I kept going back and forth on this book as I read it. There are some passages that are beautifully written, and Goethe can really encapsulate what longing feels like or how complex life can be. Werther is a complex character, and with this plot, it would've been really easy for him to fall flat and be one-dimensional. His character is both admirable and appalling, humble and arrogant. I found that interesting.

BUT, there were also many moments where I wanted to chuck the book across the room and tell him to stop whining. There's a lot of whining in this book. Still, it's worth reading.