For those of you who prefer to read about vampires that sparkle in the sun,
sweets and sunshine, unicorns, rainbows, stuffed toys, romance and happy endings
- this really isn't the type of novel you'll want to read. Ever. It wasn't reviewed as
'Jude the Obscene' in the nineteenth century for no reason - even the reviews were
considered enough to stop the famous writer from writing prose. Yes, Jude the
Obscure was Thomas Hardy's final novel and for the remaining thirty-odd years of
his life, he focused only on poetry and dramas.
This novel was actually suggested to me back in 2010 where my English Literature
teacher actually said that I would love it, before giving me a few minor details and
informing me of a twist being present. Although I'm not sure whether to be more
worried about the fact that my teacher had told me that I would love such a novel,
or the fact that I truly did enjoy it - more than any other in fact. Since finishing
Jude the Obscure, the novel has been my favourite of all time. I'm yet to find
anything even close to how much this masterpiece effected me. Admittedly, the first
time I read it I wasn't a hugely fond reader: I had just finished To Kill a Mockingbird
which was pretty short and modern, and I literally had to plow through the first
group of pages before I actually started to enjoy it. I didn't want to give up and was
determined to finish a Victorian classic, so I did; and I'm glad, too. I don't think I'd
have got onto my A Levels course without it, either. Seriously though, after getting
through the first part of the novel, it kind of opened up for me. It became such an
easy read and it was pretty hard to put down, too. Oh, and if you do decide to read
it, try reading the dialect out aloud. For one, it makes it a lot easier to understand,
and secondly it is absolutely hilarious to listen to yourself (try to make sure you're
not in ear-shot of anyone, they might find you a bit weird).
I won't go into too much detail about it, because to me it is a novel that you need
to read to be able to fully grasp the concept and emotions. You'll also find it more
interesting if you don't know what's going to happen. Just knowing that there was
a twist without any detail about it - just a simple 'there's a twist throughout' - kept
me going with intrigue and excitement. For me, you shouldn't try to analyse it in
huge detail, just read, feel, see, and enjoy it. Plus, if you over-analyse something it
tends to ruin your enjoyment when you read it. There are a few things in the novel
that you possibly won't be able to get your head around, particularly when you think
the story couldn't get any worse. Surprise! It just did. Why? Don't worry about that,
just enjoy it.
Just writing about it makes me want to read it again. I'll just say that it involves love,
failed love, heartbreak, more heartbreak and most certainly death - but it's still a better
love story than Twilight.
sweets and sunshine, unicorns, rainbows, stuffed toys, romance and happy endings
- this really isn't the type of novel you'll want to read. Ever. It wasn't reviewed as
'Jude the Obscene' in the nineteenth century for no reason - even the reviews were
considered enough to stop the famous writer from writing prose. Yes, Jude the
Obscure was Thomas Hardy's final novel and for the remaining thirty-odd years of
his life, he focused only on poetry and dramas.
This novel was actually suggested to me back in 2010 where my English Literature
teacher actually said that I would love it, before giving me a few minor details and
informing me of a twist being present. Although I'm not sure whether to be more
worried about the fact that my teacher had told me that I would love such a novel,
or the fact that I truly did enjoy it - more than any other in fact. Since finishing
Jude the Obscure, the novel has been my favourite of all time. I'm yet to find
anything even close to how much this masterpiece effected me. Admittedly, the first
time I read it I wasn't a hugely fond reader: I had just finished To Kill a Mockingbird
which was pretty short and modern, and I literally had to plow through the first
group of pages before I actually started to enjoy it. I didn't want to give up and was
determined to finish a Victorian classic, so I did; and I'm glad, too. I don't think I'd
have got onto my A Levels course without it, either. Seriously though, after getting
through the first part of the novel, it kind of opened up for me. It became such an
easy read and it was pretty hard to put down, too. Oh, and if you do decide to read
it, try reading the dialect out aloud. For one, it makes it a lot easier to understand,
and secondly it is absolutely hilarious to listen to yourself (try to make sure you're
not in ear-shot of anyone, they might find you a bit weird).
I won't go into too much detail about it, because to me it is a novel that you need
to read to be able to fully grasp the concept and emotions. You'll also find it more
interesting if you don't know what's going to happen. Just knowing that there was
a twist without any detail about it - just a simple 'there's a twist throughout' - kept
me going with intrigue and excitement. For me, you shouldn't try to analyse it in
huge detail, just read, feel, see, and enjoy it. Plus, if you over-analyse something it
tends to ruin your enjoyment when you read it. There are a few things in the novel
that you possibly won't be able to get your head around, particularly when you think
the story couldn't get any worse. Surprise! It just did. Why? Don't worry about that,
just enjoy it.
Just writing about it makes me want to read it again. I'll just say that it involves love,
failed love, heartbreak, more heartbreak and most certainly death - but it's still a better
love story than Twilight.
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