Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

[Book Concierge]

I've read this three (or four) times. First when I was in high school and again just out of college. I think I may have read it about the time the movie starring Natasha Kinski came out, but I'm not sure. I listened to the audio last year - fantastic!

[Nicolle]

I have read just a little and do like Tess so far but not her father.

[[deleted user]]

Can't wait to get this started. I saw the last half hour of the...something Theatre? BBC movie...anyway, it had me intrigued, found out it was a book, now I have to read it.

[Nicolle]

Have just met Alex and I really don't know what to make of him, what does everyone else think?

[[deleted user]]

I've only read through chapter 3 so far. Need to read! I'm curious about the parents. They don't seem very...responsible on some fronts. The mom works all day but then to go out simply to have a good time. On one hand I applaud her for finding a way to enjoy herself but at the same time going out to get drunk with the hubby would only encourage him to drink more, wouldn't it?

[Nicolle]

Exactly, and doing it in an illegal pub! I also think they showed little concern about their son out at night coming to find them.

I noticed a reference to Casterbridge and recognised it because I know Hardy has another book called The Mayor of Casterbridge. Is it a real place?

[[deleted user]]

From what I gathered in the introduction in my book, most of the places he wrote about are real. The majority of them have different names though and about half of them are in different places than what's shown on the map.

Now I have met Alex and hate his stupid, prattish little arse. And I think the parents shouldn't be parents at all (which, unfortunately, tends to be how it works for those with that many children the majority of the time...sigh). Who lets their daughter just go off with a strange man in the hopes of being married just because he has a rich sounding name?! It's not even his real name!! BAH!! Bad parenting, Durbeyfields, bad!

[Nicolle]

I know Alex is a proper idiot. He risked her life for a kiss! I would've got the disinfectant out never mind just wiping it with my hankerchief! I'm not sure what to make of Mrs D'Uberville, she seems a bit mad for the chickens...I think no good can come from Tess going out at weekends either, especially ending up alone some of the time.

[Nicolle]

Cortney wrote: "You guys are way ahead of me. I'm about to play catch up."

I'm about 80 pages in I think.

[[deleted user]]

Oh dear. I think I need to slow down. I'm about 150 pages in now and I want to discuss what happened sooooo bad! I've been given more free time to read than I thought I'd have. Let me know when y'all catch up. I'll start another book so I don't chomp at the bit too much ;-)

[Nicolle]

S'ok....anyway am going to read for a couple of hours tonight so should catch up. :D

[Nicolle]

I know! And they feel the need to show off theit 'heritage'.

At the end af part 1...(view spoiler)[I am not really sure what went on, did Alex take advantage of Tess when she was asleep? Why did she suddenly leave after staying a month after that night? The gap between the end of the first part and the beginning of the second really baffles me! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Nicolle wrote: "I know! And they feel the need to show off theit 'heritage'.

At the end af part 1...[spoilers removed]"

In answer to that (view spoiler)[I believe she stayed out of humiliation. She couldn't just go home claiming something happened when her family was being such a bunch of prats. But upon waiting a month and missing her period...now THAT is reason to leave. She couldn't stay, I'm pretty sure Alex would've been a huger jerk about it than her family was. I mean, how many guys who rape (yes, he raped her while she was asleep, I'm assuming she woke up in the act) decide that they'll go ahead and take care of the child they forced into the woman? Maybe .001 percent? Something tells me he doesn't fall into that margin. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicolle]

In reaction to that.. (view spoiler)[ OMG I cannot belive it...how did you decifer that from just reading the book? I think this shows my newness to classics. Alex is such a prat and I feel like we haven't seen the last of him. I bet Tess' mother isn't so into Alex once she finds out this (if she does). I am so angry at him now he is even worse thanI imagined. I bet the other workers saw that coming...just another question, why are some of the characters called queen of this and that? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Hahahaha! I'd like to take credit and say I'm just an amazing classics reader but to be honest it took me looking back at the introduction, doubling back to the scene, going back to the place I was at, connecting the dots, going back to the scene again, and then going "Ooooooooooooooooh...THAT'S what happened." I never would've known if I hadn't reread a part of the introduction though that hints at it.

