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oldenglishrose's review
5.0
South Riding is set in Yorkshire in the first half of the 1930′s, focusing on the everyday lives of the people who live there. There is Sarah Burton, the new headmistress of the girls’ school who returns to the area armed with progressive ideas and is determined to make a difference; there is Mrs Beddows, the council’s only female alderman who is torn between her desire for progress and her personal loyalties; and there is Robert Carne, staunch proponent of the old ways, desperately trying to care for his mad wife and fragile daughter while not losing his tenuous hold on his lands. The book chronicles their struggles, sometimes against each other, sometimes alongside one another for a common cause, and those of a whole host of other characters.
The cast of this novel is huge, with more than a hundred characters (listed handily after the introduction), but it never feels overpopulated or confusing. In fact, they are what makes South Riding such a great read. I felt as though I knew each and every one of those characters, even if we only had a nodding acquaintance. It is testament to Winifred Holtby’s writing skill that she manages to create such a wide variety of characters with equal authenticity; I believe in Midge Carne, who is young, female, highly strung and unthinkingly cruel, just as much as I believe in Castle, who is an elderly, male, gentle salt of the earth type. I particularly liked the fact that no character is as straightforward as they at first seem, and not in a gimmicky everyone-has-a-dark-secret way, but in a these-are-all-real-people-with depth way. They aren’t defined by their quirks, but these help to gain a deeper insight into the characters and why they behave the way they do. Councillor Snaith at home with his cats was a particular favourite of mine.
A wide range of characters means a wide range of relationships, and here too Winifred Holtby excels. Whether two people are cooperating or at loggerheads they always act in a way that is so appropriate and well described that I experienced everything along with them. Tom and Lily’s relationship broke my heart time and time again, and they are relatively minor characters (if there can be said to be such a thing in this novel). Not only does she write scenes tightly focused on one individual or group, she also writes the best, most effective crowd scenes I’ve ever read. The outside performance put on by Madam Hubbard’s girls, at which cast and audience alike spend more time focusing on their own individual thoughts and agendas than the show, is an absolute masterpiece. Her writing reveals a wealth of life experience put to very good use.
I also appreciated the fact that, although people struggle and fight with one another, there is no cruel, cackling villain in this book. The characters go through hard times and experience tragedy, but that is because life is hard rather than because someone is plotting against them. Harvests fail so people lose their money. People become sick and, because they are poor, they die. It’s all very matter-of-fact and realistic. This may make the novel sound rather bleak, and it’s definitely not without its bleak moments, but there is also a great deal of comedy in this book. There is stoicism but there is also humour; the people of South Riding endure hardships and they do so with a shrug and a grin. Despite some of the tragedies that occur, Holtby never allows characters to wallow or the tightly controlled plot to spiral into melodrama, which I find only adds to the pathos. I’m sad to leave South Riding and it’s definitely a novel that I’ll be rereading in the future.
The cast of this novel is huge, with more than a hundred characters (listed handily after the introduction), but it never feels overpopulated or confusing. In fact, they are what makes South Riding such a great read. I felt as though I knew each and every one of those characters, even if we only had a nodding acquaintance. It is testament to Winifred Holtby’s writing skill that she manages to create such a wide variety of characters with equal authenticity; I believe in Midge Carne, who is young, female, highly strung and unthinkingly cruel, just as much as I believe in Castle, who is an elderly, male, gentle salt of the earth type. I particularly liked the fact that no character is as straightforward as they at first seem, and not in a gimmicky everyone-has-a-dark-secret way, but in a these-are-all-real-people-with depth way. They aren’t defined by their quirks, but these help to gain a deeper insight into the characters and why they behave the way they do. Councillor Snaith at home with his cats was a particular favourite of mine.
A wide range of characters means a wide range of relationships, and here too Winifred Holtby excels. Whether two people are cooperating or at loggerheads they always act in a way that is so appropriate and well described that I experienced everything along with them. Tom and Lily’s relationship broke my heart time and time again, and they are relatively minor characters (if there can be said to be such a thing in this novel). Not only does she write scenes tightly focused on one individual or group, she also writes the best, most effective crowd scenes I’ve ever read. The outside performance put on by Madam Hubbard’s girls, at which cast and audience alike spend more time focusing on their own individual thoughts and agendas than the show, is an absolute masterpiece. Her writing reveals a wealth of life experience put to very good use.
I also appreciated the fact that, although people struggle and fight with one another, there is no cruel, cackling villain in this book. The characters go through hard times and experience tragedy, but that is because life is hard rather than because someone is plotting against them. Harvests fail so people lose their money. People become sick and, because they are poor, they die. It’s all very matter-of-fact and realistic. This may make the novel sound rather bleak, and it’s definitely not without its bleak moments, but there is also a great deal of comedy in this book. There is stoicism but there is also humour; the people of South Riding endure hardships and they do so with a shrug and a grin. Despite some of the tragedies that occur, Holtby never allows characters to wallow or the tightly controlled plot to spiral into melodrama, which I find only adds to the pathos. I’m sad to leave South Riding and it’s definitely a novel that I’ll be rereading in the future.
stefhyena's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Based on the preface etc I expected it to be more feminist. As just a classic it was OK I guess. The writing was good. The pace was slow but at times it was interesting (maybe also because I read most of it on planes where I was so bored).
