Middlemarch (Book Center)

This was a pleasant light reading, which has not really captivated me. It is a social study with about a provincial town filled with being in love, marriages, deaths, money worries and happiness. Most actions were predictable and relatively typical of that time. You will quickly become familiar with all protagonists and almost can already guess what happens before it undergoes in the book.

English history between the Georgian and Victorian eras saw rapid changes in the social landscape. Without delving deep into the political economy of the time, George Eliot surveys a mid-sized early-Industrial town and reveals universal longings through the singular desires of its inhabitants. Her novel explores themes of the give and take in all relationships, the changing nature of how we view our wants and the degree to which we choose not to know ourselves, and what it means to grow up and embrace adulthood.

Rereading this book is recommended: allowing some years to pass between readings presents the story in differently rewarding ways. It’s not just ‘a novel for grown-ups,’ as many have said, from Virginia Woolf to Julian Barnes, it’s a novel about growing up. Within most of the eight sections there are bound to be passages that a reader may glaze over a bit, depending upon individual interest and/or how late on is staying up to read them, and when reaching the last section or two, I suspect most readers might be forgiven for thinking “FINALLY! IT’S JUST NEVER ENDING!” even though we’ve laughed and underlined great sentences all along the way. But as the last few pages are left, there’s a real dismay at letting these lives go: it is neatly wrapped with a full sense of closure but we still wouldn’t mind just one more chapter, maybe.

It’s always a thrill to enjoy a book that wasn’t an obvious prime candidate for enjoyment. I think any sensible reader reader will be impressed with how contemporary the novel can read overall and not get bogged down in a superficial take on the characters, preferring to use a mirror instead of a gavel.

Needless to say this is a beautifully written book with elegant prose comprehensively describing the lives and times of a wide range of characters.

I was engaged throughout the whole book, not least because the narration is first rate. From my modern viewpoint the core attention to marriage defining/ruining the lives of the protagonists was wearing, but that was clearly a function of the time and so historically accurate.

Overall I enjoyed the development of the intermingled plot lines, but the "Finale" came a surprise - basically it wrapped up most things as historical fact without any further reference to the characters.

All in all, a very pleasant way to spend thirty plus hours.

I have read and admired Mill on the Floss and Silas Marner so I have no idea why I put off reading Middlemarch. I have just begun it and I am so overwhelmed by how wonderful it is I have been telling everybody. I am enthralled. It is early days yet but I do wish I could take a few days off work and stay for awhile in a place I already feel at home at. I am madly in love with the minor characters: Mr. Brook, Mrs. Cad-Wallader and Celia. So far (just before the marriage), I have no patience at all with Dorothea (she irks me much as Jane Eyre did: they try my patience close to violence). We will see what happens as matters progess.

Oh, I have enjoyed this book so much, I have been loving every minute of it. And now I am on the last part and am totally conflicted between wanting to read full steam ahead and wanting to draw it out as long as possible.

If you want to read 18th-century literature--I would not start with this one but I would work my way up to it and read it as I did with a fantastic group of other readers.

I guess this would be labeled as a period drama or maybe historical realism. It follows several several people in their regular lives. A lot of the focus seems to be about the ideas of the time and changes in ideas.

One of my all-time favorites. If there is any author that knows the human mind and heart intimately, it is Eliot. As keen an observer as Austen and a connoisseur of human folly and strength, Eliot incisively exposes the nature of ambition and desire in society.

I am on holiday (I refuse to use the term ‘annual leave’, and not because I am self-employed). I love in the summer to take the opportunity to dive into a thick brick of fiction that requires real commitment, and also once in a while to tick off the too-long list of really-should-have-read classics. This year it is Middlemarch (Penguin Classics) by George Eliot and Book One (of eight + ‘Finale’) is a great start. Everything you would expect but just better written than you can imagine.

Every bit as good as I was led to believe. Particularly admire the way it looks at events and characters from multiple perspectives, bringing a real richness and complexity to the novel.

Is it blasphemous to say this book disappointed me?

Listen. It's a fine story. There's nothing inherently wrong with it. It's a lovely look at provincial life, full of the drama and romantic tension one expects from 19th century literature. But that's-- all it was to me. It was nothing special, nothing life hanging.

I liked it, sure, but maybe I wasn't in the mood to appreciate it.

I'm glad I read it, but I doubt I'll be picking it up again any time soon.

It's most interesting in the ways she differs from Austen. Much more political and philosophical and concerned with morals and the class system. I liked how it swept over many of the citizens of Middlemarch. It was about the whole town.

