Comments on: “Far from the Madding Crowd” by Thomas Hardy http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Fri, 15 May 2026 21:07:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541&cpage=1#comment-19307 girldetective Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:36:21 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541#comment-19307 Steph, I found this an accessible read, and not overly dense. Some critics complain that its more melodramatic than artistic, but I thought it had good elements of art AND entertainment. Steph, I found this an accessible read, and not overly dense. Some critics complain that its more melodramatic than artistic, but I thought it had good elements of art AND entertainment.

]]> By: Steph http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541&cpage=1#comment-19306 Steph Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:10:12 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541#comment-19306 I guess my highschool education failed me too because I haven't read any Hardy either. I remember having the option in Grade 12 English class (some of the boys read The Mayor of Castorbridge), but I chose Sense & Sensibility instead. I can't say I regret the decision, but I would still like to read some Hardy. I've thought I'd start with this one, but it never seems to be the right time. I do love that opening description of Farmer Oak - it always makes me smile - I just need to get over my fear of dense Hardy prose. I guess my highschool education failed me too because I haven’t read any Hardy either. I remember having the option in Grade 12 English class (some of the boys read The Mayor of Castorbridge), but I chose Sense & Sensibility instead. I can’t say I regret the decision, but I would still like to read some Hardy. I’ve thought I’d start with this one, but it never seems to be the right time. I do love that opening description of Farmer Oak - it always makes me smile - I just need to get over my fear of dense Hardy prose.

]]> By: Bookscount http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541&cpage=1#comment-19302 Bookscount Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:53:07 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541#comment-19302 I love Hardy and I loved this novel. I find the tragedy of Gabriel and Bathsheba really true to life and well told in the story. Gabriel is stoic about the cards that life has dealt him and he seems happy just to be around Bathsheba even though she seems indifferent to him. I never before heard someone link this novel with the Hunger Games Trilogy - which is on my list of books to read- that is fascinating. Great Review I love Hardy and I loved this novel. I find the tragedy of Gabriel and Bathsheba really true to life and well told in the story. Gabriel is stoic about the cards that life has dealt him and he seems happy just to be around Bathsheba even though she seems indifferent to him.

I never before heard someone link this novel with the Hunger Games Trilogy - which is on my list of books to read- that is fascinating.

Great Review

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541&cpage=1#comment-19295 girldetective Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:51:15 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541#comment-19295 I enjoyed Far, but am fretting about the ending. Good stuff in it, and I enjoyed it, but what he does to the main character and others is pretty discouraging. I enjoyed Far, but am fretting about the ending. Good stuff in it, and I enjoyed it, but what he does to the main character and others is pretty discouraging.

]]> By: thalia http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541&cpage=1#comment-19293 thalia Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:41:02 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=3541#comment-19293 well, the reason I didn't suggest it to you is that I gave up on Hardy a long time ago. We were forced to read under the greenwood tree aged 12 in school and it was not well taught. Then at 15 we did 'tess', and I couldn't bear the constant sense of impending doom. Having read 'far' somewhere in there, at about 19 someone told me I should read Jude. I won't spoil the plot given you are enjoying Hardy, but there was a moment in that book that totally destroyed me, and again the sense that I could see the main character making the wrong choices was unbearable. I said enough was enough and that i didn't need to put myself through it again. But glad you are enjoying it! well, the reason I didn’t suggest it to you is that I gave up on Hardy a long time ago. We were forced to read under the greenwood tree aged 12 in school and it was not well taught. Then at 15 we did ‘tess’, and I couldn’t bear the constant sense of impending doom. Having read ‘far’ somewhere in there, at about 19 someone told me I should read Jude. I won’t spoil the plot given you are enjoying Hardy, but there was a moment in that book that totally destroyed me, and again the sense that I could see the main character making the wrong choices was unbearable. I said enough was enough and that i didn’t need to put myself through it again.

But glad you are enjoying it!

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