tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post6366474489243427664..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas HardyBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-11681346972006251302017-07-03T09:55:26.053-04:002017-07-03T09:55:26.053-04:00Hi Bailli - In the two books that I have read, Har...Hi Bailli - In the two books that I have read, Hardy's depiction of women is extraordinary. <br /><br />I think that Bathsheba had to live through experiences and grow older, before she could realize the type of love that she eventually developed for Oak.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10197562812405433732017-07-03T07:19:28.483-04:002017-07-03T07:19:28.483-04:00i always adored Hardy for his sympathetic and outs...i always adored Hardy for his sympathetic and outstanding portrait of female characters .He is a specialist in remarkable characterization of such phenomenal characters.<br /><br />this story sounds simply beautiful and elegant.<br />I totally agree with your beautiful description that gradually developed love is always deeper and stronger than quick one.<br /><br />oak was true and loyal but fat led her to troy ,no one can escape from the destiny though it is often said that it is "we" who make our destiny bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88611983014751672742017-07-01T20:45:47.632-04:002017-07-01T20:45:47.632-04:00Hi naida - Both the characters and prose in this b...Hi naida - Both the characters and prose in this book were so well crafted. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-73281512585147940572017-07-01T18:14:28.523-04:002017-07-01T18:14:28.523-04:00It sounds like you really enjoyed this one Brian a...It sounds like you really enjoyed this one Brian and Bathsheba sounds like an interesting character and so do her suitors. I like the passages you shared, especially the first one. <br />Enjoy your weekend!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-75007189218846264012017-07-01T13:38:40.340-04:002017-07-01T13:38:40.340-04:00Thanks Deepika - If you gave this a try, I would l...Thanks Deepika - If you gave this a try, I would love to know what you thought. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51669284319279091712017-07-01T04:19:46.696-04:002017-07-01T04:19:46.696-04:00Thank you for this review, Brian. I haven't re...Thank you for this review, Brian. I haven't read Hardy, and it's been a very long while since I read a classic. Now that I am on a break from work, this sounds like a classic I can try. Deepika Rameshhttps://worncorners.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-91856439231049762392017-06-29T12:58:27.892-04:002017-06-29T12:58:27.892-04:00Hi Hila - I have not read any of Hardy's poetr...Hi Hila - I have not read any of Hardy's poetry. Tess of the d'Ubervilles was bleak. Though bad things happened in this book. It was mostly not bleak. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88679227954611614682017-06-29T12:52:45.176-04:002017-06-29T12:52:45.176-04:00Thanks for the good word Tracy. I would love what ...Thanks for the good word Tracy. I would love what you thought of you read this. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12890234202775883652017-06-29T12:12:46.869-04:002017-06-29T12:12:46.869-04:00I have read some of Thomas Hardy's poems - lik...I have read some of Thomas Hardy's poems - like "Neutral Tones," which is so bleak - but haven't gotten around to reading his novels yet. But the kind of characters you describe here are what I enjoy reading. This book is definitely on my list.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49145659879475450492017-06-29T11:03:31.307-04:002017-06-29T11:03:31.307-04:00Another one of those books that, lying upon our se...Another one of those books that, lying upon our selves, I feel I should read. <br /><br />Thank you for bringing another of the classics to life Brian. You truly are inspirational, filling me with good intent as you do.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38614087278473341302017-06-29T09:02:23.273-04:002017-06-29T09:02:23.273-04:00Thanks Susan. I also like that theme. I also want ...Thanks Susan. I also like that theme. I also want to see the film. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51668164298608220182017-06-28T20:20:39.443-04:002017-06-28T20:20:39.443-04:00Nicely reviewed. I like the theme : "realist...Nicely reviewed. I like the theme : "realistic love is far superior to quickly developed passionate love." Aha! Poor Oak. I guess in the recent movie he is played by Matthias Schoenaerts. I would love to see & read it. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-17682260195133051112017-06-28T19:11:24.532-04:002017-06-28T19:11:24.532-04:00Thanks Stefanie. After reading Tess of the D'U...Thanks Stefanie. After reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I also thought that this was going to be a dark book. I agree that it was not. Tess was very dark.<br /><br />There was also a horrible passage involving animals in Tess. I heard that was common in Hardy books. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38120264871050420882017-06-28T12:43:43.266-04:002017-06-28T12:43:43.266-04:00Great review! This is the first an only Hardy nove...Great review! This is the first an only Hardy novel I have read and I was expecting it to be gloomy but this one had quite a lot of humor in it. I am sorry to say though that the incident with Oak's new dog and the sheep was both funny and tragic but I think I laughed more. Not sure why I found it so funny, but there it is :)Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86586276928360748662017-06-28T06:26:21.566-04:002017-06-28T06:26:21.566-04:00Hi Citizen - Though I never read Tess of the d'...Hi Citizen - Though I never read Tess of the d'Urbervilles I agree that Hardy is a great writer for all the reasons that you mention. His depiction of women characters on these books are extraordinary. <br /><br />I do not think that I have seen any films based on Hardy books. I will try to catch some now. Thanks for the link.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40205941370861645332017-06-27T23:07:34.016-04:002017-06-27T23:07:34.016-04:00I wish I had 100 years just to read all of Hardy, ...I wish I had 100 years just to read all of Hardy, and then a few biographies of him, and just try to work out his views on and writing about women. In my view he's one of the most interesting "classic" authors on the subject of interpersonal relationships, not to mention on class.<br /><br />His prose is gorgeous, his descriptions of the natural world so well-done. I've got to put in a plug for one of his story collections, too: "A Changed Man." Great stuff.<br /><br />thanks for reviewing this book. I actually literally have the movie of FFTMC here right now because I wrote elsewhere about some Hardy movie adaptations--which are almost all very well done in themselves.<br /><br />Oh, and Hardy also just had a birthday--June 2!!<br /><br />http://greatbritishtv.com/happy-birthday-thomas-hardy/Citizen Readerhttp://www.citizenreader.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-35985706452562228992017-06-27T18:52:08.521-04:002017-06-27T18:52:08.521-04:00Thanks so much Maria.
