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asra's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
To me personally, this is far superior book than EG's most widely read novel 'North and South'. Thiugh the centeral theme of inequality of wealth and differences between capitalists and factory workers is shared by two books (EG seems to have a love for poor and underdogs), 'North and South' is, at the end of the day, a romantic novel with a 'happily ever after' that seems too fantastic and characters that don't seem capable of evil at all.
Mary Barton, on other hand, has a murder in its center. Thus characters are capable of evil - though often, it is argued, the acts done by them when they were 'not quite themself'; acting like Jungian archetypes.
Moreover, along with a boring romantic story (the adjective 'boring' almost seems redundant before 'romantic story'), there is a tragedy in this book - the act of murder arising out of misunderstandings between workers and capitalists which benifits no one.
Another thing that makes this book better is that Mary Barton is significantly better written and flawed than the goody two shoes heroine of other. The change of heart that the capitalist has in the end of the book is also not that fantastic.
This is EG's first novel and one of reasons why she took to writing was to get over loss of her son and a mourning father is one of most impressive images that occur here.
There are a lot of things that some reviewers consider 'flaws' in book like excessive religious and moralising tones which I don't think as faults. A good book has a part of author's personality in it and this personality can just as frequently be religious or moral. Moreover it is not EG who is religous in the end but characters who are religous and use it to examine their own characters. There are a few chapters I should like to cut to make it smaller but that seems to be my problems with most books.
Mary Barton, on other hand, has a murder in its center. Thus characters are capable of evil - though often, it is argued, the acts done by them when they were 'not quite themself'; acting like Jungian archetypes.
Moreover, along with a boring romantic story (the adjective 'boring' almost seems redundant before 'romantic story'), there is a tragedy in this book - the act of murder arising out of misunderstandings between workers and capitalists which benifits no one.
Another thing that makes this book better is that Mary Barton is significantly better written and flawed than the goody two shoes heroine of other. The change of heart that the capitalist has in the end of the book is also not that fantastic.
This is EG's first novel and one of reasons why she took to writing was to get over loss of her son and a mourning father is one of most impressive images that occur here.
There are a lot of things that some reviewers consider 'flaws' in book like excessive religious and moralising tones which I don't think as faults. A good book has a part of author's personality in it and this personality can just as frequently be religious or moral. Moreover it is not EG who is religous in the end but characters who are religous and use it to examine their own characters. There are a few chapters I should like to cut to make it smaller but that seems to be my problems with most books.
pathlesspisces's review against another edition
I just can’t make myself continue this at the moment. I think it’s a me problem, so I’ll probably get back to it eventually…
monazaneefer's review against another edition
2.0
Format: eBook
I was bored for the most part, including the second half which I've seen a lot say is when the pace picks up. I skipped paragraphs and paragraphs and even pages - I'd read the summary of the missed bits instead and realise I didn't miss out.
I get that Gaskell was trying to portray the destitution of industrial Manchester - and she does it well in that regard - but a lot of times there's too much exposition. And when there's not, there's so much focus on it happening to other people. It doesn't allow readers to connect to the primary characters enough.
So that's why I loved the storyline of John Barton. It was beautifully depicted and my heart goes out to him. Only wish I could say the same for the other characters; they were so superficially drawn. And btw too much blame was put on Mary - even when it wasn't her fault!! And having now read two of Gaskell's novels, her young female characters are the same. Majority of them can be merged and appear to be the same person. There's so little nuance + they don't actually have much of a personality to begin with.
I did however like the message brought out with the elder Mr Carson's change in understanding the situation. I wasn't expecting it.
I was bored for the most part, including the second half which I've seen a lot say is when the pace picks up. I skipped paragraphs and paragraphs and even pages - I'd read the summary of the missed bits instead and realise I didn't miss out.
I get that Gaskell was trying to portray the destitution of industrial Manchester - and she does it well in that regard - but a lot of times there's too much exposition. And when there's not, there's so much focus on it happening to other people. It doesn't allow readers to connect to the primary characters enough.
So that's why I loved the storyline of John Barton. It was beautifully depicted and my heart goes out to him. Only wish I could say the same for the other characters; they were so superficially drawn. And btw too much blame was put on Mary - even when it wasn't her fault!! And having now read two of Gaskell's novels, her young female characters are the same. Majority of them can be merged and appear to be the same person. There's so little nuance + they don't actually have much of a personality to begin with.
Spoiler
Will and Margaret's storyline was a bit too fluffy for me. So was the ending. Seriously....she got her sight ? + The part about finding Esther seemed a bit too neatly wrapped up for my liking. I think it's because overall Gaskell gave me too much closure for the entire story.I did however like the message brought out with the elder Mr Carson's change in understanding the situation. I wasn't expecting it.
lola_dob's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
larakai's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that makes you incredibly happy to not be living in Victorian times. Spoiler alert: everyone dies. Not really everyone, but it feels that way. Everyone is constantly on the verge of death, and you never know when a stray wind or sad feeling will be enough to put someone over the edge.
So, that being said and not surprisingly, this is not a particularly uplifting book. It's one part story and one part treatise on the struggles of the working class.
In my mind, Elizabeth Gaskell is like a gritty, industrial, Victorian Jane Austen. Her books are much darker and more depressing than any Austen novels, but they both are filled with social commentary and always have a love story with a happy ending.
Depressing as her books are, though, there is apparently just enough lightness and hope to keep you going. I always enjoy them.
So, that being said and not surprisingly, this is not a particularly uplifting book. It's one part story and one part treatise on the struggles of the working class.
In my mind, Elizabeth Gaskell is like a gritty, industrial, Victorian Jane Austen. Her books are much darker and more depressing than any Austen novels, but they both are filled with social commentary and always have a love story with a happy ending.
Depressing as her books are, though, there is apparently just enough lightness and hope to keep you going. I always enjoy them.
_bydbach_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 rounded up to 3. The middle section of this was excellent (from murder to the end of trial), but the start and end both dragged. Not my favourite Gaskell.