The Return of the Native

President Camacho · Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:13 am

I should be done with the book but it seems not to want to die. The story has already ended and still it continues! Someone needs to euthanize this thing.

Weak. This book was weak. Thumbs down. Good little story but not something I'd recommend to anyone.

The difference here between Gogol and Hardy is that Hardy is trying to make a happy ending where Gogol would have finished the story by now with any ambitious characters getting cut down.

What I found interesting was that in the beginning Clym was bent on teaching the children of the heath. Then he realized that it wasn't practical so he changed his plans to teaching in Budmouth. Then later after his eyesight is damaged and he loses Eustacia he wants to become a preacher? What? I guess the point here is that men will do what they will do.

I don't know what to get out of this story except maybe that marriage is a bad idea and to know someone before committing yourself to them. Also, the pitfalls of dreams.

I used to want to be a motorcycle mechanic until I became one. The dream was far better than the reality of the situation. I would wake up early to dress in clothes that were washed but that still had grease stains all over them. I'd work all day in the heat with no air conditioner in a dirty environment. I'd have to watch my tools so they wouldn't get stolen. Most of my meager paycheck went into buying tools. My fingernails were never ever clean. I wreaked of gasoline and I worked on the most horrible pieces of cr*p that no one took care of and brought in just to get running.

Looking back on it - I think it was awesome. Putting myself back in those shoes? Never. I think Clym should have tried teaching for a little bit to actually see if that's what he really wanted to do. Just like Eustacia should have got to know Clym a little more before marrying him.

Suzanne · Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:46 pm

This book has been very slow going for me. It does not pull me towards it, some books just whisper my name and say "read me", I am not hearing this whisper. Others yell at me, but this one is content on being silent. I apolozige that I have not been a very good reading partner.

Is is just me, or do the characters fall flat. The scenery is discribed in 3D, but the characters are one demensional. Dialogue for me, can describe a character more than 1000 words of physical description, and it is my feeling, that Hardy is not a master of dialogue. Words are spoken between the characters, but the personality of the characters does not come through. I find myself not caring what happens to any of them, never a good thing.

Eustacia has dissapointed me. Honestly, the reddleman has been disapointing as well. Strong characters can be the back bone of a great story, Hardy's characters have all become ding bats, and this is affecting the entire book. I will persist with this book, I'm about half way through. After reading your comments, I want to abandon it all together, but I will muddle through.


	President Camacho wrote: Where's the emotion?

Haven't found it yet.

President Camacho · Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:51 am

I've finished the book. It doesn't get any better, Suzanne. If you want to stop reading it won't be any great loss. It was a flop. :/

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