As for the titles, I have no clue. It kinda explained it in a garbled way that I didn't understand either. I don't think it's super important to the book though, but if it is I guess I'll be doubling back again ;-)

[Nicolle]

Dani wrote: "Hahahaha! I'd like to take credit and say I'm just an amazing classics reader but to be honest it took me looking back at the introduction, doubling back to the scene, going back to the place I was..."

If I had read on another chapter I would've kind of found out because (view spoiler)[ she has the baby. I cannot believe it died though! I would be so devastated...I wondered why people told me this book was depressing before I started it. I now know why. (hide spoiler)]

Cortney wrote: "On page 66. Alex is not very nice. "You artful hussy." & Then d'Urberville cursed and swore at her, and called her everything he could think of for the trick."

He is ...(am trying to think of a non-swear word to describe him)...VILE.

[Book Concierge]

Just a suggestion ... instead of concentrating on the various plot points think about what Hardy is saying about the role of women in this society and this time period. Consider the various characters's strengths and weaknesses ... and can a strength be also considered a weakness? Wallow the in the beauty of Hardy's prose; it's really extraordinary in places.

[[deleted user]]

Vile is certainly the word. A very good non-swear word. Brownie points for you!

[Nicolle]

:D

At part three (view spoiler)[ I am really enjoying her time at the dairy farm, and she speaks so poetically to Clare especially when he sees her after he plays the harp in that garden. I really do like him, but wonder if he is as much of a gentleman as he seems. He is a bit pompous when it comes to family heritage and I'm not looking forward to seeing his reaction if he finds out about Tess' 'old family'. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

I finished reading it a few days ago and actually enjoyed it, but is it bad that I find tess anoying? Do you think it was written so you feel sympathy for her?

[[deleted user]]

Shannon - I don't think it's bad at all. From what I understand, Hardy is a generally depressing writer. I don't really understand her pessimism. Yeah, she's had some pretty big bumps in life, but her life hasn't been severely hard. Her family let her live with them when she had a bastard child, she has a good job, she isn't ill with anything. But no, woe is her. Bothers me too.

Nicolle - I don't know what to feel about him. I'm kinda suspicious of what will happen later with those two.

[[deleted user]]

Okay, so I've had this thought for a while now but upon reading further in (I'm about to start part six) I can't keep it in any longer: is anyone else beyond pissed at Tess? I'm not just annoyed like Shannon, I'm downright torqued off. Tess brings it all upon herself. Except for the first incident with Alec, a lot of her torture is self-torture. Talk about a pessimist! If she were a more lighthearted, optimistic character dealing with hardship I'd like her but she's just all "Woe is me! Everything I do is wrong! I can never do anything right!" Then she lets people walk all over her.

So NOT a heroine! Grrrr! I can't say much for Hardy throwing Tess a pity party every few pages. Instead of coming off as a tragic heroine (such as Anna Karenina) he portrays her as a depressed doomsayer. Yes, some of the events she goes through are due to status, family roles, and that of being a woman in general. But that is certainly not the majority, in my mind.

[Nicolle]

I know....they I wanted some of the cake at the pity party it was so miserable! Still haven't finished but I have to admit I do love the book, just Tess is a bit sappy. At the part when Tess tells Clare about her past and he's gone all moody...

[Nicolle]

Finished! I loved it! I thought despite the
general depressed mood of the novel, it was rather romantic, and Hardy's language is really like no others.

Unexpected ending! I was (still am) gobsmacked!!

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

I loved the way Hardy described the setting, but the characters I did not like. Angel Clare was such a hypocrite, and Tess was weak. I think the novel could have been so much better if she stopped letting everything fall on her, and took a stand for herself.

[Yun]

Margaret wrote: "...Angel Clare was such a hypocrite, and Tess was weak. I think the novel could have been so much better if she stopped ..."
Totally agree. But there's still very real though. Tess is extremely downtrodden. I love her last letter to Angel. still 10% left. I think it's a brilliant classic!