Scan barcode
shadylane_00's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
classically_book_clubbin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
borbala_17's review against another edition
5.0
2024 reread:
Rereading this book for my dissertation was a true pleasure! I wholeheartedly give it five stars!
If possible, I like Lady Delacour even better, especially towards the end. She is just so witty and funny!
And all the metatextuality, I am so here for it!
Original review:
Can somebody please remind me why have we exactly discarded with didactic fiction? Oh, yes of course, under the pretense that these books are preachy, stuffy and insufferably stuck-up. Well, I beg to differ.
This novel has been a real pleasure to read, and (I know, shocker) actually made me think about how I see romantic relationships, the process of finding a partner, and about how humans should treat each other in general. Now, I do not see everything as the writer of this novel did (taking into account that a good 200 years have passed since the publication of her book), yet I still gleaned some valuable pieces of wisdom from her. And I defy any critic or actually stuck-up modern reader to tell me that because a book does not cater to our modern-day sensibilities and tastes, it is therefore bad and should not be read. As Lady Delacour, I would laugh full in their faces.
As for the story itself, I was glued to it as a soap-opera addict is glued to the screen. Very engaging and full of delightful, if not totally unexpected, twists. The character of Lady Delacour was drawn admirably and she was without a doubt the most likable and most believable out of all the characters.
And the ending... The ending was a delicious piece of metatextuality, which totally intrigued my scholarly side!
5 brilliant, blinding stars for my thorough enjoyment of this novel!
Rereading this book for my dissertation was a true pleasure! I wholeheartedly give it five stars!
If possible, I like Lady Delacour even better, especially towards the end. She is just so witty and funny!
And all the metatextuality, I am so here for it!
Original review:
Can somebody please remind me why have we exactly discarded with didactic fiction? Oh, yes of course, under the pretense that these books are preachy, stuffy and insufferably stuck-up. Well, I beg to differ.
This novel has been a real pleasure to read, and (I know, shocker) actually made me think about how I see romantic relationships, the process of finding a partner, and about how humans should treat each other in general. Now, I do not see everything as the writer of this novel did (taking into account that a good 200 years have passed since the publication of her book), yet I still gleaned some valuable pieces of wisdom from her. And I defy any critic or actually stuck-up modern reader to tell me that because a book does not cater to our modern-day sensibilities and tastes, it is therefore bad and should not be read. As Lady Delacour, I would laugh full in their faces.
As for the story itself, I was glued to it as a soap-opera addict is glued to the screen. Very engaging and full of delightful, if not totally unexpected, twists. The character of Lady Delacour was drawn admirably and she was without a doubt the most likable and most believable out of all the characters.
And the ending... The ending was a delicious piece of metatextuality, which totally intrigued my scholarly side!
5 brilliant, blinding stars for my thorough enjoyment of this novel!
novellenovels's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarahepierce's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
virtualmima's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
I, too, support the right of women to duel.
upsidedown10's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this for Jane Austen July, for the challenge where you read a book by a contemporary of hers. I think that comparing the two authors makes this book look crazy. The plot never stops and the twists don't stop twisting compared to Austen's works. Edgeworth always opts for the most dramatic choice, which was mostly fun. I had a great time with the plight of Lady Delacour and I was surprised by the not too bad depiction of Mr. Vincent. I really liked the audiobook version read by Lucy Scott (who played Charlotte Lucas from the P&P BBC miniseries) and I think it saved me from slogging through this book, which has it's ups and downs in pace.