Buddy Reads is a fun feature where bookish friends and I read the same book, rave (or rant) about it via text message, and then write a quick review so you can decide if you’d like to read it or not. This post contains a couple affiliate links — basically meaning if you click on a link and purchase something, I get just a little bit of commission (it helps to, just a little, fund my book addiction…)
For this buddy read, I was joined by Elissa (@elissalucero). Elissa and I go way back. In college, I was honored to nanny for her family. Years later I was tutoring her in English. Now she’s all grown up, married, and far more talented in the English/Literature department then I could ever imagine! She and her husband are about to go on an amazing adventure this fall, so you’ll definitely want to follow online on her blog.
Christen says:
I enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd so much more than I was expecting. It has been a long while since I actually picked up a classic to read. To be completely honest, it did take me a couple of chapters to settle in — the pace was much slower (per the norm with classics) than what I had been used to reading. But once I got there, oh how I loved this book. I feel like I should also note, that I listened to a good majority of this book via LibriVox — which is basically free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers. LibriVox is a great way to get some classics in! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elissa says:
If you enjoy 19th century Jane Austen romances, you should pick up Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd (1874). A shepherd, a wealthy landowner, and a soldier vie for the love of Bathsheba, the quirky and independent heroine. Bathsheba voices many of Hardy’s most well-written lines (for example, “It is difficult for a woman to define her feelings in a language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.”). Hardy balances earthy farming scenes with a subtle critique of religion and gender roles. On one level, Hardy writes a love story about Bathsheba and her three suitors. At the same time, he confronts his characters with disappointment and fills his narrative gentle sadness. Reading Far from the Madding Crowd becomes a practice of contemplation and empathy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leave a Reply