Monday, August 6, 2012

The Mill on the Floss

I read George Eliot's Middlemarch in college and while I liked it, I've never picked up another one of her books. I think my problem is that while I liked Middlemarch, I read it during one of my busiest semesters in college. I was taking a class on the English novel and we read a novel just about every week - 18th and 19th century bulky ones. I was also in a Shakespeare class where we read a play a week, plus we were expected to watch 10 plays and only a handful of those could be the same as the ones we were reading. And I had three other classes that I'm sure had a lot of reading because all of my classes had a lot of reading! So, I sort of associate Middlemarch with being tired. :) I'd like reread it soon because I think I would love it now instead of just like it, if I wasn't having to rush through it.

Anyway, I haven't picked up another Eliot since then, but finally decided to read The Mill on the Floss after Allie raved about it. And I'm so glad I finally did! I loved this book! Eliot creates such modern female characters and shows such feminist beliefs that I'm amazed her books were published during her lifetime. Maggie is such a relatable character and I felt so bad for her and wished she had more options.

Eliot's writing is wonderful, her plot is interesting and moves along at a good pace, her characters seem real and I don't know why I waited so long to read more Eliot! The ending will stick with you for a long time and is one of the most powerful endings I've ever read. I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil anything!

4 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed The Mill on the Floss and I was surprised by the ending. I was a bit annoyed with Maggie, she seemed to lose some of her spunk she had as a young girl, but the world was unduly harsh towards her.... I could say more, but it would be spoiler-y

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She did get frustrating as time went on. I think she was a victim of her time tough, and like you said, the world wasn't kind to her. It's a hard book to talk about with sharing spoilers!

      Delete
  2. George Eliot is definitely one of my favorite writers and while I agree that her characters in Mill on the Floss are compelling, I felt a bit disappointed in the book, probably because I had hyped it in my mind so much.

    My favorite scene is when Maggie runs away to the gypsies.

    Glad you enjoyed the book--I agree, the end is enthralling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked that scene too. It surprised me and made me really like Maggie. I'm sorry you were a little disappointed by it. I hate it you hype something up and end up ruining it a little.

      Delete