Reviews

Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

krobart's review against another edition

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/08/27/review-1388-aurora-floyd/

margaretpottah's review against another edition

2.0

The quintessential sensationalist novel.
I read this for my Women in Victorian Literature class, which focuses specifically on the fallen women- this is certainly a good example. The mystery is not that intriguing and certainly east to figure out, but it's a nice book.

wolfsonarchitect's review against another edition

3.0

This might fall in the category of guilty pleasure. It’s a love story (or “marriage novel”) that turns into a mystery. The characters are a little overblown stereotypes. It’s an entertaining story and an interesting slice of Victorian life. It’s also noteworthy for the depiction of an early Scotland Yard detective - not the more polished, brilliant, scientific detective of later literature.

laurenjpegler's review

3.0

I have mixed feelings on this book. The first 300 pages were really quite slow, and although I enjoyed the commentary on marriage and women’s lives, I couldn’t help but grow a little disinterested in the story. BUT...but but but, the last 160 pages were so fast paced and such a major plot twist that I sped through them. Braddon has such a talent for writing sensation fiction. Her descriptions are also very beautiful; such a pleasure to read at certain points.

snelsie's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

allie_shu's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

classically_book_clubbin's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

jowmy4's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

novel_nomad's review

4.0

Another excellent Mary Elizabeth Braddon sensationalist novel, leaving enough space for the reader to speculate wildly on the wickedness of the heroine. I must admit that whilst the text is heavy with description, Braddon likes to subvert the concept of the ideal Victorian woman and make the women wonderfully flawed and human.

flappermyrtle's review

2.0

I read Lady Audley´s Secret, an earlier book by Braddon, some time ago for another course. So I expected sort of the same when I started reading Aurora Floyd. This novel, however, has a different setup with a nosy narrator interfering every now and then to tell some life´s truth. Although the background and characters are worked out better, it doesn´t have the flow of Lady Audley, nor the dramatic conclusion. It´s a bit tame compared to its dashing predecessor, I´m afraid. I never really got to sympathise with any of the characters, partly due to the omniscient narrator that at times distances the reader from the narrative. All in all, it wasn´t a bad read, the story continues quite fluently and the secret Aurora carries with her is not as obvious as the one Lady Audley has. But if you have to pick one book to read from Mary Elizabeth Braddon, I´d advise Lady Audley´s Secret because it is a nicer read on the whole.