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natalia_k44's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ainepalmtree's review
wow i am honestly weirdly passionate about how great this book is
navinvembar's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book quite a lot - it's fascinating to see how similar the publishing industry of the 1890s is to the one of today. Despite our growth in technology, it doesn't really seem all that different. The effect of the Internet today is analogous to that of the telegraph then. Plus, it's hilarious to see Gissing predict the advent of realism in literature (not that it wasn't happening at the time, but its growth) as well as describing things like The Washington Post Express (a paper for the "quarter-educated" to read on buses). The Victorian melodrama wasn't all that exciting for me, but the rest of it was excellent.
drbjjcarpenter's review
2.0
A reasonably intriguing read. I found it tedious in places, due to the slow pacing and general lack of happenings. Would probably not recommend it.
dngoldman's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
4.5
"New Grub Street" by George Gissing is a novel that explores the challenges of work life and the impact of economic conditions on literary production. Gissing wrote the book in just two months during the autumn of 1890, producing nearly 4,000 words per day - the same pace as the character Reardon in the story. The novel is divided into three volumes, with some critics suggesting that the second volume is a bit too long.
"New Grub Street" can be considered a meta-novel, as it fictionalizes its own creation and the experiences of its author. It provides a poignant commentary on how the economics of writing can lead to a race to the bottom, impacting the craft of writing. It is also a realistic portrayal of the widespread impact of poverty. Unlike Dickens, Gissing does not take a moralistic approach, portraying characters as products of their economic struggles rather than individuals who can rise above them.
Overall, "New Grub Street" is a novel that deserves more recognition and attention.
"New Grub Street" can be considered a meta-novel, as it fictionalizes its own creation and the experiences of its author. It provides a poignant commentary on how the economics of writing can lead to a race to the bottom, impacting the craft of writing. It is also a realistic portrayal of the widespread impact of poverty. Unlike Dickens, Gissing does not take a moralistic approach, portraying characters as products of their economic struggles rather than individuals who can rise above them.
Overall, "New Grub Street" is a novel that deserves more recognition and attention.
archergal's review
4.0
Well...
Victorian England, amirite???? Jeezopete.
Writers starving; writer with ambition spurning the first woman he loved so he could marry for money; earnest writer finishes his book, but then sees no future and commits suicide.
I think if I met Jasper Malvain, I'd punch him right in the mouth. What a fucking asshole. And he gets the happy ending???
Jeezopete.
Frustrating to read, but well done. Yay Victorian book club!
Victorian England, amirite???? Jeezopete.
Writers starving; writer with ambition spurning the first woman he loved so he could marry for money; earnest writer finishes his book, but then sees no future and commits suicide.
I think if I met Jasper Malvain, I'd punch him right in the mouth. What a fucking asshole. And he gets the happy ending???
Jeezopete.
Frustrating to read, but well done. Yay Victorian book club!
wolfsonarchitect's review against another edition
4.0
This portrayal of the world of writers lifts up some timeless writing dilemmas of writing for quality or for sales. There are good full-dimensioned characters and some strong women characters who have success writing. It takes a little patience at times with its sermonizing, but I recommend it.
beckykeister's review against another edition
3.0
I loved The Odd Women and hoped that this one would share its insightfulness. But it all came off too cynical for me and this particular edition's awesome annotations showed just how much Gissing wrapped up his own literary experiences in the lives of his characters who inhabit his same world. I'd like to say that it is a bit satirical, but I think that Gissing probably knew a person exactly like every character he wrote into this book. Which makes it all the more depressing. It dragged on in the middle (perhaps his own commentary on how authors must fill a certain number of pages) and it all felt a bit too real (also maybe an ironic nod to a repeated idea in the book that stories about real life don't sell). Anyway, it was fine. I got a little invested. But I don't really need to read it again and wouldn't recommend it to a general audience.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this story and its take on the publishing industry in the late nineteenth century. It follows the lives of several authors and shows how their lives improve, or not, as they follow a writing career.
I found it interesting to see how much the attitude and general workings of the industry are still very similar to what they were then. Though I do have a perception that it is much more difficult to get published now than it was then. The technology might have changed but the essence still seems to be the same.
The characters range from the mercenary who only care about the money, those who want the prestige, those that want power, and those who are literally starving but refuse to give up. None of these characters appealed to me, they were, for the most part, sadly pathetic. That said, I liked the story a lot. It was interesting and made me jealous that they could get into the British Museum library, which you can no longer do.
*Note about the Librivox audiobook. This was a collaborative effort with 11 different readers over 46 parts. 15 of these were by Bridget Gaige who was a good reader and easy to listen to. 5 of these were by Jessi who I found difficult to understand due to the monotone delivery and flat articulation of words. 5 were by Alan Brown who was an okay reader but the production value of his parts made it difficult to hear, as it sounded as if he were reading from inside a tin can. 5 were read by hefyd who was pretty good. The remaining 16 parts were read by 7 different people who were relatively decent readers.
The worst elements of this format were the changes in reading speed and loudness between the variety of readers.
I found it interesting to see how much the attitude and general workings of the industry are still very similar to what they were then. Though I do have a perception that it is much more difficult to get published now than it was then. The technology might have changed but the essence still seems to be the same.
The characters range from the mercenary who only care about the money, those who want the prestige, those that want power, and those who are literally starving but refuse to give up. None of these characters appealed to me, they were, for the most part, sadly pathetic. That said, I liked the story a lot. It was interesting and made me jealous that they could get into the British Museum library, which you can no longer do.
*Note about the Librivox audiobook. This was a collaborative effort with 11 different readers over 46 parts. 15 of these were by Bridget Gaige who was a good reader and easy to listen to. 5 of these were by Jessi who I found difficult to understand due to the monotone delivery and flat articulation of words. 5 were by Alan Brown who was an okay reader but the production value of his parts made it difficult to hear, as it sounded as if he were reading from inside a tin can. 5 were read by hefyd who was pretty good. The remaining 16 parts were read by 7 different people who were relatively decent readers.
The worst elements of this format were the changes in reading speed and loudness between the variety of readers.