Daniel Deronda | 
THis could be said by a character in a book written yesterday, and would ring as true
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THis could be said by a character in a book written yesterday, and would ring as true
It is incredible to me that George ELiot, literally centuries back,wrote sympathetically about an ambitious woman, who was allowed to be successful, and not a monster.
pickYes this was very long. Very long. But I loved the slow immersive development of the story and the three central characters were all people whose brains I loved to be inside. For a Victorian novel I thought it was surprisingly not anti Semitic! It wasn‘t 100% not-anti-semitic but it pleasantly surprised me with its human, thoughtful, heroic Jewish characters.
pickMy 1st online group read through Goodreads. Characterization was great. I enjoyed how Gwendolen's character matured throughout the book. My only wish is that it wasn't so wordy.
#Chunksters 5/10
#Booked2019 7/24 (public domain) @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage
Reminder to self- When participating in an online discussion, don't forget to double check the chapters before typing in huge spoilers. I'm so ashamed and annoyed with myself.
These are the books I'll be leaving 2018 with, still not finished though I had every intention of getting them read in 2018.
I'm a few hours into the audio of Daniel Deronda but it's a 28 hr listen. I read the first Heinrich Mann, Young Henry of Navarre back in July but just couldn't find time for the sequel. I've waited a good ten years for Zusak to write another book so no need to feel guilt about not rushing to read it now.
Free English books are hard to come by in my Dutch village. I was very happy to find these at the book swap bookshelf at the train station. #freebies #riotgrams
How am I supposed to read this book without breaking the spine? #dilemma #bookwormproblems
Maybe it is just the horror fan in me, but the quote “What furniture can give such finish to a room as a tender woman‘s face?” just makes me think of Ed Gein.
If you have to work on a Sunday, at least make your breaks count 👌🏻👌🏻
Vacation reading! Increasingly disliking the cover to my book. Generally I don't want people on the cover of the book (The Modern Library version of Adam Bede is an exception 😛)
I put down my book for a minute and Suki decides that is WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE. I have just gotten to the part where we learn about Daniel--could he be more different from Gwendolen? Excited to see how they interact and shape each other.
pickWow! This was so good! Gwendolen is such a complex, realistic, well written character and you find yourself feeling a full range of emotions as you experience her story - disgust at her selfishness, admiration at her unwillingness to marry just to become known as "Mrs X" and her desire to live her own life, and finally sadness for how she is unable to fulfill her dreams. I know Middlemarch is Eliot's masterpiece, but I enjoyed this much more.
Me and George Eliot heralding the impending weekend. Helloooooo Friday 🙌🏻🙌🏻
On this lazy Sunday, I approach the end of part one, "The Spoiled Child." Gwendolen is a great character, and like so many of GE's heroines, idealistic and independent but lulled into thinking great things lie ahead for those born with beauty and charm. It's a trap!
What do you Littens think of George Eliot? I adore Jane Austen, haven't had much luck with the Brontë sisters and love Oscar Wilde. I love classics in general, and being honest only heard of this title when I saw the BBC adaptation on Netflix! But like the idea of it :)
I don't have a lot of books with #dressesoncovers but I found these in my bookcase! I have yet to read them. Any recommendations from these three? #readjanuary
Each year I set a goal to read more classics that are difficult but 2016 was the actual year I made it happen by tackling MIDDLEMARCH and ANNA KARENINA. I actually enjoyed them! So going to see if I can read FOUR daunting classics in 2017. My goal is 52 books this year. #readjanuary #bookishresolutions
"At last she succeeded in saying, brokenly - 'I said -- I said -- it should be better -- better with me -- for having known you.'"
I am just going to say it: In the world of 19th century lit shipping, for me, it is Team Daniel + Gwendolen over Jo + Laurie any day.
pickMy favorite George Eliot novel. It isn't perfect, but the character of Gwendolen, and her relationship to Daniel, is so beautifully written. I don't usually cry reading books but definitely cried at multiple points when I read it in college. And definitely watch the BBC adaptation afterwards (complete with Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey as Gwendolen's evil husband)!
“No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from.”
― George Eliot, Daniel Deronda
The best literary villain by far is the utterly despicable Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt -- the bane of Gwendolen Harleth's existence in Eliot's Daniel Deronda.
The fact that he was played by Hugh Bonneville in the BBC adaptation made me suspicious of Lord Grantham well past the point I should have started liking him. #favevillain
pickI love Austen, but everything I love her for, I love George Eliot more. For @Liberty 's Fun Friday, my favorite ending is Daniel Deronda, because everyone gets the ending that is best for them, whether it is a happy marriage or something else.
Also, Lord Grantham is the bad guy in the BBC version!
