Group Classics Read - Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Mar & Apr 2018- SPOILERS ALLOWED

[Paul]

The discussion thread is now open. Spoilers are allowed on this thread. Don't read on if you haven't finished the book. Can you also unclick the 'Add to my update feed' people don't see your comments in their home screen.

Things to consider:

1. Did you like the book?
2. Do you think that the author covers the subject adequately?
3. Do you like the tone and language of the book?
4. Was there any part of the book that was important or significant to you?
5. Have you learnt anything from the book?
6. Has reading this encouraged you to look for other books on the subject?

[Saffron]

Never has a book stayed with me so long and affected me so deeply, I used to say I hated this book because it is so depressing. I read it years ago in my twenties, it's my Great Aunts favourite book of all time so she kept on at me to read it.

I have never read it again, not sure that I could, my anger at Angel Clare more than Alec D'urberville still seethes. As I got older and could still remember the whole story (which when you read between 50-100 books a year is a surprise, I forget some I read last month) and still feel the extreme emotion of anger at the injustice of the whole situation that I felt back years ago when reading it, I realise what a masterpiece this story is. As a forty something I have a greater appreciation of stories that are not always easy to digest but are amazing snippets of a generation in time. I suppose I should read it again and see how my memory compares to the story.

I would recommend it but only to those who would appreciate it, I have not read a Hardy book that has touched me in the same way since.

[Rebecca]

I hadn’t read Tess since school so had forgotten most of the storyline and really enjoyed rereading it.

Some people say Hardy is verbose and overly descriptive but I didn’t find this at all, I thought the writing style was very readable and not at all onerous.

Angel Clare made me want to throw the book across the room. His weakness, double standards and hypocrisy really infuriated me, I just wanted to shout at him and put forward all of the arguments that Tess wasn’t making. I think that not only says much about his character, but also shows how invested I was in Tess’ character and the storyline.

Alec treated Tess badly but he never really pretended to be anything other than a bad man. Doesn’t make it right but does make it a little easier to take.

As for Tess, some people say she’s weak and suggest she could stand up for herself more but I see her as proud, hardworking, someone who always tries to be good and to remain positive despite all of her hardships, and someone with an endless capacity for love. She never stops trying to provide for her thankless family and never stops loving people no matter how much they let her down.

Unfortunately the themes of hypocrisy, twisted morals, victim-blaming, woman-hating, and the evils of religious judgement are still relevant today.

[Annika]

The moment I finished this book I said aloud "poor Tess". It was heartbreaking to read how she was let down over and over again. I was absolutely furious at her useless, selfish father. If it weren't for him none of this would have happened to Tess. She was dealt so many bad hands, I read this book as a disaster story. I was glad at last that she had 5 days of pure happiness before she was apprehended, and I think those five days would have been preferable to living a few years with Alec before he discarded her.

[Pat]

I read this at school and the whole class fell in love with it. It’s the only book I re read every few years and find something different in it each time. Each time I cry at the end, even though I know what’s coming. Tess weak? I think Hardy wanted to show how strong she was. She just kept going. She stood up to her men and told them what she thought. A wonderful book.