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I had never heard of Elizabeth Gaskell, before last year when I started reading the 1001 list of books "you must read before you die". I saw that Judi Dench was in a production of Cranford and that is what made me read this before the 2 other books on the list.
Although Cranford is not my favorite Victorian Novel (I would say Jane Eyre, Great Expectations and Doctor Thorne would vie for that title), I did enjoy this book, and I want to read more of her work.
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Although Cranford is not my favorite Victorian Novel (I would say Jane Eyre, Great Expectations and Doctor Thorne would vie for that title), I did enjoy this book, and I want to read more of her work.
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Reason read: botm April 2025. A quiet little novel, written in serial form. I enjoy Gaskell's writing. This is the end of the Victorian age and the change over to the Industrial age. Women rule this quaint town. The novel explores themes of loyalty, kindness, and the importance of community support, showcasing how women can find fulfillment and happiness without relying on men. It also highlights the power of gossip and social dynamics within a small, rural setting.
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Dec 09, 2010
Ann
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
england,
female-relationships,
relationship-fiction,
classics,
victorian,
19th-century,
gentle
I wasn't sure about reading this since the PBS adaptation wasn't my favorite thing ever, but I found it quite charming. I think my tolerance for gentle fiction has increased quite a bit since I watched the movie version, and I'd probably like it more now. Anyway, stories told in the form of vignettes take a little getting used to, but the book is ultimately very sweet, but not saccharine, as I had been expecting. It's impossible to read about Miss Matty and not feel an affection for her, and I a
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I wanted to love this book. The humor is full of wit and very sly. The characters are intriguing, funny, smart and quite feminist. The book is quite modern despite its dated dialogue. It is a lovely expose' of the lives of women living 150 years ago. So why didn't I love it? I am not entirely sure, except that none of the characters lingered in my thoughts in the hours and days after I finished it. Honestly there is little about the book that I remember well. So my gut says it is worth 3 stars.
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I'm not a fan of 19th century British Literature so...yeah. If you are, you will love this book and all its melodrama.
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Pleasant but a bit silly
Dec 14, 2010
Dree
added it
Nov 24, 2011
Andre Mitchell
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Jun 13, 2012
Diane
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
classics,
19th-century,
1001,
victorian,
brit-lit,
1001-done,
2015-reads,
1000-books,
western-canon,
guardian-1000
Aug 15, 2012
Karina
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-books-to-read-before-you-die
Oct 11, 2013
Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
Nov 18, 2013
Teresa Young
marked it as to-read
Apr 05, 2016
Paula S
added it
Jun 17, 2017
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2018
Sorobai
marked it as to-read
Nov 08, 2023
Ashley Husemoller
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-before-dying,
bookspin-2023
