Had to switch off because spoilers, but I am quite fascinated by this idea of home and how we construct it in our mind. The idea of idealising where one grew up is interesting to me, as in some cases, it can be very paradoxical. I actually read a fascinating article by André Aciman about the idea a week or two back, but his spoke more to the idea of hating a place where you grew up, but simultaneously idealising it. I actually picked up Jude the Obscure and am hoping to get to it soon. Never read Hardy so I am not sure if it's the best place to start though. Th aks again, and see you soon.
Idealising a place is definitely something present throughout Hardy’s novels. He grew up wanting to leave and then spent the rest of his life writing rose-tinted versions of life in the countryside. Jude the Obscure is my favourite novel of all time. It is good if you like total abject misery with no hope 🤣 Jude was the first Hardy I read so I can’t say it’s a bad place to start.
this is actually my favourite hardy so far! and i sympathise with eustasia quite a lot actually. i somehow see myself somewhere between her horrible and egoistical self. also the writing in this one is just SO GOOD. particularly at the beginning when he is introducing eustasia!
I remember reading that Return of the Native was a good place to start with Hardy - I didn't manage to get to it for Victober but I should try and prioritise it soon! I do quite like reading characters that I hate so I'm looking forward to it 😂
It does take a while for the plot to begin doesn't it? Diggory Venn is a champion. When you reread it, check out what Hardy is saying about the diamond industry through Clym. Maybe I'm reading a lot into it, but it's interesting.
"Why do I even like Thomas Hardy?" 🤣🤣🤣 You're right that Diggory is objectively the best person in the novel, but Clym's mother made me laugh the most, so I liked the scenes with her. Also, she was right about Eustacia...just saying. 🙂
“Why do I even like Thomas Hardy?” -exactly 🤓 Just kidding. Hardy is not an author I enjoy and this novel got me off to a bad start. I don’t know what it is, but we don’t click. Maybe that slow start up s to blame for my anti-Hardy stance Your review is great. Isn’t there a red guy in this book?
I can imagine if this was anyone’s first Hardy book that they would hate him with a fiery passion afterwards 😂 I’ve been told my reviews are better than his books, which I’m fine with!
Yes, there is a "red guy". Diggory Venn travels around the countryside in his pony drawn caravan selling a red pigment to farmers to mark their sheep with and inevitably is coloured by the earthy pigment he sells. He is a gem though, a strange interesting one. I love this book, didn't even notice the slow start as so many of the Egdon Heath people were introduced and the place itself, all beautifully evocative.
Had to switch off because spoilers, but I am quite fascinated by this idea of home and how we construct it in our mind. The idea of idealising where one grew up is interesting to me, as in some cases, it can be very paradoxical. I actually read a fascinating article by André Aciman about the idea a week or two back, but his spoke more to the idea of hating a place where you grew up, but simultaneously idealising it.
I actually picked up Jude the Obscure and am hoping to get to it soon. Never read Hardy so I am not sure if it's the best place to start though.
Th aks again, and see you soon.
Idealising a place is definitely something present throughout Hardy’s novels. He grew up wanting to leave and then spent the rest of his life writing rose-tinted versions of life in the countryside.
Jude the Obscure is my favourite novel of all time. It is good if you like total abject misery with no hope 🤣 Jude was the first Hardy I read so I can’t say it’s a bad place to start.
this is actually my favourite hardy so far! and i sympathise with eustasia quite a lot actually. i somehow see myself somewhere between her horrible and egoistical self. also the writing in this one is just SO GOOD. particularly at the beginning when he is introducing eustasia!
I think on a re-read I may find Eustacia a more sympathetic character, I just really disliked her from the start 😊
Also, It's been too long since I reread Tess, so I will definitely read along in July. I can't wait to hear what you think of Mayor of Casterbridge!
I remember reading that Return of the Native was a good place to start with Hardy - I didn't manage to get to it for Victober but I should try and prioritise it soon! I do quite like reading characters that I hate so I'm looking forward to it 😂
It does take a while for the plot to begin doesn't it? Diggory Venn is a champion.
When you reread it, check out what Hardy is saying about the diamond industry through Clym. Maybe I'm reading a lot into it, but it's interesting.
I must have completely missed that in all my Eustacia rage.
"Why do I even like Thomas Hardy?" 🤣🤣🤣
You're right that Diggory is objectively the best person in the novel, but Clym's mother made me laugh the most, so I liked the scenes with her. Also, she was right about Eustacia...just saying. 🙂
I feel like you’re very forgiving to mothers 🤣 just because she was right, doesn’t mean I have to like her! 🤣
@@JentheLibrarianreads Jewish mother solidarity 🤣🤣🤣
“Why do I even like Thomas Hardy?” -exactly 🤓
Just kidding. Hardy is not an author I enjoy and this novel got me off to a bad start. I don’t know what it is, but we don’t click.
Maybe that slow start up s to blame for my anti-Hardy stance
Your review is great.
Isn’t there a red guy in this book?
I can imagine if this was anyone’s first Hardy book that they would hate him with a fiery passion afterwards 😂 I’ve been told my reviews are better than his books, which I’m fine with!
Yes, there is a "red guy". Diggory Venn travels around the countryside in his pony drawn caravan selling a red pigment to farmers to mark their sheep with and inevitably is coloured by the earthy pigment he sells. He is a gem though, a strange interesting one. I love this book, didn't even notice the slow start as so many of the Egdon Heath people were introduced and the place itself, all beautifully evocative.