Far From the Madding Crowd - April 2017

[Kaycie]

Here is the thread for this month's Love read, Far From the Madding Crowd. It is my FAVORITE Hardy novel, so I'll join in the discussion, but won't do a reread. Who will be discussing with me?

[Leslie]

I reread this a few years ago so I won't be rereading it at this time.

[Darren]

I nominated this, so will be reading it(!), but bit choc-a atm so will be later in the month...

[Dennis]

After you read it, I'd enjoy your comments on the movie version. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2935476/

[Kaycie]

Dennis- I super enjoyed the new movie! When I saw the movie was coming out I was really excited/scared...like you love the book so you are glad they are making a movie, but scared that they will ruin it for you. It had been awhile since I read the book, but all of my favorite scenes were in the movie and were well done, and I think all of the characters matched well to my idea of them and their personalities. One of the few real book to movie winners for me!

Have you seen the movie? Thoughts?

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees]

I saw the most recent version of the movie when it was in theaters--I've never read the book, but I thought the movie was well done (my daughter, twelve at the time, said, as we were leaving the theater, 'Best. Movie. Ever.')

Trouble is, I thought the movie was done well enough that I don't really have much desire to read the book now. I've got more than enough other books on my TBR pile--I think I can safely move this one to the bottom of the pile. I might pick it up someday when I've forgotten the film.

[Kaycie]

Hi Cphe! Thanks for joining us! What did you think of this book? Have you read any other Hardy novels that you could compare it to? Have you seen the movie?

Bryan, I honestly loved this book, BUT it took me a really long time to get into. It developed slowly, and only after a significant investment did I feel it paying off. I can see why relegating it to the bottom of the TBR pile seems tempting, and I can't find a good reason to argue you out of it if you saw the movie. The big/good stuff is there, and I actually didn't feel like I was missing tons of the book-ishness in the move, which I often feel in a movie.

If your daughter loved it so much, has she read the book? I'd ask if she tried any other Hardy, but Madding is probably his only not completely depressing novel, so its hard to recommend others that would compare!

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees]

Bryan, I honestly loved this book, BUT ..."

Hi Kaycie--my daughter loved the movie, but I think Hardy's prose is still a little bit much for her (she's 14 now). Not that she couldn't read it if she really wanted to, but I don't think she has that much patience yet. I understand--I doubt I could have read Hardy at 14 either.

I did listen to an audiobook version of Jude the Obscure, and while I thought it was depressing (almost unrealistically so), I thought Hardy's use of language was exquisite. Both The Return of the Native and The Mayor of Casterbridge are on my radar.

[Kaycie]

Yeah, I understand on his prose. It can get a bit dense at times, though it is generally wonderful.

Jude the Obscure was my least favorite Hardy, and I greatly enjoyed Return of the Native, so good luck with those! :-)

[Darren]

I started this last night, am 10% way in and finding it enchanting! it's a lot funnier than I expected too!

[Kaycie]

I'm impressed...it took a bit for me to get into this one, so being enchanted early on bodes well for you!

[Darren]

didn't quite live up to early promise
my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...