While not terribly challenging in most ways, Geeorge Elliot’s Deronda was a thick thing to slog through. I thought she created some interesting characters, but the good ones were hardly interesting at all. Methinks she has a tendency to idealize certain parties to the point that they cease to be real, as in the case of Mirah. In other cases, we don't get a compelling view in spite of the backstory being spelled out, as in the case of Deronda's mother. The book is like a modern Hollywood movie in that it has not one, but two endings, both of which jerk the tears right out a body.