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A review by theliteraryapothecary
The Return Of The Native by Thomas Hardy
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Bumping up to 3 stars upon reread.
Updating with review upon reread:
If there ever was a case of the audiobook narrator making the book, it's here. Originally I read this in physical format and gave it 2 stars. I couldn't follow anything that was happening to anyone. I felt completely lost. Alan Rickman's narration made it a little bit easier to follow (alhtough I was still lost in following everything), but more importantly, he made it so interesting that I didn't care so much about being able to follow the plot, I just wanted to hear what he had to say. My initial rating on reread was 3 stars.
CAWPILE breakdown:
Characters: 6 - There were a lot to keep track of and while a lot of them felt very similiar (or that's how it seemed to me at least), at least they were interesting.
Atmosphere/Setting: 5 - Aside from the beginning, I didn't really pay attention to the setting or atmosphere at all. So it's probably there, I just didn't notice it much. But the setting in that first chapter is what hooked me.
Writing Style: 4 - Hardy's writing is still hard for me, however Rickman's narration just made it slightly easier to follow and process and enjoy.
Plot: 3 - I honestly have no idea what the plot was without looking it up. I'm sure there is one... I just couldn't tell you what it was without having to read the description.
Intrigue: 4.5 - Just like a lot of things in this review, I'm sure there was intrigue, I just didn't feel it a whole lot of it. Maybe it's just me and I zoned out reading and so I didn't sense it as much as others. Just my personal view.
Logic/Relationships: 7 - This felt similar to a Jane Austen novel in which it is all about the relationships. That's one thing that I WAS able to follow.
Enjoyment: 6.5 - I tremendously enjoyed Rickman's narration. The book itself not so much. I found myself zoning out a lot. This review is mostly for Alan Rickman's narration, to be perfectly honest.
Total = 36/7 = 5.1 = 3 stars.
****
Review from First read (phyiscal read in 2017) - 2 stars: I had a hard time following everything that happened to everyone - and who everyone was. Stuff happened, people got married and had kids and some people died? A mother's heart was broken by who she thought was her son turning her away. ???
Updating with review upon reread:
If there ever was a case of the audiobook narrator making the book, it's here. Originally I read this in physical format and gave it 2 stars. I couldn't follow anything that was happening to anyone. I felt completely lost. Alan Rickman's narration made it a little bit easier to follow (alhtough I was still lost in following everything), but more importantly, he made it so interesting that I didn't care so much about being able to follow the plot, I just wanted to hear what he had to say. My initial rating on reread was 3 stars.
CAWPILE breakdown:
Characters: 6 - There were a lot to keep track of and while a lot of them felt very similiar (or that's how it seemed to me at least), at least they were interesting.
Atmosphere/Setting: 5 - Aside from the beginning, I didn't really pay attention to the setting or atmosphere at all. So it's probably there, I just didn't notice it much. But the setting in that first chapter is what hooked me.
Writing Style: 4 - Hardy's writing is still hard for me, however Rickman's narration just made it slightly easier to follow and process and enjoy.
Plot: 3 - I honestly have no idea what the plot was without looking it up. I'm sure there is one... I just couldn't tell you what it was without having to read the description.
Intrigue: 4.5 - Just like a lot of things in this review, I'm sure there was intrigue, I just didn't feel it a whole lot of it. Maybe it's just me and I zoned out reading and so I didn't sense it as much as others. Just my personal view.
Logic/Relationships: 7 - This felt similar to a Jane Austen novel in which it is all about the relationships. That's one thing that I WAS able to follow.
Enjoyment: 6.5 - I tremendously enjoyed Rickman's narration. The book itself not so much. I found myself zoning out a lot. This review is mostly for Alan Rickman's narration, to be perfectly honest.
Total = 36/7 = 5.1 = 3 stars.
****
Review from First read (phyiscal read in 2017) - 2 stars: I had a hard time following everything that happened to everyone - and who everyone was. Stuff happened, people got married and had kids and some people died? A mother's heart was broken by who she thought was her son turning her away. ???