Ranking George Eliot's Books

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  • Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
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    My video about my reading journey with George Eliot:
    • On George Eliot #victober

Комментарии • 72

  • @beautifulminutiae
    @beautifulminutiae 2 года назад +13

    Silas Marner is my only George Eliot I’ve read so far. I absolutely love it, but nostalgia plays a big role. My dad read it aloud to me when I was 10 and it’s such a sweet memory … and a huge reason why I got into Victorian lit!

  • @iiling7
    @iiling7 Год назад +4

    It's always interesting to hear the thoughts of other readers of GE. Like you, I absolutely adore Romola! Just finished it today and am digesting it all slowly. At this point in time, my tops would be, on equal par, Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda and Romola, all taking first spots for various reasons but most invitingly for me is GE's mastery of the language which glitters brilliantly in every single one of these books. I would have to do a reread (which I look forward to!) in order to rank them. I am just a little saddened by the fact that a book like Romola is not as well acclaimed as the others. It was no doubt the most challenging read which gifted me with mental agony for countless twilight mornings but it is all so gratifying at the end of it all. Loving the difficulties of her prose, the required background reading to understanding Italian and Jewish terms, and the complex political and cultural issues of that time. GE is my new found favourite author this year and will likely remain up there for a long time.

  • @davet2625
    @davet2625 11 месяцев назад +1

    I love George Eliot. Along with Dickens and Dostoevsky, one of my big 3 most cherished authors. George Eliot writes with so much insight into human psychology and relationships. She has such depth of compassion for human frailty and suffering, and at the same time, puts forth such a high vision of moral duty.
    I love all her novels. I've just finished my second reading of The Mill on the Floss. I've previously read Middlemarch twice, and all her other novels once. My favourites are: Middlemarch, Romola, The Mill on the Floss, Daniel Deronda, Adam Bede. I'm glad to hear some high praise for Romola. It's generally not so well-loved but I found it very engrossing and profound.

  • @Dinadoesyoga
    @Dinadoesyoga Год назад +2

    Revisiting this video as I'm currently reading Adam Bede for the first time and LOVE it. I dnfed Silas Marner about 4 years ago. Like you, I didn't connect with it. Didn't even get to the main plot point yet. 😅 And Middlemarch was a challenge for me when I read it, but want to revisit it. I think I've matured as a reader and would have different expectations now. Thank you for the inspiration!

  • @jjrecon3024
    @jjrecon3024 Год назад +1

    Sharing the excitement...
    Yesterday, found a needle in a haystack;
    1889 Deronda in good condition, absolutely stunning to look at and powerful to behold. 😍
    Everyone, rescue old books plz.

  • @Roland96351
    @Roland96351 Месяц назад

    I just finished Mill on the Floss and I wept like a baby. It was a painful ride, but Maggie's capacity for and persistence in love is really wonderful. I think Tom's realization in the end though tragic, justifies Maggie's journey and trials. It's very bitter sweet, but we can learn from this to value those who love us whom we take for granted. Everyone will fall in love with Maggie.

    • @Roland96351
      @Roland96351 Месяц назад

      Also Bob Jak8n in the most amusing supporting character I have read since Sancho Panza.

  • @brookemercer2886
    @brookemercer2886 2 года назад +2

    I have three of her novels left (Daniel, Felix, Romola) and I don’t want to be done. It’s so hard for me to rank them not having completely finished, but I appreciate you sharing your ranking and getting me so excited to keep reading. I already can’t wait to reread Mill and Middlemarch.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +2

      I was scared to be done too! I'm a big fan of rereading though so maybe that has cushioned the blow for me.
      Give Maggie a hug from me the next time you read Mill on the Floss.