I think that you would like...Thanks so much Maria.<br /><br />I think that you would like this book. It is not as dark as Tess of the D'Urbervilles. It also contains feminist themes. <br /><br />I really wonder if women are attracted to destructive people more then men are. My personal experience may have biased my outlook as I have known a couple of men who have been attracted to destructive women. Feminine Psychology sounds interesting.<br /><br />Some of the nature descriptions that Hardy uses do indeed remind me of the descriptions in Jane Eyre. That was especially true of Tess of the D'Urbervilles.<br /><br />I agree with you about the Classics. They are treasures. <br /><br />Have a great week!<br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67666793283793001092017-06-27T18:43:39.413-04:002017-06-27T18:43:39.413-04:00Tim - The only other Hardy that I have read was Te...Tim - The only other Hardy that I have read was Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I am tempted to say it was a better book then this one but it was so dark and depressing. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-229477664662114102017-06-27T18:42:09.939-04:002017-06-27T18:42:09.939-04:00Thanks for the recommendation Fred. Thanks for the recommendation Fred. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-292370172367668242017-06-27T14:56:52.278-04:002017-06-27T14:56:52.278-04:00Thanks, Fred.Thanks, Fred.RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-6591086736985935332017-06-27T14:53:03.448-04:002017-06-27T14:53:03.448-04:00Tim,
It's hard to choose between _Far...Crowd...Tim,<br /><br />It's hard to choose between _Far...Crowd_ and _The Return of the Native_, but let's go with _The Return of the Native_.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10824634162223882522017-06-27T14:25:21.579-04:002017-06-27T14:25:21.579-04:00Alright, Brian et al ..... tell me which Hardy boo...Alright, Brian et al ..... tell me which Hardy book is your favorite, the one everyone (including I) should read.<br />RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27014889082251506082017-06-27T13:44:40.805-04:002017-06-27T13:44:40.805-04:00Another AWESOME review, Brian!! :)
I have only re...Another AWESOME review, Brian!! :)<br /><br />I have only read one of Hardy's novels -- "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". That novel alone made Hardy one of my favorite authors! Since I know that you,too, have read it, you know how powerful a work that is. In fact, I would call it a feminist novel, as it attacks "the double standard" in romantic relationships, and thus, the whole basis of the patriarchy. I really need to re-read it, so that I can write a review for my literary fiction blog.<br /><br />"Far from the Madding Crowd" is another of those books (of which there are LOTS) that I've been wanting to read for the longest time.... Lol. <br /><br />I really feel for Oak.... Once again, in fiction as in real life, we have the case of a woman -- and an intelligent, totally capable one, at that -- falling for the wrong guy. This must have something to do with the female psyche, and I don't mean to put down my own gender in saying this. In fact, I have a book by Karen Horney, titled "Feminine Psychology", sitting on one of my shelves. Of course this is yet ANOTHER book I need to read! Lol. <br /><br />The use of nature imagery in a symbolic manner is typical of Hardy. It's also typical of the Bronte sisters. I believe the same technique might have been used by Hawthorne in "The Scarlet Letter", but again, I would have to re-read this novel in order to make sure.<br /><br />You know, classics are such absolutely WONDERFUL gifts to the world!! They are indeed immortal treasures! And the reason they are is that they touch the very core of what it means to be human.<br /><br />I really do need to balance my reading! As you know, I'm a VERY eclectic reader. But I feel I have to make SURE I read "Far from the Madding Crowd", as well as re-read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles"!!<br /><br />Thanks for your very insightful thoughts!! Hope you're having a great day!! <3 :)<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81619377743947758432017-06-26T19:29:14.274-04:002017-06-26T19:29:14.274-04:00Brian,
The Return of the Native is another excell...Brian,<br /><br />The Return of the Native is another excellent one. The countryside actually is an unaccredited or unlisted character. <br /><br />Desperate Remedies is his first novel, and it's a thriller, with our hero trying to rescue a woman who is marrying a bad guy. Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66303641934862331312017-06-26T18:38:50.009-04:002017-06-26T18:38:50.009-04:00Thanks JoAnn. I also loved Tess of the d'Urbe...Thanks JoAnn. I also loved Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I need to give The Mayor of Casterbridge a try. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com