Scan barcode
lidia7's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Classism, Child death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Mental illness, Ableism, and Chronic illness
evagalilea's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
jowmy4's review
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ladyhighwayman's review
3.0
East Lynne is a very engaging Victorian sensation novel written in 1861. If you like the works of Wilkie Collins and Mary Elizabeth Braddon, then I also recommend Ellen Wood.
This had everything you'd expect in a Victorian sensation novel, and probably more; murder, infidelity, betrayal, disguises and more.
The story is: Lady Isabel leaves her husband and children on the grounds of her suspecting that her husband is unfaithful. It doesn't help that a cad is helping driving that point home. Isabel runs away with said cad, only to realize she's made a mistake too late.
There's also a murder mystery about. A man is accused and is on the run, but he says another man is the actual murderer, a man by the name of Thorn. Problem is, Thorn is an alias, and no one knows who he is. I pretty much figured out who the villain was from the beginning, but I had a doubt for a quick minute when the author made me think that I was wrong. Sneaky.
I'm not sure if the author wanted us to be sympathetic to Lady Isabel or not, but I definitely was. I felt sorry for her, being the victim of trickery and an overzealous imagination. I'm not a fan of the whole 'unfaithful woman being punished,' but sensation novels from this era seemed to like this theme.
All in all, an underrated classic. A chunkster, definitely, but worth it.
This had everything you'd expect in a Victorian sensation novel, and probably more; murder, infidelity, betrayal, disguises and more.
The story is: Lady Isabel leaves her husband and children on the grounds of her suspecting that her husband is unfaithful. It doesn't help that a cad is helping driving that point home. Isabel runs away with said cad, only to realize she's made a mistake too late.
There's also a murder mystery about. A man is accused and is on the run, but he says another man is the actual murderer, a man by the name of Thorn. Problem is, Thorn is an alias, and no one knows who he is. I pretty much figured out who the villain was from the beginning, but I had a doubt for a quick minute when the author made me think that I was wrong. Sneaky.
I'm not sure if the author wanted us to be sympathetic to Lady Isabel or not, but I definitely was. I felt sorry for her, being the victim of trickery and an overzealous imagination. I'm not a fan of the whole 'unfaithful woman being punished,' but sensation novels from this era seemed to like this theme.
All in all, an underrated classic. A chunkster, definitely, but worth it.
kdferrin's review
4.0
If you love English literature and you can get hold of this book (it is not available at my local library) it is well worth reading. Even though it is over 600 pages long and it is a sad cautionary morality tale that seems like it should be a total downer I was able to breeze right through it. It reminded me a bit of [b:Adam Bede|20563|Adam Bede (Modern Library Classics)|George Eliot|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167298252s/20563.jpg|1015873] but with a chic-lit twist. Just like Adam Bede I spent much of the book wanting to reach in an shake the women by the shoulders and make they realize how unhappy they were making themselves but instead of all the sermonizing [a:George Eliot|173|George Eliot|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1190493613p2/173.jpg] seemed so fond of [a:Ellen Wood|165808|John Grafton|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] included lots of gossip, fashion and fun.
polyhy_14's review
4.0
Written and set in the late 1800's, this is a rattling good yarn. I'd have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the Victorian tendency to over-moralise throughout. Still well worth reading however.
bookpossum's review
3.0
I enjoyed this melodrama more than I expected to do. Mrs Wood's style leaves a lot to be desired, but the story, with all its amazing coincidences and plot turns, moves along at a satisfactory pace.
kvegan's review against another edition
3.0
Novel dealing with suspicion, infidelity and it’s consequences that was scandalous in its day. Great understanding of Human nature and surprising humour. An enjoyable classic read.