Reviews

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

kat_sanford's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

atticmoth's review against another edition

1.0

Too frivolous to be slice-of-life, not interesting enough of a story to be a proper novel (I blame Dickens; like his novels, it was originally meant to be serialized). Something about the prose was extremely impenetrable to me and the narrator's intrusive non-presence was felt more than if she had been a proper character. Would have DNF if I wasn't reading it for a bookclub. 

hanneke22's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It took me quite a while to get through (even though it’s only 255 pages). There were a lot of characters, some had quite similar names and I couldn’t always keep them apart in my head. 
Besides that, there’s not a lot happening in this book. 
Still 3 stars, cause I love me a Gaskell. 

3 ⭐️

leiaslizzy's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

"We all love Miss Matty, and I somehow think we are all of us better when she is near us."

Every story has a love story, whether it be romantic or platonic. In this book, the love story is between the people of Cranford and Matilda Jenkyns. She is a good person at heart, always willing to help out other people and always kind, so everyone rallies around her to return the favour when she needs it. She is loved by others, and I do not ever think, as the book goes on, that she understands the depth of the love that they feel for her. And yet she loves so deeply and so fiercely without ever expecting anything in return, but she is given gifts far greater than she can ever know because of the love she gives to others.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism and Death

catamongstthepages's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

joy323's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

leahreadsstuff's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

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

3.5

A gentle, sweet, and at times sorrowful look at a very specific town in a very specific time period. Easy, enjoyable reading, if a bit slow and quiet. There’s no real plot. It’s essentially slice of life, and the interest is found in the characters. There’s a sense of amusement and humor in the narrator’s attitude toward her subjects. 

In spite of appreciating the writing and the people, it was a challenge to stay engaged. The quietness of the tone and the lack of overarching plot meant that the book meandered. 

I enjoyed it, for the most part, although I didn’t find it as memorable or as interesting as I would have liked

adelle_bookworm's review

2.0

I would argue against the "there's no plot", something little is there at least, although it's true that there's basically nothing to keep you reading it, the style is very easy. But to be honest I was surprised by the language - I didn't quite expect it to read so smoothly.

frankatzenzungen's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0