  • @scallydandlingaboutthebook2711
    @scallydandlingaboutthebook2711 2 года назад +3

    I think The Mill On The Floss is my least favourite for some of the reasons you give but it's still a book I love. I have Scenes of Clerical Life left to read. Middlemarch and Adam Bede vie for my top spot I think. But Romola and DD are close behind. It was lovely to hear you enthuse about Romola as many people don't seem to get it.
    Of course the really challenging question for me is which is my favourite English novelist, Eliot, Austen or Woolf?

  • @LaurieInTexas
    @LaurieInTexas 2 года назад +1

    Good to know you enjoyed Daniel Deronda. I plan to start reading it in July and I am excited. I can't believe you reread The Mill on the Floss after not enjoying it. It took me three tries to finish it and I will never consider reading it again.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад

      I definitely took my time with my reread. It will be a while before I return to it. I hope you enjoy Daniel Deronda!

  • @cynthiaespinoza4514
    @cynthiaespinoza4514 2 года назад +1

    Thank you! This video makes me want to reread her books! I think Daniel Deronda was my favorite.

  • @noexit4458
    @noexit4458 Год назад +1

    Very unique! I totally expected to hear Romola and Felix Holt to be at the bottom. Silas Marner is like Dickens’ Christmas Carol sort of thing, a story that can be understood by the majority-no Latin, no Greek, no Hebrew, no original excerpts from Don Quixote…

  • @a.g.2790
    @a.g.2790 2 года назад +2

    I've read 2 of her novels, 1 novela & one of her super short stories. I LOVED Middlemarch & Silas Marner. 🙂 💖 I look forward to reading Daniel Deronda, Romola and Adam Bede.

  • @jimsbooksreadingandstuff
    @jimsbooksreadingandstuff 2 года назад +4

    Silas Marner is my favorite.... Middlemarch is probably a better book but taste is subjective...

  • @adayofsmallthings
    @adayofsmallthings 2 года назад +1

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have only read two so far - many more to go!

  • @jentan4531
    @jentan4531 2 года назад +1

    I read Middlemarch last year and am looking forward to reading more George Eliot.

  • @novellenovels
    @novellenovels 2 года назад +3

    I already loved silas marner so think middlemarch will be my next of hers or Daniel deronda soon 🧐

  • @pinabaker8339
    @pinabaker8339 2 года назад

    I’ve read a couple of George Eliot books - Mill on the Floss and Middlemarch. Both a long time ago but I remember I loved them. Thanks for the recommendations of her other books. I’ve especially intrigued about Romola and will add to my TBR list as well as several others. I hadn’t even heard of several of these. Well done as always. I love your videos ❤️

  • @amyodell7157
    @amyodell7157 Год назад

    Wow! If I can get through one reading of Adam Bede or those other bigger ones I think I’ve really done something. Congratulations! That’s awesome! I did an oral book report on Silas Marner in junior college. I remember loving it. I have Middle March, Daniel Deronda, and Romola on TBR. Very helpful video. 👏🏻

  • @kathleencraine7335
    @kathleencraine7335 2 года назад

    So interesting, Kate. I agree completely that it's almost impossible to "rank" them--the books are all so different. I think what I love about Middlemarch is that I feel completely immersed in that world while I'm reading it, and I carry it around with me for a long time after finishing. I haven't read Felix Holt or Romola yet, and need to re-read Mill on the Floss. I do love Silas Marner; it is such a gentle, fairy-tale style book and we have so much to learn from Silas. I felt more captivated by it when I listened to it on audiobook as a re-read.

  • @kseniyasbooknook4172
    @kseniyasbooknook4172 2 года назад

    Glad to see you loved Middlemarch- I’m planning to read it this year and am looking into things on her books. It’s amazing that you read so much of her work! Sometimes timing is so important for sure, a books reception depends on where one is in life too

  • @VoyageofaTimeWanderer
    @VoyageofaTimeWanderer 2 года назад

    Loved learning more about each of her books and your thoughts on them... she is one of the Victorian authors that I am still very intimidated by! I am planning to put Middlemarch on my 2023 Classics TBR as my first read by her.

