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ladyleckus's review
5.0
Wow, this might be my new favorite Bronte novel. This story centers about a young woman named Helen as she navigates a marriage with a troublesome husband. She is such a wonderful character; so strong and steadfast! Despite the 100+ years since its publication this story still manages to be incredible relateable. A women is deceived by an egotistical dude then trapped in a horrible relationship THEN is forced to escape but with limited resources. You never stop rooting for Helen and she never lets you down!
annettereads's review
3.0
3.5
I was surprised at how enjoyable this was. Strong feminist messages. Markham was a bit annoying and selfish (which was the point) and this may get on some people's nerves.
Excellent commentary on the bad-boy-but-I-can-fix-him theme
I was surprised at how enjoyable this was. Strong feminist messages. Markham was a bit annoying and selfish (which was the point) and this may get on some people's nerves.
Excellent commentary on the bad-boy-but-I-can-fix-him theme
whatsallyreadnext's review
Hailed as the first feminist novel written, this was what had grabbed my interest about the book and also the fact that I hadn't read Anne Brontë's work before.
The novel is based around the 'Tenant' (Helen) who decides to leave her alcoholic husband and escape to Wildfell Hall with her young son. Her decision to leave him is driven by his cruelty and witnessing her husband's corruption of their son. You can see how this would've been viewed as revolutionary at the time, especially as women didn't have the rights to own anything and wouldn't usually have stood up to men.
Therefore Helen fears that she will lose her son if her whereabouts are discovered by her husband due to these men-favouring laws. During her time at Wildfell Hall, Helen attracts the attention of Gilbert, a local farmer, but she tries to discourage his feelings for her despite liking him too.
"Revolting, coarse and disgusting" were some of the words that described the novel when it was first published. The novel's themes of gender inequality, addiction and abuse weren't typical of the usual books written at the time and even her sister Charlotte tried to stop the novel being republished after Anne's death.
Overall I'm glad that I read it but I didn't actually find it particularly enjoyable. It wasn't until volume 2 where you find out more about the Tenant through her diary entries that I found the story more interesting. The first part is narrated from Gilbert's point of view which I found pretty slow. I also didn't find the characters particularly likeable so wasn't entirely invested in their story.
Having said that though, I do think it's an important novel to read and would recommend it so that you can form your own opinions.
The novel is based around the 'Tenant' (Helen) who decides to leave her alcoholic husband and escape to Wildfell Hall with her young son. Her decision to leave him is driven by his cruelty and witnessing her husband's corruption of their son. You can see how this would've been viewed as revolutionary at the time, especially as women didn't have the rights to own anything and wouldn't usually have stood up to men.
Therefore Helen fears that she will lose her son if her whereabouts are discovered by her husband due to these men-favouring laws. During her time at Wildfell Hall, Helen attracts the attention of Gilbert, a local farmer, but she tries to discourage his feelings for her despite liking him too.
"Revolting, coarse and disgusting" were some of the words that described the novel when it was first published. The novel's themes of gender inequality, addiction and abuse weren't typical of the usual books written at the time and even her sister Charlotte tried to stop the novel being republished after Anne's death.
Overall I'm glad that I read it but I didn't actually find it particularly enjoyable. It wasn't until volume 2 where you find out more about the Tenant through her diary entries that I found the story more interesting. The first part is narrated from Gilbert's point of view which I found pretty slow. I also didn't find the characters particularly likeable so wasn't entirely invested in their story.
Having said that though, I do think it's an important novel to read and would recommend it so that you can form your own opinions.
gatoskynlaplaya's review
3.0
La última parte de este libro se desarma de tal forma, que arruinó todo mi entusiasmo.
sibilamesari's review
4.0
Though this book is in many ways dated, it is still relatable in many other ways. And some things in relationships just don't change, regardless how social norms and conventions change.
I appreciate that this is a very real story, tragic and emotional. The main thing stuck in my head is the main character's "bad boys just need the right woman to turn them good" mentality, that still so many girls and women believe. And that it shows that the bad boy is bad and you should turn around and go away, sooner better then later.
I appreciate that this is a very real story, tragic and emotional. The main thing stuck in my head is the main character's "bad boys just need the right woman to turn them good" mentality, that still so many girls and women believe. And that it shows that the bad boy is bad and you should turn around and go away, sooner better then later.
notagreatreader's review
5.0
I just finished this book and I wonder why don't people talk about it more. Like, it's such a chilling portrait of an abusive marriage written in times when everything had to be like all prim and proper, it was painful to listen to.
Helen is such a fascinating protagonist.At first we learn about the sort of woman she eventually becomes - self-reliant, calculating, subdued, only caring for her son. But then we're thrust back in time when she's still basically a carefree girl with a head full of romantic notions about life and marriage. We see how she changes and how her relationship with Mr Huntington progresses. It's just so scary because as a reader I can see all the red flags so clearly, I want to shout 'no, Helen, no!', but she marries him. However, I think, she's pretty quick to catch on what's going on. The first time he goes away for a long time, she misses him and wants him to come back, but after a while she just hopes that he stays away for a long time so that she can have time to 'fix' all the bad stuff he taught their son.
Which brings me to my favourite and a very chilling thing about Helen. Her husband teaches their son who's like 5 years old to drink alcohol. So, she sets out to make him hate it. She starts mixing something into it, to make him sick, and forces him to drink it. She also uses it as a punishment. It may seem cold, but it shows how far she's willing to go to protect her son and that she doesn't let her feelings to govern her. She will make her son suffer a little to protect him from a worse evil. And I think it's awesome, you don't often see this sort of thing in a female character.
What makes me really happy tho is that she ends up happy with her second husband.
Helen is such a fascinating protagonist.
Which brings me to my favourite and a very chilling thing about Helen. Her husband teaches their son who's like 5 years old to drink alcohol. So, she sets out to make him hate it. She starts mixing something into it, to make him sick, and forces him to drink it. She also uses it as a punishment. It may seem cold, but it shows how far she's willing to go to protect her son and that she doesn't let her feelings to govern her. She will make her son suffer a little to protect him from a worse evil. And I think it's awesome, you don't often see this sort of thing in a female character.
What makes me really happy tho is that she ends up happy with her second husband.
jayme's review
4.0
Loved the mystery in this book. It reminded me a little of [b:The Woman in White|5890|The Woman in White|Wilkie Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1295661017s/5890.jpg|1303710] with it's mysterious but downtrodden lady of Wildfell Hall. And having the story told through letters and diaries worked really well to keep the story interesting and twisty. I did not love the hero of the story though. Gilbert comes off as very full of himself without any redeeming qualities and yet still managed to get the girl .
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