A re-read of a magnificent and utterly tragic love story.

Loved it but the ending broke my heart.

If you like fist pumping for feminism and stories about the sad state of women in society, historical settings and classics then this a book I recommend you read.

First off, I found this book a tough read. I study English Literature and am certainly used to reading different styles of writing, but the victorian approach to writing is so heavy and overflowing with detail it can definitely seem cumbersome at times to the modern eye. Despite this, it is worth reading every sentence for Hardy's beautiful descriptions and attention to detail. The reader definitely reaps the rewards if they push through what can be an overwhelming read.
Hardy is an artist, every scene he creates is picturesque and beautiful and I particularly like his descriptions of the countryside.
I also adored the fact that his story takes place amongst the lower class, it's a nice break from the upper-class society, the countless balls and grandeur we are used to seeing in classics or historical fiction. Hardy also demolishes the idea that the working class are mindless robots living terrible lives unless you're Tess and casts a skeptical eye on those of means.

Turning to the characters, I absolutely cherish Tess. She was such a nice break from the constant sassy, kick-ass female characters that are being churned out at the moment - don't get me wrong I love Katniss, Hermione etc. etc. as much as every other girl but it's nice to see different types of women portrayed in literature. Tess is harmless, a girl who means no ill will but fate seems to continuously shit on her life. She's not the strongest female character, most of my time reading I spent tearing my hair out in frustration at her inability to stand up for herself or take the initiative or speak her thoughts but that's Tess. She's too kind, too soft and yet she is so enduring my God bless her heart. Whatever her shortcomings Tess proves you can be kind-hearted, gentle and feminine while still being a strong-ass bitch and I respect Hardy so much for showing that.
Angel Clare who is forever a silly pumpkin pie in my mind because Eddie Redmayne played him. A Marius Pontmercy with potluck is a little dopey idiot. I can't tell whether I want to pat him on the head or give him a good slap across the face. As a character, he is incredibly real and holds a deep psychological depth that I applaud Hardy for. I like how despite his endeavours to break free of the social constraints that bind him - he doesn't marry for money and social status, he pursues his own dreams, not his father's, I'm pretty sure Hardy alludes to him having read or believing in the likes of Darwin's theories, but all I can gather is that he is possibly atheist, rejects traditional religion etc. - he is still bogged down by social expectations of women but in the end he does overcome his shortcomings. From the beginning of the book to the end we find two very different Angel Clares - the latter obviously being the better. It was so frustrating watching him leave Tess and I wanted to bloody push him off a cliff or for him to get hit by a cart but he's such a bumbling bee, a lost puppy that when he finally does come to the realisation that hey maybe it's ok Tess has sexual history I wanted to throw a party. Christ above he has bad timing though. I suppose that goes in line with his whole 'Angel' Christianity not being there when Hardy needs it symbolismy thing. But he's a silly puppy and never blamed Tess for being raped, just seriously needed to be kicked in the face and told to get over himself.
Her dad needed to die.
The girls at the farm - Rettie, Marianne and Iz - were basically just 1D fans. Dotes, but good lord women calm down.

I think I need a section to just gross out over how disgusting and sleazy that bastard Alec D'Urberville is. I really love the name Alec on a side note . What a creep. The strawberry and flowers imagery creeped me out completely. Totally Freudian. I figured the strawberry was interestingly alluding to an unfulfilled relationship or something? Like it seemed to be alluding to oral or something not proper sex or something. Anyway, what a creep. I really liked how Hardy brought up the question as to whether Alec was actually absolved just because he converted. As from what occurs

Spoiler

the whole preachy preachy being tossed aside as soon as he meets Tess again and the I was born bad Edward Culleny stalkery crap

it clearly means little to him and is just a way to compartmentalise his guilt. Every time he blamed Tess I wanted to punch him in the face or set the book on fire.

The whole religion thing and the inability to properly discuss atheism or rape kind of deters the book slightly for the modern reader. It took me a few pages to figure out whether

Spoiler

Tess had willingly slept with Alec and he'd refused to marry her or whether he'd raped her

. Also, I couldn't really figure out what Angel believed despite Hardy harping on about it all the time in the later stages of the story.
But the science vs. religion thing was interesting from a victorian point of view. There's a shit ton of underlying tension in this book that is insane when you start realising it's there.

For the most part, though I'm not giving it five stars because the book just was not pacy enough. It took until the last two sections before I became hooked.
The ending also didn't convince me -

Spoiler

how did they find Tess and Angel? I mean I know Stonehenge is out in the open but how on earth did they find them? And who were those men? Spies? Police? EXPLAIN HARDY EXPLAIN! Where the hell did 16 men come from and how did they find 2 strangers who had hidden out in the middle of nowhere for days before disappearing completely. It would suggest they were following them which makes no sense. Why didn't they arrest them earlier?
Either way, I really liked the whole Tess finishing her life of freedom in nature and at a centre of pagan rituals and sunlight. Which is also really interesting if you consider Angel's name meaning light and guardian angel and angels being so bright you can die looking at one if you're human and all that shabang. Also, the whole women being related to the earth and material substance whilst men are related to spiritual stuff bullshit as we can see brings you on to Artemis=Tess etc etc

This book is so interesting regardless of its lack of pace though. Everything has a thousand underlying meanings and feminist Hardy is just fabulous.

I'd compare him more to Victor Hugo than the popular female authors of the time like the Bronte sisters etc. If you like Hugo's fist shaking pleas for better treatment of women and a better society then you should definitely read this. Even though it is a tragedy and depicts how shit life is for women in the Victorian Era it still ends on a tone of hope with Liza-Lu.


Look at that cuteness


Do you Mr. Clare?


Me every time that problematic bumpkin appeared. Same Marianne. Same.

2.5.
Unfortunately I read the back of the book before starting and it told me the whole plot already before starting it. Otherwise I think it would have been a 3 for certain ‘twists’ in the events.

Sorry I just couldn't get through it, I tried but the style of writing is irritating to me to the point where I'm getting a headache. I seriously do not understand anything that's happening and the whole kissing thing? What? It's like PG rated rape, by the description of it! I'm just gonna add this to the list of books that maybe sometime in the future I'll have more patience for, but right now it's a big thumbs down.