  • @paultoronto42
    @paultoronto42 11 месяцев назад

    Ranking her work is hard to do as I loved all of them, but I'll give it a shot. Here is my list from favourite to least favourite. Adam Bede, Daniel Deronda, Middlemarch, Silas Marner, The Mill on the Floss. I haven't read Romola or Felix Holt yet.

  • @drc4168
    @drc4168 Год назад

    I love your deep dive, a splendid and unpretentious analysis! I love Middlemarch the most too! ❤️ from Ireland x

  • @enchantedbookendz
    @enchantedbookendz Год назад

    Hi Kate! I just started reading Middlemarch for the very first time. In fact, it’s my very first George Eliot. This video was super helpful in terms of the order in which I should read her books. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! :)

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  Год назад +1

      I hope it's the start of a wonderful reading relationship between you and George Eliot!

  • @msrichardsreads
    @msrichardsreads 2 года назад +1

    This makes me excited to finally read one of her books!

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +1

      I hope you thoroughly enjoy her writing!

  • @charmainesaliba5546
    @charmainesaliba5546 2 года назад +1

    I haven't read any George Eliot yet, she intimidates me. However, I brought Middlemarch so I might attempt to read it this Victober. Thanks for sharing this video ☺️

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +1

      I hope you thoroughly enjoy Middlemarch!

  • @faithbooks7906
    @faithbooks7906 2 года назад +1

    I think I am going to read Scenes from a Clerical Life for Victober and Daniel Deronda for my January Eliot read. I have not read either. I did see most of the Daniel Deronda mini-series many years ago. I enjoyed this video! Btw, I didn't find Felix Holt all that political! I thought it was just a device to show Felix's character and to create tension but as I recall I didn't feel it got into much detail. Not like some of Trollope's novels that are very heavy on political detail.

  • @gangoffour1
    @gangoffour1 8 месяцев назад +1

    Adam Bede is the most beautifully written book ever. It's a real masterpiece.

  • @thelazybookworm3193
    @thelazybookworm3193 2 года назад

    Silas Marner is my favorite Eliot book so far, but am really liking Middlemarch at the moment. It was great to hear your opinion on her other books because I don't know much about them.

  • @JPT-kg8fm
    @JPT-kg8fm 2 месяца назад

    Interesting. I tried to read all her novels, but got stuck on Middlemarch, must go back and try again. Hard to rank her novels, as they are all different, but a good effort.

  • @TooFondofBooksJH
    @TooFondofBooksJH 2 года назад +1

    I haven't read any George Elliot yet. I think I will start with Daniel Daronda. I saw an adaptation a long time ago and found the story interesting.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +2

      I think it would be a great one to start with!

  • @NadaOQ96
    @NadaOQ96 2 года назад +1

    I really, really, REALLY need to get round to reading Romola because: Academia historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy and discussing church politics?!! I'M SOLD

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +2

      It is so so fabulous!

    • @NadaOQ96
      @NadaOQ96 2 года назад +1

      @@katehowereads I'll try and set up a buddy read with my friend because I think discussing this with her would make the reading process even more enjoyable. We had so much fun discussing The Count of Monte Cristo even though we both loathed that book 😂😂😂 But she adores Middlemarch and so I believe we're in for a fabulous buddy read 😃

  • @ashgarstin4307
    @ashgarstin4307 2 года назад

    Perhaps Middle March will be one of my big classics that I'll tackle next year. I've only read Silas Marinar so far and I liked it , but I do wish I had known more about her writing style before I read it.

  • @barn_ninny
    @barn_ninny 6 дней назад

    Middlemarch has the kindest authorial voice of any novel I've ever read. It's just incredibly sympathetic to all its characters.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  5 дней назад

      That is such a beautiful way of putting it! I wholeheartedly agree with you. It does really feel like George Eliot is just delighted to have a reader on a journey through any of her novels.

