Reviews

Evelina by Edward A. Bloom, Frances Burney

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erinalbion's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely delightful. I only regret I let this charming novel languish unread on my shelves for so many years. If you are a Jane Austen fan, this novel is a must read.

aclassicalmess's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-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

arash's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

pikaharlow98's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

elliemarie04's review against another edition

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lighthearted

1.5

jesforeverlostinbooks's review against another edition

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funny reflective slow-paced

4.0

Ok so this classic is a bit long & overly dramatic but it had me giggling throughout. It might have been because of the narration… which was fantastic! The audio I listened to was read by Orson Scott Card, Emily Rankin, Stefan Rudnicki & Gabrielle de Cuir. This classic was a favorite of Jane Austen’s… it’s crazy to think that I’ve now read a book that Jane Austen read & loved. This is an epistolary novel & is mostly told from Evelina’s perspective. Evelina is the unacknowledged but legitimate daughter of an English aristocrat but she is basically an orphan when her mother dies at her birth she has been raised by Reverend Arthur Villars… he made sure she was educated & loved. She is beautiful but she is timid, naive & somewhat clueless about the world. As she enters society she makes one blunder after another trying to find her footing. I loved watching her grow in confidence in her own abilities & discernment So many of these characters are crazy, dramatic & so over the top you can’t help but laugh. At times I got frustrated with all the miscommunication but it has a satisfying ending and if you like classics it’s worth the read.