From the Bookshelf of 101 Books to Read Before You Die…

Jude the Obscure

Thomas Hardy

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: March 31, 2017

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Mar 31, 2017 Irene rated it liked it

This seemed to be an argument for cohabitation couched in a drama. Jude and Sue are in love and want to be together but resist the idea of legalizing that commitment. They both have had short failed marriages prior, both have family legends that say their clan is not suited for marriage and neither have close family to encourage them. But, late 19th century British society expects that couples are married before they live together and have children. So for nearly 2/3rds of this novel, we are tre ...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Alana rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: books-to-film, classics, boxall-s-1001-books

IV - 2
Sue speaking of staying in a, for her, unhappy marriage: "When people of a later age look back upon the barbarous customs and superstitions of the times that we have the unhappiness to live in, what will they say!"

Such an interesting statement, considering that's exactly what we are doing by reading this book. We look back on an earlier time, when marriage was binding (at least socially) and where someone like Arabella would be the utmost of reviling to an orderly society. What are some "b ...more

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