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annaonthepage's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Writing style a bit stuffy for me. Interesting indictment of the hypocritical misogyny thriving in the social and legal punitive system of the time. Quite emotionally intelligent and well observed, explores different avenues of the impact on everyone involved in the 'crime' of infidelity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
smitchy's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Fair warning: Rant incoming!
I took ages to read this book because when I started reading the USA election cycle had just started and even though I am Australian the side-show circus that is American politics dominated our news. What does this have to do with this book? The themes and topics of this book (written in the 1800s and set in the 1600s): Misogyny, control of women's bodies, "familybullshit values", religion causing misery and inflicting its "morals" onto all around it, and witch paranoia (for modern times replace witches with gay people, or trans people, or immigrants) are once again raising their heads with a good helping of fascism to boot. Seeing the news and reading the world those men (and some women) would have American citizens return to in the name of "FREEDOM (mentally insert screeching eagle)" was too much for me. I took a break and hoped Americans could see what was happening to them. That was not to be.
As an outsider looking in I am torn between sympathy for all the women and girls who are facing a return to ideals that should have been consigned to the dumpster fire of history 400 years ago yet seem to be impossible to kill; and anger at those who stand aside and are willing to sacrifice half the populace (some of whom seem to think they will be immune to the consequences of their support for a religious theocracy due to wealth, privilege, or sheer stupidity). My rage at this trampling of rights in the name of a supposed golden past (that was only ever golden for those who were in the position to piss on all below them) trumped my ability to see any redeeming features in this rambling, misogynistic work of repressed characters and paragraphs of pointless description.
This is a book about the damage religion inflicts on everyone. The only reason to read it is to know what the past was like so we can fight to NEVER go back.
PS if you are a Trump stan FUCK OFF - I am not at home to your racist, misogynistic or religious justifications.
I took ages to read this book because when I started reading the USA election cycle had just started and even though I am Australian the side-show circus that is American politics dominated our news. What does this have to do with this book? The themes and topics of this book (written in the 1800s and set in the 1600s): Misogyny, control of women's bodies, "family
As an outsider looking in I am torn between sympathy for all the women and girls who are facing a return to ideals that should have been consigned to the dumpster fire of history 400 years ago yet seem to be impossible to kill; and anger at those who stand aside and are willing to sacrifice half the populace (some of whom seem to think they will be immune to the consequences of their support for a religious theocracy due to wealth, privilege, or sheer stupidity). My rage at this trampling of rights in the name of a supposed golden past (that was only ever golden for those who were in the position to piss on all below them) trumped my ability to see any redeeming features in this rambling, misogynistic work of repressed characters and paragraphs of pointless description.
This is a book about the damage religion inflicts on everyone. The only reason to read it is to know what the past was like so we can fight to NEVER go back.
PS if you are a Trump stan FUCK OFF - I am not at home to your racist, misogynistic or religious justifications.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Religious bigotry
selfloathing_william's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Had to read this for a class and I largely enjoyed it. It was well-written and compelling, but I can't help but think Hawthorne lost the plot in the last few chapters LOL. There's a big climax with Hester Pryne taking off the letter which is immediately spoiled by goddamn Pearl and I just think the book becomes very anticlimactic. While I understand the rhetorical reasons for while Pearl would subverse the climax, I thought it was just lame. Other than that, it's an interesting read. Roger Chillingworth and Pearl can suck a toe though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death and Emotional abuse
zacharymckay's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Hawthorne’s writing style in this novel was perhaps my favorite part of the story. The vocabulary, sentence structure, and prose were what I admired the most about Hawthorne’s style. Old English writing styles are difficult for me to comprehend, and while I did struggle with Hawthorne’s writing, I was not overwhelmed and deterred from the story.
I am no expert on the time period, but I can certainly believe that the concept and content were ahead of its time, and that is something I appreciate. While outdated, there were certainly very intriguing themes and plot points throughout the story. That being said, I found myself disliking a character that I assume is meant to be likable for misogynistic undertones. Comparing a woman’s experience to a man’s and asserting that one’s pain is “greater than” is a questionable decision in my opinion. I do believe this was an interesting analysis of the gendered politics at the time and sadly some themes hold true today.
The final chapter had elements that I appreciated and was shocked were written by a man in the 1840-50s.
Overall, I think this book is an excellent conversation starter and is thus justifiably taught in schools.
I am no expert on the time period, but I can certainly believe that the concept and content were ahead of its time, and that is something I appreciate. While outdated, there were certainly very intriguing themes and plot points throughout the story. That being said, I found myself disliking a character that I assume is meant to be likable for misogynistic undertones. Comparing a woman’s experience to a man’s and asserting that one’s pain is “greater than” is a questionable decision in my opinion. I do believe this was an interesting analysis of the gendered politics at the time and sadly some themes hold true today.
The final chapter had elements that I appreciated and was shocked were written by a man in the 1840-50s.
Overall, I think this book is an excellent conversation starter and is thus justifiably taught in schools.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
sdfallin's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Racism
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Religion sucks.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
hjb_128's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Pregnancy
music_girl93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, and Pregnancy
duarshe's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"On a field, sable, the letter A, gules"
Ok, so... this book really tested by attention span. Spoiler, my attention span is BAD. I could not keep focus on an entire single chapter without dettaching two lines in. And the chapters were not even long, so imagine that. I do believe that the major reason for this is the way that this book is narrated, because there were lines that would last for ten lines without a single full stop, just a load of commas and hyphens. I was SUFFERING. At least until I gave up and decided to listen to the audiobook whilst reading the book. Best decision ever, if I'm being honest. Listening to it while reading helped me to understand way more, to keep myself focused on the story and to actually enjoy it more. Moreover, it helped me finish this way faster than I would've if I just kept on reading/dettaching. And don't even get me started on "The Custom House"... that was UNREADABLE. Meaning, that if the book was entirely like that chapter this would be a 1-star reading.
Regarding the story... it was juicy and messy and I loved that. Although I think if it was written in this century, the juiceness would've been exploited to the max, which would've made this way more entertaining. Also, there were many chapters that just were boring. In my opinion, the enjoyable parts of this book are the very beginning, the chapters of Hester speaking with Roger and Arthur, and the very end. Speaking of Roger, his last name being Chillingworth really IS significant, because that man needs to chill. With all the herbs he keeps on recollecting in the forest for remedies, he might as well find something to help him calm the f down...
Ok, so... this book really tested by attention span. Spoiler, my attention span is BAD. I could not keep focus on an entire single chapter without dettaching two lines in. And the chapters were not even long, so imagine that. I do believe that the major reason for this is the way that this book is narrated, because there were lines that would last for ten lines without a single full stop, just a load of commas and hyphens. I was SUFFERING. At least until I gave up and decided to listen to the audiobook whilst reading the book. Best decision ever, if I'm being honest. Listening to it while reading helped me to understand way more, to keep myself focused on the story and to actually enjoy it more. Moreover, it helped me finish this way faster than I would've if I just kept on reading/dettaching. And don't even get me started on "The Custom House"... that was UNREADABLE. Meaning, that if the book was entirely like that chapter this would be a 1-star reading.
Regarding the story... it was juicy and messy and I loved that. Although I think if it was written in this century, the juiceness would've been exploited to the max, which would've made this way more entertaining. Also, there were many chapters that just were boring. In my opinion, the enjoyable parts of this book are the very beginning, the chapters of Hester speaking with Roger and Arthur, and the very end. Speaking of Roger, his last name being Chillingworth really IS significant, because that man needs to chill. With all the herbs he keeps on recollecting in the forest for remedies, he might as well find something to help him calm the f down...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Infidelity