  • @brianhaas1154
    @brianhaas1154 2 года назад +1

    George Eliot is the 🐐!!

  • @stuartmoore1064
    @stuartmoore1064 Год назад

    I have read Mill on the Floss and Adam Bede twice each, and Middlemarch and Silas Marner just once. But nothing else! After watching your video I really want to get to Daniel Deronda and Romola. Especially Romola! Not so sure about Felix Holt the Radical. LOL

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  Год назад

      So glad you enjoy her books too! I really hope you enjoy both Romola and Daniel Deronda!

  • @davidnevett5880
    @davidnevett5880 Год назад

    Wonderful informative talk, thank you from Caracas

  • @amyofhearthridge
    @amyofhearthridge 2 года назад

    I’ve read Middlemarch & Mill and prefer Mill 😬😂, but I don’t know if I fully “got” them or appreciated them fully. I have Romola on my stack still! You’ve made me so excited to keep trying GE and giving her more attention. I own Adam Brede, too! ♥️📚😄I saved this video for a day or so! 😂

  • @sunshineseaandvitamind8620
    @sunshineseaandvitamind8620 2 года назад

    I loved Silas Marner it made me get emotional at times. The first George Eliot book I read.

  • @stuartmoore1064
    @stuartmoore1064 Год назад

    Oh, forgot to say something about my "likes". I really love Adam Bede, and now that I think about it perhaps I have read it three times. I am also a big re-reader, and ever since finishing Middlemarch I have wanted to get back to it because I do feel like it will take more times and reads to really understand what she wants you to about this place and characters. So I do get stuck going back to books rather than moving forward with an author's oeuvre. I get what you are saying about Mill on the Floss. Perhaps it is just that the book is basically about two children, so sort of a kids book LOL.

  • @books_and_bocadillos
    @books_and_bocadillos 2 года назад

    I think I'm due for a re-read of TMOTF...I read it as a senior in high school...I remember liking it...but I don't remember what I liked about it...I remember feeling challenged and thinking it was one of the more challenging books I read that year. 22 years later I think I need to revisit it. 🤔

  • @ludd7929
    @ludd7929 2 года назад

    I read "The Mill..." last year and really enjoyed it. I wonder which one could be next?! 🤔🤗

  • @BookZealots
    @BookZealots 2 года назад +1

    I don't think I've ever read George Eliot. I have some of her books though, so I do plan on reading some soon. I have a buddy read for Adam Bede this August. And I bought Daniel Deronda because of a nonfiction book I read that gave spoilers that intrigued me to get a copy. =) I'm not sure I've ever heard of Romola. Added it to my goodreads tbr. Thank you.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +1

      I hope you have a good start with Adam Bede! There is one particularly upsetting plotline so you'll need to brace yourself especially because it's based on true events.

    • @BookZealots
      @BookZealots 2 года назад

      @@katehowereads uh-oh. thank you for the warning. Am I going to get angry and want to hurt a character? That is why I soft dnf'd David Copperfield. His narcissist father made me to angry!

    • @BookZealots
      @BookZealots 3 месяца назад

      @@katehowereads I wish I had taken your recommendation. I think I have Adam Bede and I will try to read that one. I had tried Middlemarch and couldn't stand Dorothea. She was so negative and I couldn't stand being in her head. I dnf'd it in chapter 3. LOL After I read Adam Bede, do you suggest Daniel Deronda?

  • @fortheloveofclassics03
    @fortheloveofclassics03 6 месяцев назад

    Love this so much! Just wondering if any of you have favorite editions of George Eliot books?

  • @denisadellinger4543
    @denisadellinger4543 2 года назад

    I loved Adam Bede! I thought I had read more of her novels. Maybe I did. But I do remember this one. I usually do an author binge and read one after another. I think I get her mixed up with Thomas Hardy. I have read several of his. I don't like sad endings. I leave so frustrated.

