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A review by cassiakarin
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
3.0
I should give it 5stars…but… well, let me explain:
I listened to this title solely by the prompting of Karen Swallow Prior by having it as the source example for the first chapter in her excellent book, "On Reading Well."
I chose to complete the entire (enormous) novel before reading her chapter about it. I am both bummed at this decisions and very satisfied by it. Bummed because I ended up missing many of the key sign posts which make the story great, and glad because I was more weightily put into my place after reading it and judging it wrongly.
I did not enjoy the novel on its own stand-alone merits. But now after reading Prior's chapter about it, I am rightfully shamed.
On my own, I found the book to be frivolous, silly, and superfluous. It felt like over-binging on Seinfeld (or even a less worthy sitcom) for thirty-five hours plus (audio). Throughout my listening to this novel I was perplexed by it at times. It gave me the opportunity to make keen judgments about the nature of morality, justice, and love. I have to say I bypassed these opportunities too quickly, for in them (as I have come to learn) the whole virtue of the book rests.
In and of itself, the characters of the novel are endearing, humorous, lovable, deplorable, and well-crafted. The writing is good and for the most part keeps the reader well engaged, and the story flows smooth enough to not get lost easily. But the true worth of the book is in being taught how to read it by Karen Swallow Prior in her book mentioned above. From her single chapter on it I believe I now have a much more keen sense as to how to glean truth and goodness from any and all novels. I have been confronted with my own narrow-mindedness, shallowness, and self-righteousness. Critical realizations such as these make the reading so worth it.
I listened to this title solely by the prompting of Karen Swallow Prior by having it as the source example for the first chapter in her excellent book, "On Reading Well."
I chose to complete the entire (enormous) novel before reading her chapter about it. I am both bummed at this decisions and very satisfied by it. Bummed because I ended up missing many of the key sign posts which make the story great, and glad because I was more weightily put into my place after reading it and judging it wrongly.
I did not enjoy the novel on its own stand-alone merits. But now after reading Prior's chapter about it, I am rightfully shamed.
On my own, I found the book to be frivolous, silly, and superfluous. It felt like over-binging on Seinfeld (or even a less worthy sitcom) for thirty-five hours plus (audio). Throughout my listening to this novel I was perplexed by it at times. It gave me the opportunity to make keen judgments about the nature of morality, justice, and love. I have to say I bypassed these opportunities too quickly, for in them (as I have come to learn) the whole virtue of the book rests.
In and of itself, the characters of the novel are endearing, humorous, lovable, deplorable, and well-crafted. The writing is good and for the most part keeps the reader well engaged, and the story flows smooth enough to not get lost easily. But the true worth of the book is in being taught how to read it by Karen Swallow Prior in her book mentioned above. From her single chapter on it I believe I now have a much more keen sense as to how to glean truth and goodness from any and all novels. I have been confronted with my own narrow-mindedness, shallowness, and self-righteousness. Critical realizations such as these make the reading so worth it.