Tess of the D’Urbervilles
discussion
Did you finish reading the book?
It is my favorite novel of all time, so it is not an unbiased source!There are slow points, for sure, I admit that.
I felt the same way. I know some people who absolutely loved it, but it took me forever to finish and I didn't like it so much... I only finished because I made myself.
This may well be Hardy's masterpiece, and one of my top ten faves. Slow points? I really don't know what you mean. It's a pastoral novel, things move slowly. The landscape is an integral part of the story. If the depictions of it bored you, don't read any other Hardy novels; they'd be wasted on you.
No Terry, don't misunderstand. The novel is not dull and boring for me. If I am losing heart is because of what Tess is living (It's amazing but at the same time deceiving how Hardy has written the novel and its events).
This was one of my favorite books.
I finished it, but it isn't for the faint hearted. I've read other books by Hardy,not recently though. He seems to favour depressing themes, which currently I don't wish to read..
Yes, if you like happy endings, he is not the author for you.
Angie wrote: "Did you finish reading the book?, why or why not?I am reading it right now and as I am advancing I am losing heart to continue. I want to know if someone has felt the same I feel right now. If ..."
ive read this novel of hardy and i find it very interesting..what makes you faint hearted? actually this novel is one of my all time favorites.
Alan wrote: "Yes, if you like happy endings, he is not the author for you."yes, that is true. my choice is somewhat like hardy's novels. have you read Mcteague? of Frank norris? this novel is also interesting.. hardy's an english and norris an american.
Alan wrote: "It is my favorite novel of all time, so it is not an unbiased source!There are slow points, for sure, I admit that."
Yeas!! i really Thomas Hardy.. but I wasnt able yet to read more of his Classics due to unavailability.
TerryD wrote: "This may well be Hardy's masterpiece, and one of my top ten faves. Slow points? I really don't know what you mean. It's a pastoral novel, things move slowly. The landscape is an integral part o..."I agree with you!! definitely, it's a pastoral novel.. and hardy got famous cos of this novel. England did not give him a chance to publish this novel..only in america that make a remarkable mark in literature
Yes, and I've read it several times. I have to admit that it had more appeal to me 30 years ago than it does today. It's a book that has endless possibilities for study and discussion.
Angie wrote: "Did you finish reading the book?, why or why not?I am reading it right now and as I am advancing I am losing heart to continue. I want to know if someone has felt the same I feel right now. If ..."
I think part of our problem with Tess today is that we are not a society that accepts that someone will continue to have misfortune after misfortune and have no control over her own life. I remember that I loved it the times I've read it, but it is hard to accept her lack of hope sometimes.
Katrina wrote: "Angie wrote: "Did you finish reading the book?, why or why not?I am reading it right now and as I am advancing I am losing heart to continue. I want to know if someone has felt the same I feel ri..."
=)
Thomas Hardy's themes are generally social injustice, and Tess is no exception. He describes his characters and settings with great mastery, able to transport we readers to his towns and countrysides. Even though sadness and bleakness pervade his writings, he has been a favorite of mine for many years...and Tess is my all time Hardy favorite.
I read this at school and it still is one of my favourite books. Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite authors, the way he writes is delicious.
Yes, as it was for school. However, I don't plan to re-read it any time soon. There are too many other books to read for the first time.
I did. The part where she is at the farm is my favorite.
I just finished reading it. It isn't my favorite Hardy book and I found myself really getting impatient with Tess. I had to keep reminding myself of the time it was written in and what Hardy was trying to say about the culture. One of my gr.grandmothers was milkmaid in the 1800's so reading about Tess's life at the dairy was really interesting for me
I am finding it rather disappointing. His writing is rather dense and I don't empathyse with any of the characters. Not even Tess. I am half way through the book and I am not really appreciating it. I don't like Clare much or Alec.
This is one of my favorite books ever, the ending being one of the most powerful ones I've ever read. I've read other Hardy works (Far From the Madding Crowd), but that one pales in comparison to this one, in my opinion.
I love this novel - I am a big Thomas Hardy fan. It is worth finishing.
Karen wrote: "I just finished reading it. It isn't my favorite Hardy book and I found myself really getting impatient with Tess. I had to keep reminding myself of the time it was written in and what Hardy was..."Perhaps this is out of the norm for you, that is reading something in a different time in history. To read Tess you must have an understanding of the time, place and the morals. Maybe you will enjoy your read more if you do a bit of research.
Catherine wrote: "Karen wrote: "I just finished reading it. It isn't my favorite Hardy book and I found myself really getting impatient with Tess. I had to keep reminding myself of the time it was written in and..." I regularly read 19th century literature and have a good understanding of the standards that prevailed. I still believe Tess was poorly drawn as a character. The book was melodramatic. Hardy did much better with Jude the Obscure and Far From the Madding Crowd.
the ONLY book i have ever been unable to finish!