  • @miriamelizabethreads
    @miriamelizabethreads 2 года назад

    Silas Marner is the only George Elliot I've read so far and I wasn't the biggest fan, I hope her other works are hits for me!

  • @meghanthestorygirl4581
    @meghanthestorygirl4581 2 года назад

    This was so interesting. Have you seen the Daniel Deronda adaptation with Hugh Dancy, Romola Garai, and Hugh Bonneville? I liked it but I'm curious how it compares to the novel

  • @PrincessLessons
    @PrincessLessons 2 года назад

    Loved hearing your thoughts on these! I still can’t decide if I want to try Daniel Deronda or Middlemarch for my first George Eliot.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад

      I am a firm believer in readers starting George Eliot not with Middlemarch - I vote Daniel Deronda as it is more approachable. Either way, I hope you thoroughly enjoy her writing!

    • @PrincessLessons
      @PrincessLessons 2 года назад

      @@katehowereads Thanks! Good to know. Daniel Deronda intrigues me the most, so that sounds perfect. Hoping to read it at some point this year.

  • @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD
    @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD 2 года назад +1

    Do I need to read the other Clerical Life series books before Janet's Repentance?

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +2

      You don't. They are three unrelated stories/novellas.

  • @JosephFrancisBurton
    @JosephFrancisBurton 2 года назад

    Fascinating Ranking! Thanks for including the stories in Scenes of Clerical Life in your ranking. You are right - Mr Gilfil's Love Story is bottom of the barrel, with only Brother Jacob coming in below it. Yes, Felix Holt concerns the Reform Act - and it is interesting because it discusses the consequences of expanding voting enfranchisement. It was made essentially into an essay when George Eliot wrote Felix Holt's Address to Working Men. George Eliot started writing epigraphs with Felix Holt the Radical - instead of epigraphs, Romola has a lengthy, mythic introduction. OK, I will rank my favorites here, but I will one up you - I will include her epic poem Spanish Gypsy and rank them my least favorite to favorite:
    Brother Jacob
    Mr Gilfil
    Silas Marner
    Janet's Repentance
    The Lifted Veil
    Middlemarch (yeah this one is low on the list)
    Amos Barton (the best short introduction to George Eliot)
    Romola
    The Spanish Gypsy
    Adam Bede
    Felix Holt the Radical
    Mill on the Floss
    I have not yet read Daniel Deronda.

    • @katehowereads
      @katehowereads  2 года назад +1

      You are in for such a treat with Daniel Deronda!
      I am so intrigued to see The Spanish Gypsy up so high on the list. You have spurred me on to prioritize it in my reading. I think I'll read it during Victober.

    • @JosephFrancisBurton
      @JosephFrancisBurton 2 года назад

      @@katehowereads - yeah, I am really looking forward to Daniel Deronda - it looks fascinating, but I have to take a break from George Eliot after the slog that was As The Middlemarch Turns (sorry, i did not care for it). The thing I love about George Eliot is that all of her novels are so different from each other - she is always willing to try something different with each one. Good luck with Spanish Gypsy - the structure intimidated me for a long time, until I actually got into it. George Eliot's poetry, including The Spanish Gypsy, is sorely overlooked. I am aware of no popular modern reprint of her poetry in existence, so I hope you find something. Thank you again for the terrific discussion video.

  • @mariuszkazmierczak3143
    @mariuszkazmierczak3143 2 года назад

    I am writing my first novel. Someone asked me what am I doing this for? I had a problem with the answer. After watching this movie, I know the answer;)
    There is only a small problem, it won't be in English.

  • @js.3490
    @js.3490 2 года назад

    I notice that many women do not like George Eliot very well. She does not write about frilly and silly things like Jane Austen, George Eliot was a genius and kinda thought like a man. I think that is why men tend to gravitate towards Eliot more. I love this video, very informative. :)

  • @Tunick1902
    @Tunick1902 Год назад +1

    There is nothing George Eliot wrote that isn't spectacular.