natwritten's review
4.0
An excellent read for people who like a little gothic horror in their romance. Or maybe some romance in their horrors? In any case, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery and is prepared to wait like, well 4 volumes, until they finally get to the twists. And the twists are definitely worth it.
I think I will read another of Radcliffe's novels soon.
Reading this I was told by other reviews to expect to be bored out of my mind with the natural descriptions of long journeys across the country, I expected I would want to jump into the book and threaten Emily st. Aubert's life myself she was said to be so flighty, weak and unheroic- always fainting and needing to be be protected, and I acknowledged the possibility that the poetry in it would make me want to shun all poetry ever to exist. Ever.
But this wasn't my experience at all.
Sure Radcliffe has a field day (sorry) with her descriptions of nature sometimes and the poetry- particularly anything Emily writes- is just, well, it's not good. I mean for Christ's sake it's hinted that even st Aubert himself didn't really like her poem about glowworms or whatever it was! And that was her all nature-all peace- all happiness spiritual and poetic father! But some of the other poetry isn't half bad and i don't even like poetry that much.
As for Emily, well she is incredibly heroic. In the novel (spoilers Spoilers! look away right now) she suffers great heartbreak with the death of her parents, she comes up against mean Madame cheron who is determined to sell her off to the highest bidder (okay maybe that's exaggerating a little, but can the medieval marriage processes of 17th century young women in possession of a reasonable fortune, really be described any more honestly?), she copes with leaving her whole life behind her to face villains like Montoni (who threatens her and her aunt repeatedly, and indirectly kills Madame montoni) and then faces banditti! Followed by fierce stalkers like du Pont, followed by battling a hell of a storm on a tiny boat, all this after only just escaping the castle of udolpho which she was heavily imprisoned. And not to mention her dangerous curiosity that never ceases even when ghosts and family secrets and all kinds of scandal are handing about. What's more, she does all this, secures her fortune, and yet at all times was the most respectable lady ever! (which though is controversial and unpopular today in those days was serious stuff).
I take my hat off to you Emily.
Sure she is kind of annoying because her great dignity gets in the way of her shouting all the things the 21st century reader wants her to shout in the faces of her captors, but it can't be denied that she was brave.
Personally I think I would have fainted a billion times too, if that had happened to me. Then again, if the whole thing had happened to me I probably would have agreed to run off with valancourt in his proposed clandestine marriage. But that wouldn't have made much of a gothic novel, would it?
I really did enjoy this book and it was the strangest balance of both exceptional terror and gothic horror, and romance - with some very lovey dovey gushy (perhaps too gushy) heartfelt speeches from Valancourt and Morano.
Go ahead, read it.
I think I will read another of Radcliffe's novels soon.
Reading this I was told by other reviews to expect to be bored out of my mind with the natural descriptions of long journeys across the country, I expected I would want to jump into the book and threaten Emily st. Aubert's life myself she was said to be so flighty, weak and unheroic- always fainting and needing to be be protected, and I acknowledged the possibility that the poetry in it would make me want to shun all poetry ever to exist. Ever.
But this wasn't my experience at all.
Sure Radcliffe has a field day (sorry) with her descriptions of nature sometimes and the poetry- particularly anything Emily writes- is just, well, it's not good. I mean for Christ's sake it's hinted that even st Aubert himself didn't really like her poem about glowworms or whatever it was! And that was her all nature-all peace- all happiness spiritual and poetic father! But some of the other poetry isn't half bad and i don't even like poetry that much.
As for Emily, well she is incredibly heroic. In the novel (spoilers Spoilers! look away right now) she suffers great heartbreak with the death of her parents, she comes up against mean Madame cheron who is determined to sell her off to the highest bidder (okay maybe that's exaggerating a little, but can the medieval marriage processes of 17th century young women in possession of a reasonable fortune, really be described any more honestly?), she copes with leaving her whole life behind her to face villains like Montoni (who threatens her and her aunt repeatedly, and indirectly kills Madame montoni) and then faces banditti! Followed by fierce stalkers like du Pont, followed by battling a hell of a storm on a tiny boat, all this after only just escaping the castle of udolpho which she was heavily imprisoned. And not to mention her dangerous curiosity that never ceases even when ghosts and family secrets and all kinds of scandal are handing about. What's more, she does all this, secures her fortune, and yet at all times was the most respectable lady ever! (which though is controversial and unpopular today in those days was serious stuff).
I take my hat off to you Emily.
Sure she is kind of annoying because her great dignity gets in the way of her shouting all the things the 21st century reader wants her to shout in the faces of her captors, but it can't be denied that she was brave.
Personally I think I would have fainted a billion times too, if that had happened to me. Then again, if the whole thing had happened to me I probably would have agreed to run off with valancourt in his proposed clandestine marriage. But that wouldn't have made much of a gothic novel, would it?
I really did enjoy this book and it was the strangest balance of both exceptional terror and gothic horror, and romance - with some very lovey dovey gushy (perhaps too gushy) heartfelt speeches from Valancourt and Morano.
Go ahead, read it.
tmickey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
aeliggg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
sarahgamal666's review against another edition
5.0
My heart was shattering with each page in this book. Extremely melancholic yet addictive. The descriptions of the landscape sceneries were overwhelming and there were plenty of them.
bradenchu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
smerkle's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kiramke's review against another edition
Traded someone for it at the Alien cafe circa 2001-2.
nanvdand's review against another edition
4.0
If you are trying to decide whether or not to read this book, take this brief quiz to help. If the majority of your answers are "yes" then by all means read this 200+ year old book.
Are you a fan of Jane Austen?
Are you interested in books that had an impact on Jane Austen?
Do you like romances?
Do you like ghost stories?
Do you enjoy reading long descriptions of beautiful landscapes OR are you willing to skim long descriptions of beautiful landscapes?
Do you enjoy reading poetry OR are you willing to skim poetry to get back to the plot?
Do you have time to commit to this rather lengthy book?
Are you tolerant of a bit too much sappiness and a bit too much weakness of the female constitution?
If you answered Yes to most or all of the above, you'll enjoy this book. There are lots and lots of twists and turns and almost nothing is as it appears. But every loose end is neatly tied up by the end of the book and surprising connections are explained. I mostly listened to the audio with Karen Cass as the narrator and she was excellent.
Enjoy!
Are you a fan of Jane Austen?
Are you interested in books that had an impact on Jane Austen?
Do you like romances?
Do you like ghost stories?
Do you enjoy reading long descriptions of beautiful landscapes OR are you willing to skim long descriptions of beautiful landscapes?
Do you enjoy reading poetry OR are you willing to skim poetry to get back to the plot?
Do you have time to commit to this rather lengthy book?
Are you tolerant of a bit too much sappiness and a bit too much weakness of the female constitution?
If you answered Yes to most or all of the above, you'll enjoy this book. There are lots and lots of twists and turns and almost nothing is as it appears. But every loose end is neatly tied up by the end of the book and surprising connections are explained. I mostly listened to the audio with Karen Cass as the narrator and she was excellent.
Enjoy!