‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ – what does everyone think so far? How far along are you and what’s your first impression?

I am bored with it. I really considered putting it down and switching books, but I was half way done with it. (I am now at 80%.) While I appreciate the story, I am not captivated.
However, I have found many quotes from Hardy that make me say “wow.”

For example: Boldwood is speaking to Bathsheba and says “Everything is changed, and that by you alone, remember. You were nothing to me once, and I was contented; you are now nothing to me again, and how different the second is to the first! Would to God you had never taken me up, since it was only to throw me down!”
So much feeling!!

Also I don’t really care for Bathsheba… and I love Gabriel.

Precisely!

I finished it this morning… at least there is a happy-ish ending.