Reviews

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

barbarakaterina's review against another edition

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4.0

It's soo long. It also seems to me that the rather subtle irony of the first let's say third of the book gives way later to less carefully constructed humour, and thoughts. No wonder, I'd be tired too after a thousand pages with frequent repetitions...
It's rather fascinating, too, how it can contain bits that's be feminist even today and then, in the very next sentence, a bit that will make you cringe for few chapters to follow.

angelacv's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

tiffanychou's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes

kandicez's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this a long time ago and remember liking it. It was long, but I don't remember it feeling like a chore. I may have even liked it well enough for a five, but since I've forgotten some...I may just need to re-read it, or take the easy way and watch one of the movies or series. What I most recall was the things that they found so shocking weren't really all that shocking now. When you read a Victorian romance, somehow it makes you, while you are reading, feel outrage at a man making unwelcome advances or trying to kiss a woman, but in this, because what the characters do and go through seemed to real to me, I was startled by what a scandal their actions caused around them.

larobertson's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bookishwendy's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm no stranger to old books, but apparently I can still be surprised at how readable (and often funny) a 900-page doorstopper from the 1740s can be. Some of Fielding's observations -- about literary critics in the 18th Century, say, or the "moralizing" of puppet shows to ensure children are force-fed "godly lessons" while denied the corrupting nature of humor -- hold up to this day. There's something special about reading voices from centuries ago and feeling like people haven't changed all that much.

literatehedgehog's review against another edition

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5.0

"The" novel. Period. With the most beauteous plot you ever did spy. Laugh-your-fancydress shoes-right-off worthy as well.

virtualmima's review against another edition

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  • Loveable characters? No

1.75

Too much pompous rambling.

misty_muskrat's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted sad

3.5

mary_juleyre's review against another edition

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

3.0