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A review by scottyreadsstuff
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.8/5 stars
Although there were certainly good moments and witty passages in Vanity Fair, I don't think it needed to be 900 pages long. If it was cut in half - at least - it would've been a lot more enjoyable and effective. Also, I'm aware this is a standard of the time this book was published, but I think Thackeray could've been more subtle in his "wit". Satire is supposed to sneak up on you. However, he constantly repeats phrases along the lines of "that's the life in Vanity Fair" or "woe to them in Vanity Fair" - at this point, I wanted to scream "I get it already!!".
Sidenote: Many of the passages in Vanity Fair reeked of the male gaze, if you are not interested in reading a book so obviously written by a man, I would suggest skipping this title.
Although there were certainly good moments and witty passages in Vanity Fair, I don't think it needed to be 900 pages long. If it was cut in half - at least - it would've been a lot more enjoyable and effective. Also, I'm aware this is a standard of the time this book was published, but I think Thackeray could've been more subtle in his "wit". Satire is supposed to sneak up on you. However, he constantly repeats phrases along the lines of "that's the life in Vanity Fair" or "woe to them in Vanity Fair" - at this point, I wanted to scream "I get it already!!".
Sidenote: Many of the passages in Vanity Fair reeked of the male gaze, if you are not interested in reading a book so obviously written by a man, I would suggest skipping this title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia