Also, I enjoyed the annotations, but I disagree with some of his interpretations of what was said in the text. Only a haI love this book.
That is all.
Also, I enjoyed the annotations, but I disagree with some of his interpretations of what was said in the text. Only a handful of things, otherwise, I found most of the annotations helpful. ...more
I'm biased because I'm a Janeite but I really loved this book. Austen is brilliant. She takes us into the mind of a narcissistic sociopath of a woman I'm biased because I'm a Janeite but I really loved this book. Austen is brilliant. She takes us into the mind of a narcissistic sociopath of a woman who doesn't hesitate to use everyone-including her daughter-to her advantage, masterfully manipulating them emotionally so they don't even realize what she's done. Thankfully - because this is Jane who doesn't reward evil with good - her plans come to naught in the end, the good but gullible are rescued from her machinations, and the dependent and despairing are removed from her clutches and she gets somewhat less than what she really wanted. And it's all told in letters except for a sort of epilogue where the story threads get all wrapped up in traditional Jane Austen style....more
Not my favorite by LMM, but it was a fun read. The plot itself was pretty basic, but the interconnected story threads were numerous and difficult to tNot my favorite by LMM, but it was a fun read. The plot itself was pretty basic, but the interconnected story threads were numerous and difficult to track. But some of those supernumerary storylines were quite enjoyable and engrossing. Maud seems to have been examining the contrast between what we wish for, what we get, and which is the most desirable. It's definitely worth considering and pondering!...more
Interesting! My first experience with a sensation novel from the Victorian era, although my understanding is that this may not be the best exampl3.5 ⭐
Interesting! My first experience with a sensation novel from the Victorian era, although my understanding is that this may not be the best example of that genre. It felt to me like it was, in fact, spoofing on sensation novels while pretending to be a serious novel.
None of the three main characters in the triangle were particularly likable and all three were terribly flawed. In fact, their flaws seemed to be the whole story.
I particularly enjoyed the author's mocking tone. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy laughing at her character's ridiculousness as she told their story.
I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending, but if the author had ended it the way I wanted her to, it would have been a totally different sort of book from what it is. ...more
It's been a long time since I read a children's book that enchanted me so thoroughly. Anne of Green Gables was probably the most recent one... and thaIt's been a long time since I read a children's book that enchanted me so thoroughly. Anne of Green Gables was probably the most recent one... and that was a re-read. Prior to that, I'm sure it had been years! SUCH a delightful, wonderful read.
This book definitely will take you on an emotional journey, from optimism to despair, to hope and faith, to fear and courage, and back again. As 4.5 ⭐
This book definitely will take you on an emotional journey, from optimism to despair, to hope and faith, to fear and courage, and back again. As we follow Ruth through her story, we examine the Christian response to a "fallen woman", in this case a woman who is more of a victim than a willful hardened sinner. Gaskell weaves a tale that has a clear message regarding the life-changing power of grace and love as contrasted with the harmful damage of prideful legalism.
The moralizing and "preaching" are kept to a minimum - unlike some Victorian books, even others by Gaskell herself - I felt like she did a good job of showing rather than telling to illustrate her point. But there are a few detours into that type of narrative and dialogue, which are not my favorite.
I also really did not love the ending. I wont' say more because I don't want to spoil it, but... yeah... Why did you have to go and do it that way, Gaskell?
What I did love was Gaskell's ability to take us through the emotions that the characters experienced. There were quite a few Jacob-wrestling-with-the-angel moments that various characters - particularly Ruth - went through. And we as the reader wrestle right there with the character, struggling through a variety of questions and desperate situations.
And back to the point of the story here - truly, it was a beautiful exploration of God's love and grace transforming a life and a person. ❤️...more
Philip was a fantastic realistic villain. You've probably met people like him, people so sure they are right 3.5 ⭐
First, what I liked about the book:
Philip was a fantastic realistic villain. You've probably met people like him, people so sure they are right about, well, everything, that you can never contradict them or have a discussion with them. And they are quite sure that they have achieved perfection, while the rest of us wallow in our mediocrity. That's Philip.
I liked how she was contrasting the two heirs: one had all the appearance of goodness, and the other all the actual goodness. But the second one had to grow and develop into that goodness, and that part was well done.
All the characters were very well drawn, in fact, and we really get to know them intimately. Yonge spends a lot of time building this story and crafting these characters.
I loved the emotions she generated throughout the story telling.
What I didn't like as much:
The moralizing. People complain about the preachiness of contemporary Christian authors but I'm sorry, they've got nothing on those Victorians! Especially CMY, who not only was Victorian, but specifically a Christian Victorian, who wanted to share her vision of an ideal Christian life through her books. The result was too didactic, idealistic, and saccharine for me.
The length. Honestly, she could have knocked off a couple hundred pages and that would have given the book another star in my mind. There was just way too much detail in every single scene. And I don't mind long books as a rule. I've read quite a few in my life. And I appreciate that she really took the time to craft these characters and build this story, but I still think it could have been significantly trimmed....more
This was my second time reading this one - I read it last year when reading Mansfield Park, and read it again for the same reason. Honestly, it was beThis was my second time reading this one - I read it last year when reading Mansfield Park, and read it again for the same reason. Honestly, it was better for me on this re-read, maybe because I listened to the audio version that had different voice actors for each character. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was humorous and lighthearted and kind of silly, but fun....more
Well done for a 17-year-old (LMA's age when she wrote it), but the plot is a little too convenient and the characters a little too one-sided/one-3.5 ⭐
Well done for a 17-year-old (LMA's age when she wrote it), but the plot is a little too convenient and the characters a little too one-sided/one-dimensional. It definitely gives dreamy young adult vibes. A fun little story, and essential reading for any Alcott fan....more
This was such an interesting book, and almost defies description and categorization. I waffle between thinking it brilliant and clever, or seriously aThis was such an interesting book, and almost defies description and categorization. I waffle between thinking it brilliant and clever, or seriously amateur.
⛪️ First of all, I find the narrator (the titular character) to be not very trustworthy, a literary device I didn't think was in existence until much later. However, he quite often insists one thing but subsequent events are another thing altogether. I think HE is perfectly sincere... but oblivious, both to himself, his family, and the situations that arose throughout the story.
⛪️ Another thing that makes me suspect the trustworthiness of the narrator is his unfailing insistence of his own goodness, and his pious, overly sentimental view of life, well padded with trite religiosity. He says a lot of things that sound really good but nothing backs them up. He fails spectacularly at even the most basic common sense, putting me much in mind of another famous literary Vicar (curate?), Mr. Collins.
⛪️ Speaking of, this book obviously highly influenced Jane Austen, but she was way better. There is no question of her brilliance and whether or not she is being ironical, satirical, or serious at any given moment.
⛪️ Anyway, the prose in this book flowed quite easily, and if it WAS satirical, I think it was quite cleverly done. If you read it that way, as I did, there are at least two layers of story happening: the one according to the narrator, and the real one. And the real one mocking the narrator all the while.
⛪️ The storyline is very reminiscent of the book of Job. And all the problems in the story are just as miraculously solved, all in one fell swoop in the final chapter....more
This is one where I give 5 stars out of appreciation and respect rather than straight enjoyment.
In other words, the archaic language made it somewhatThis is one where I give 5 stars out of appreciation and respect rather than straight enjoyment.
In other words, the archaic language made it somewhat of a challenge to read, so it definitely was not a mindless pleasure read type of enjoyment. I'm not intellectual enough to pick up this sort of book "just for fun" and/or entertainment. It was more of an educational read for me, and in that respect, I appreciated it.
Besides that, my reading preferences tend toward realism - magical fanciful stories and allegories are not genres I choose for pleasure reading, even excellent classic ones. The genre of this book, therefore, is not my preferred genre.
However. The excellence of a thing doesn't always lie in my subjective enjoyment of it, and that's where I give this 5 stars. With the help of the footnotes and the word definitions, once I got into the flow of the language, it was very easy to understand. Spenser wasn't trying to be coy, ironic, or obscure like so many authors today. He tells it like it is, but eloquently.
In this first book of six, we follow Redcross the knight on his journey toward holiness, and the snags and temptations he meets along the way. It's a lovely allegory of the process of sanctification, and Spenser very capably describes the foes that every believer encounters on that journey: pride, despair, lust, deception, hypocrisy and more. His crowning moment and the great trial that purifies him the most is his battle with the dragon, which is quite epic all by itself. He thereby wins the hand of the fair maiden Una, and thus concludes his story.
While it can be difficult to look past the archaic language, this story is perfectly relevant for modern readers, not only because it heavily influenced many of the authors we know and love, C S Lewis most especially. What Redcross experiences metaphorically, we all experience materially. We face the same giants and monsters he did. In particular, the Canto where he meets up with Despair felt startlingly modern to me, unfamiliar patterns of speech notwithstanding. That Canto was gold right there, the truth within it just as relevant and vital today as it was several hundred years ago....more
Anne (In Search of Wonder)
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