I had a problem with the book's ultimate fatalism disguised as positivity. Nothing really matters. Values and politics is arbritary and will fall into progress just from people striving. Everyone is basically well intentioned. I think time has well and truly debunked such a philosophy and I found it hard to be patient with it, especially in the slowest most dribbly bits (although in some places it almost questioned it).
I loathed Carne. I think to enjoy this book you would have to basically see him as a good guy and I just don't. Not even grey.
I can't imagine what Sarah Waters saw in this book!
I had a problem with the book's ultimate fatalism disguised as positivity. Nothing really matters. Values and politics is arbritary and will fall into progress just from people striving. Everyone is basically well intentioned. I think time has well and truly debunked such a philosophy and I found it hard to be patient with it, especially in the slowest most dribbly bits (although in some places it almost questioned it).
I loathed Carne. I think to enjoy this book you would have to basically see him as a good guy and I just don't. Not even grey.
I can't imagine what Sarah Waters saw in this book!
hozza's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Enjoyable easy reading with well formed characters and a intriguing community
faith123's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
oliviasbookshop's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kchessrice's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The main storyline follows Sarah Burton, the headmistress of South Riding's high school for girls. Sarah is intelligent, clever and full of ambition for "her girls". She faces many battles to win the hearts and minds of the townspeople - and her own School Board! One of her strongest opponents is Robert Carne, owner of 'the big house' with a mentally ill wife being looked after in a nursing home which is using up all his money (shades of Jane Eyre here!).
Holtby's work has been compared as similar in theme and scope (and length!) as George Eliot and Charles Dickens - and I can see why! The fictionalised parish of South Riding in Yorkshire is the setting for a story about the people who live in the town and surrounding villages, and the people who sit on the Council making decisions that will impact all their lives. The most contemporary novel I can think of that is similar is The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling.
For me, the most interesting theme is the importance of a good education for young girls. I loved the character of 15 year old Lydia Holly, who has ambitions of getting herself out of the drudgery of the life she lives with her parents and multiple younger siblings. Unfortunately, she is forced to leave school to help look after their run down shack of a home and bring up the children. How keenly I felt that disappointment with Lydia!
I must say that I rather trudged through the trials and tribulations of South Riding (I think I understand the term "hate reading" a bit better now!). The group chat with the other #QuietClassics2023 readers definitely pulled me through! I appreciate there is much to enjoy in the writing, however there were too many characters with their own side plots for me and I didn't feel I had enough time with the ones I liked. It was also very bleak! Don't hang about too long in South Riding or you'll come to a sudden end... Man, child or horse, none were safe!!
Holtby's work has been compared as similar in theme and scope (and length!) as George Eliot and Charles Dickens - and I can see why! The fictionalised parish of South Riding in Yorkshire is the setting for a story about the people who live in the town and surrounding villages, and the people who sit on the Council making decisions that will impact all their lives. The most contemporary novel I can think of that is similar is The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling.
For me, the most interesting theme is the importance of a good education for young girls. I loved the character of 15 year old Lydia Holly, who has ambitions of getting herself out of the drudgery of the life she lives with her parents and multiple younger siblings. Unfortunately, she is forced to leave school to help look after their run down shack of a home and bring up the children. How keenly I felt that disappointment with Lydia!
I must say that I rather trudged through the trials and tribulations of South Riding (I think I understand the term "hate reading" a bit better now!). The group chat with the other #QuietClassics2023 readers definitely pulled me through! I appreciate there is much to enjoy in the writing, however there were too many characters with their own side plots for me and I didn't feel I had enough time with the ones I liked. It was also very bleak! Don't hang about too long in South Riding or you'll come to a sudden end... Man, child or horse, none were safe!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Mental illness, and Child abuse
reading_at_the_zoo's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
these_thats_and_prose's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
#quietclassics2023 choice for July, South Riding by Winifred Holtby is a sweeping novel depicting rural life in England. Set in the inter-war period it is a story about the passions, the bitterness and the tragedies of a Yorkshire district who are poised at the edge of change. Centred around the going’s on of the South Riding County Council, it is more than just a story of the politics of local government, it is a boundless novel that captures the life of the whole community.
At the beginning, I must admit I found South Riding a bit “twee” for my tastes, but the talent of the author to capture the vividness of the characters soon changed my mind and as it progressed, and their cheery veneers started to chip away I was addicted to that almost imperceptible change in the mood of the writing to something darker.
It has a bit of a meandering pace and quite long at almost 500 pages, however, the characterisation is so exquisite that I almost forgave how the length diluted the slow-moving plot even further. There is a romantic element to the story which unfortunately didn’t work for me, but because the stories of all the characters put together is so vast and pleasing, I also let this one slide.
sophronisba's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really loved this portrait of a town in the 1930s. It's a political/social novel so not all the characters are as developed as I would have liked them to be, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.