Middlemarch (1872)

A classic worth reading but, for me, it took some perseverance since it took awhile to feel engaged with the characters. But eventually I began to want to know what was going to happen to Dorothea, Will, Fred, Mary and Lydgate. So I am glad I stuck with it. ( )

I love the last paragraph of this book, but for many people the amount of reading and absorbing necessary to get there will not be worth it. ( )

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. ( )

"Ah, there's enormous patience wanted with the way of the world". Eliot makes Mr. Farebrother (the vicar) utter this gem of a phrase somewhere closer to the end of her novel. And it sort of sums it up for me.

Apart from being an engrossing saga, this novel is about ethics and moral decisions. It's a sweeping tale of a certain portion of British society with a wide array of characters. Here is love at its most vulnerable and angst at its most poignant, honorable ambition versus the shady one. And all this with the background of Eliot's gentle philosophizing which is full of humor that, at times, borders on witty sarcasm, her uncanny insight into the nature of man (or the nature of her characters) and life's meaning. Her political ruminations and clear understanding of politics of her era are impressive, to say the least, as well as her sharp perception of human folly and idiosyncrasies, whereupon she is not a judge but a clever observer.

And of course - her understanding of the role of women in her society, her forbearing irony on how women were "expected to have weak opinions" and how "the great safeguard of society and of domestic life was that those opinions were not acted upon" (!!!); how "deep studies, classics, mathematics... are too taxing for a woman", and many more examples of the author poking fun at how most men in her day saw themselves openly superior to women.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the characters that moved me or disappointed me. I love Dorothea for her generous soul, I admire Mary Garth - for her strength and honesty, Mr. and Mrs. Garth (Mary's parents) - for their down-to-earth goodness, Dr. Lydgate - for his passion as to the progress of medicine (too bad that it obscured his vision in choosing the right partner in life), Will Ladislaw - for standing his own and for his capacity to love. I pity Mr. Casaubon for his self-absorption and for his envy that led him to a terrible decision, and I also pity Rosamond - for her shallow nature and for lack of discernment (alas - external beauty didn't make her beautiful). There are many mini-plots - each thought-provoking and intense, as well as lots of other characters who complete the whole picture - too numerous to mention (I mention just those that stand out for me).

Eliot's turn of phrase is exceptional. At first, the sheer intricate eloquence and elaborate phrasing astounds you, makes you take a mental step back to fully appreciate it; but then it grows on you and you become engrossed and loving it! A thoroughly satisfying read. ( )

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. ( )