Reviews

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (Part I) (Dodo Press) by Henry Fielding

linda83's review against another edition

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5.0

Trotts att boken är en tegelsten till bok så har jag tappat räkningen på hur många gånger jag läst den här boken. Den har allt. Spänning, romantik och kostymdrama och författaren är med som egen hög person som berättare av boken. Genialt!

marlisenicole's review against another edition

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funny slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rdemos's review against another edition

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1.0

I find bawdy, rip-roaring 18th century novels more or less tiresome, so it'll probably be a while before I finish this book. Oh well-- it's famous and clever, and I should have read it a long time ago.

coolbritanja's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

Entertaining enough but about 400 pages too long...

bookish_dragon's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.75

I had to read this novel for a class, but I honestly didn’t mind it. The novel felt a little drawn out at times, but the ending was rushed compared to the rest of the novel. It definitely has its entertaining and funny moments, and I also enjoyed the narrator’s interjections and lessons at the beginning of each book. 

toc's review against another edition

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4.0

A very entertaining laugh riot! I don't know if Fielding invented the form but he certainly mastered it. The story and the circumstances are all very funny, of course, but the author's interjections really make the book a masterpiece. Some are quite simple ("let us now return to the wretched scoundrel we have the misfortune to have made our hero") to some quite sublime observations of the human condition to just remarks about the book itself. Superb!

(btw, if you've seen any of the movies don't use them as an excuse to not read the book. I've seen two and, while fun, neither is a suitable substitute for the work itself. Sure they were funny, but nowhere hear as funny as Fielding in the raw!)

acornqueen's review against another edition

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1.0

I can't say I have ever been made read a piece of 'literature' that I found more stupid or unnecessary. While this might sound like coming from someone who doesn't like literature as such, let me assure you I do, and that I read a lot, but this one just is particularly detestable for me, full of the voice of an annoying, self-absorbed author, characters that are too dumb even to laugh about them, a protagonist that is constantly presented as the 'good guy' no matter what he does while any woman doing anything else but staying virtuous is condemned to be a whore, and lots and lots of tedious plot.
The question over "what is literature" is typically one with as many opinions as people thinking about it. In my opinions, Tom Jones is trash, and I'm rather convinced it only managed to keep it's tag thanks to the fact it's said to be the first British fictional novel.

hope_elizabeth_rose's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

ngeru's review against another edition

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4.0

I love this! Its so funny! More too follow.

jmd862000's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is terribly long with so many digressions and drawn out descriptions, but it's an absolute treat. Full of humor, wit, and insight into human nature. Somewhat reminded me of Don Quixote, but while I considered giving up on that book many times, it never crossed my mind reading this one.