I’m a big fan of Victorian fiction, but I agree with you about Hardy. Charles Dickens or George Eliot or W M Thackeray or Anthony Trollope are all better.
If you want some stronger more positive female characters try George Eliot – Middlemarch is imposingly thick, but it’s a wonderful read to repay your persistence. I read The Road to Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead by way of prep – her enthusiasm and knowledge all really added to my enjoyment.
Vanity Fair was also a surprisingly good yarn (another imposingly long book). It was also fun picking up on all the parallels to War & Peace. Tolstoy admired VF and there are quite a few resemblances!
Because of the empathy I feel for Tess, the way Tess’ life unfolds as a result of her parents actions, Durbeville and other events. The ending is so tragic it makes me cry every time.
Because I think, if I recall, she met and married a man who worked for him in the wheat business, and then he became more prosperous than the Mayor and he was finally ousted. It’s been a while.
Neither did i
I know not all stories end well, but that was very disappointing.
I can’t remember why I didn’t like it I just know I couldn’t wait for it to end
I agree about wanting it to end.
I’m a big fan of Victorian fiction, but I agree with you about Hardy. Charles Dickens or George Eliot or W M Thackeray or Anthony Trollope are all better.
I’ve been working thru any classics I find that I didn’t read in school. That one has ruined my mood.
If you want some stronger more positive female characters try George Eliot – Middlemarch is imposingly thick, but it’s a wonderful read to repay your persistence. I read The Road to Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead by way of prep – her enthusiasm and knowledge all really added to my enjoyment.
Vanity Fair was also a surprisingly good yarn (another imposingly long book). It was also fun picking up on all the parallels to War & Peace. Tolstoy admired VF and there are quite a few resemblances!
I read it a while back. It may sound immature, but I couldn’t agree with the climax. I cried to sleep, that night.. 🙁
I was wishing for a miracle too.
I loved all of his books
I wish I could. I don’t like to be disappointed in a book.
I want to read House of Mirth but i know it ends badly so i still haven’t been able to read it
Thanks for the tip. I should probably avoid it too.
No problem! I loved Count of Monte Cristo and North and South though!
Thanks. I will look for them at my next library book sale!
House of mirth is tragic but beautiful! But if you want to try out that writer on less of a down note, read Age of Innocence instead. So phenom
@Joy yes I loved Agree of Innocence that’s why i tried House of Mirth!
Also the North and South adaptation that you can watch on Netflix is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!! Mr Thornton ???
Yeeees! ?
Didn’t like the ending, prefer to watch at TV please don’t hate me everyone
No hating here. There are several books that I like better in the movie or tv version. ?
Had to read it in college and didn’t enjoy it.
Have tried it several times WANTING to love it but never finished it.
I hated that book! The double standard just made me so angry! I know it was common for the time, but it just made me angry.
Knowing the hopeless storyline, I wouldn’t even touch this – Hardy can be so depressing. You’re braver than me making the attempt!
I’m about half way through it just now but I thought it had been very good so far
That is one book am NEVER reading again.
Exactly how I feel. Hardy set it up to CLEARLY make the point about women being trapped in an unjust system, but it was too painful to read.
Yes too painful
@Iso
It’s my favourite ever book!!!
Why?
Because of the empathy I feel for Tess, the way Tess’ life unfolds as a result of her parents actions, Durbeville and other events. The ending is so tragic it makes me cry every time.
Loved it
Read that in high school. Legitimately asked my teacher wtf you got me reading? ???
Loved it. Hard working girl. And a beauty.
Hardy uses a lot of big words. You almost have to have a dictionary by your side. But its worth it.
Far From the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure and Tess are some of my all time faves.
Me Too! Was beginning to think I was in the minority
I think you are not suppose to like the ending. I’m not a huge fan of Hardy, though I should as I’ve lived in what was called Emminster.
Far from the Madding Crowd is my favorite Hardy. Tess is sad, but a cautionary tale of the times.
The Mayor of Casterbridge was my first Hardy. Great! He sold his wife at a fair and later learned to regret it large.
Y did he regret it?
Because I think, if I recall, she met and married a man who worked for him in the wheat business, and then he became more prosperous than the Mayor and he was finally ousted. It’s been a while.
@Les would u recommend
Most definitely.
I never liked Thomas Hardy until a few years ago I read The Mayor of Casterbridge and I enjoyed it alot.
I was majorly desperadoes when I finished it:(
Have not read the book, saw the movie and it was good but very tragic ending. Reminded me of Othello.
It’s sad. Hardy is a genius though. Far from the madding crowd is his masterpiece
My favorite Hardy novel is “The Mayor of Casterbridge.”
I’m a big fan of Thomas hardy, but that’s one Hardy novel I haven’t read yet.
I loved it because it was so depressing? I don’t know but sometimes I get tired of happy endings ??♀️
I read it years ago and loved it.