here, but few critics have seen it as a feminist novel. Instead, Rowson maintains the status quo. Although Charlotte is a sympathetic victim, there's also the suggestion that if she hadn't eloped, everything would have been fine. Nevertheless, all of the people who pressured her to elope--Belcour, La Rue, Montraville--face brutal ends as well. Belcour gets stabbed, La Rue's husband leaves here, and Montraville lives out his life with constant bouts of melancholy and shame.
Having gone through more than 200 editions, there's little here that I could say that others haven't, but this was eminently readable in a way that most 18th century novels are not. Love it.
dizzymisslizzie's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
thatwhichmeowsalsohisses's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
i had to read this for my american lit class and to be honest i rly liked it. it was very juicy and there was lots of drama. i wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for someone to read just for fun unless ur into old fashioned drama because the language was a bit difficult (but not shakespeare level difficult) but i thought it was interesting because of the drama and the narrator breaking down the fourth wall a couple timesÂ