Not every book is for everyone.
I am struggling with finishing this book. I though the part when she met Clare to be ok, but the rest of the book doesn't hold my interest. I hate the writing which is dense and a bit dull. I will finish it, though
Angie wrote: "No Terry, don't misunderstand. The novel is not dull and boring for me. If I am losing heart is because of what Tess is living (It's amazing but at the same time deceiving how Hardy has written the..."I think by this statement you have proved how brilliantly Hardy has done his job and how emotive and evocative his writing is. It is a a beautiful book and i have finished it many times.
If you're finding it difficult to finish Tess, don't even bother with the Woodlanders! Hardy is brilliant and all of his books are well worth finishing.
The writing is dense, but it is like poetry, and the descriptions of everything is better than any movie could be. The plots are always of people doing what they ought not to have done, but that's just the structure. None of his books could be boring because the language is so stunning. If you're looking for page-turning, tricky, intricate plots, look elsewhere. If you want to be transported, this is the guy.
Robert, you have described Hardy's writing in a beautiful way. How can on not appreciate Hardy?
I always feel this way while reading classics. What I generally do is I read another book (maybe a fast paced, recent mystery) along with the classic. Thing is, with classics, it is very difficult to skip/skim paragraphs as the thoughts are so beautifully expressed. At the same time, this very fact makes the read a slow one.
Don't take me the wrong way, I love classics,but like in other books, people have their opinions. I find Oscar Wilde more to my pleasing than Hardy and some don't like Wilde the way I do. The writing is poetic, but I think it failed to hold my interest. The only character that did was Tess herself and I was half the book finding it hard not to punch her parents and Alec.
Angie wrote: "Did you finish reading the book?, why or why not?I am reading it right now and as I am advancing I am losing heart to continue. I want to know if someone has felt the same I feel right now. If yo..."
This took me great persistence but eventually finished it. Might give it another read and hopefully find it more enjoyable this time
It took me 3 times to get finish Tess and its more than worthwhile..Half the writing is wonderful and some of the best descriptions of landscapes and people. You can get lost in this book truly. The story is unforgiving and a little stark but not all human life has a uplifting side to it ..keep on trying ..ive never personally managed a jane austen always got to page 100 and stopped so can empathize
Robert wrote: "The writing is dense, but it is like poetry, and the descriptions of everything is better than any movie could be. The plots are always of people doing what they ought not to have done, but that's..."I have to totally agree with you. I haven't seen the movie but the visuals the author brought to the reader were stunning and I loved the sad poetry of the book.
Yes, I did finish reading this book, but not because I enjoyed it but because I looked at it as a personal challenge.Maybe the wrong reasons to finish it lol xx
Yes,but it is dark and hard for the modern readers to get through at times. I love the music of the classic authors writing though so I usually do finish the book.
As I said earlier, I love this book. It is one of the few books I re-read, doing so every 7 or 8 years or so. Every time, it still moves me, and I get something new out of it.
Yes many years ago. I loved the book. Much latter I saw a movie of it but as usual I preferred the book. It left a great impression on me.
I never finished it, but not because I was bored or disliked the book. In fact I really enjoyed it. The truth is I couldn't bear the thought that Tess continues to be used, manipulated and mistreated by the men in her life. I suppose I was also made at Tess for letting them. She deserved so much better.
Yes, I liked it, but you do have to pretend that you're living in Tess' world in order to identify with her. Her problems, by today's standards, are hardly problems at all, yet they were her undoing in her world.
My favorite classic novel of all times! Narrative reveals intestinal fortitude in an egregiously unfairly ostracized character! Tess is a tragic character, subject to the oppression of her times, yet she possesses an incomparable inner strength to be admired!
I'd be curious what people who loved Tess think of my book, The Truth about Dandelions, in which the protagonist is actually studying Tess in university and comparing Tess as a tragic character to herself.
Love this novel and Hardy in general -I even named my last cat 'Tess' in honour of the book!
Angie wrote: "Did you finish reading the book?, why or why not?Does one ever 'finish' reading this wonderful novel?
I really love this novel and i don't remember any slow points. I found the novel very moving and i cried at the end, such a sad ending yet it was perfect. I don't think i would have felt the same about the book if it had a happy ending.
I had to read it for a class and I forced myself to finish.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
I am reading it right now and as I am advancing I am losing heart to continue. I want to know if someone has felt the same I feel right now. If you want to know I am in chapter 18 right now.
Note: This is not for spoilers, don't misunderstand.