A thoughtful yet entertaining read about the people and customs of an English town from the earlier part of the 19th century. The characters are very well drawn, their personalities are not superficial, and I was willingly dragged into the story, something I expect a very well-written book should do. This tale is never boring, but as the sentences often have deeper meanings one needs to take time to read this work slowly, unhurried, and without distraction. Quite good and worth the time and effort. Solid.

Tales of people, how other's expectations don't match the reality.

Yet another of those books that escaped me far, far longer than it should have. It was a great joy to dive into this world, and while there were definitely a few characters (probably more than a few) that I wanted to reach out and shake some sense into, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The Modern Library edition I read had some odd typos (many d's were replaced with t's, for no discernible reason), so beware that version perhaps, but it's a classic for a reason, and one I'm sure I'll come back to.

So refreshing to read of characters motivated by their core beliefs, yet clearly modifying their actions based on new information or circumstances.

Manifestly a great work, and yet not quite clear what it’s great for. Eliot’s language is elevated, her descriptions are insightful but laboured, her characters are interesting but not overly sympathetic, and she mainly avoids humour, so the tone is austere and dry, rather like her insufferable Mr Casaubon. Many of the issues that exercise the characters here - of religious observance, estate management, parliamentary reform, medical treatment - no longer raise our hackles, so like Casaubon’s risible “Key to all Mythologies”, the overall efifect may be diffuse. But it’s still a pleasure to read, and an absorbing one.

A long story about several couples and their relationships/marriages and dealings within a small town. Clergy, politicians, doctors, estate managers. Dorothea and Ladislaw etc, all sorts of characters.
What else can I say about a classic?

Varied narratives describing the life of people in and around the fictional town of Middlemarch. Enjoyable victorian realism, if anything too broad in the story telling for me (lost track on occasion as I mostly read this over my lunch breaks and on public transport).

I am happy to report that I have finally made it through Middlemarch! At 784 densely-packed pages, there were times it was a bit of a slog, but, ultimately, the novel rewards the reader with finely-tuned observations about love, marriage, and human nature. Recommended for those willing to give it the time and patience it deserves.

I just can't write a good review here. This is the best 19th century English novel I have read. Reminded me of Anna Karenina in the sense of how masterfully the author juggles many, many characters and how those characters are differentiated. A thoroughly delightful read.

A sweeping small town narrative about the sacrifices of marriage, family, and love. Follow the lives of the principal families of Middlemarch; walk through their hopes, struggles, and disappointments. I always savor this type of novel because one becomes so familiar with these imagined characters. One comes to know, love and forgive them. A truly beautiful novel.

It's true, what all those people said about this book. This is one of those books that alters your lens on life. I was not kind to this book, and did not give it its proper due because I took much too long to read it, being frequently distracted by more superficial discourses, which only diluted the richness of the style and depth of the prose.
But despite that, it waited for me patiently and did not fail to reward, and nor did I fail to marvel.

One of my favorite 19th Century novels!

So proud to have read this book at last! And it was wonderful. It's true, you do have to accustom yourself to the style, but the rewards are great. Insightful, sometimes sad, often witty. Thanks to my wonderful book club (are we forever the Middlemarchers?) for the impetus to read this magnificent novel!

I started Middlemarch on January first and lingered over it for weeks, months, before finally finishing it off during the twenty-four hour readathon. It really wasn't until mid-book that I grew to love it, the characters, the plots, the intrigues, the small-town gossip that fueled so many difficulties. I came away with a new appreciation for the power of acting out of interest for the benefit of others, bravely, despite the possible consequences. So happy I read this book.

This novel provides a look at small-town life in Victorian times. The author tells the story of several characters and explores themes such as spirituality vs. religion, the constraints of small-town life and social expectations, idealism and what makes a successful marriage. Well written with many characters and themes to explore.

The author displays an amazing understanding of human motivations and behaviour.

An absolutely beautiful and touching book. Eliot's characters are real and compelling, and she portrays life in all its imperfection - full of mistakes and misunderstanding, but remedied by friendship and compassion.

I love the Virginia Woolf quote about Middlemarch: "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people."

Many characters, a very broad canvas in a fictitious Midlands town, it has many interweaving themes. I regret having to finish it, it was that good.

In all honesty, I enjoyed it more and read it faster than I thought I would. My favorite line of Eliot's came at the end: "...for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs."

Of all the characters, I liked Rosamond the least (Mr. Casaubon coming in a close second to "Rosy"), and I liked Dorothea the best. In the end, I'm glad "Dodo" went for it.