CourtnyG
03-26-2007, 04:03 PM
I recently read The Warden and Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. I really enjoyed both novels. The Warden was much shorter. It focused more heavily on Mr. Harding who I found to be rather boring. I thought Trollope did a wonderful job of showing us the internal struggle the warden went through. We were introduced to the Grantly children in a very creative way. I liked how the sisters are so very different, and how Mrs. Grantly behaved. I didn't exactly like the way Eleanor's struggle with her feelings for Mr. Bold played out, which wouldn't be a big deal, but it almost felt like that relationship was the purpose of the novel. It felt like the events occured just to give Eleanor and Mr. Bold a problem to work though. If that was the purpose of the novel it didn't continue into Barchester Towers. Throughout the novel I couldn't decide who I felt worse for. Mr. Harding for being such a good man trying to make it through a bad situation, or Mr. Grantly for being such a strong man trying to work though his weak father-in-law. I could understand both men's situation and feeling, and felt badly for them being constantly dissappointed with each other, constantly being shot in the foot by each other.
Overall I preferred Barchester Towers. It was a much meatier story with more characters and plot twists. The Warden felt like a short story in comparison (or possibly the preface or first few chapters for Barchester Towers). I still didn't find Eleanor all that likeable, even though it felt like she was the main point of the novel (at least the second half of the novel). I loved the family from Italy. They added a lot of interest to the last half of the novel. I liked Mr. Arabin right away, and immediately saw where his part of the story was headed. The best part of the novel was the war between Mrs. Proudie and Mr. Slope. I couldn't decide which to pull for as I found them both equally dislikeable (as a woman I eventually found myself pulling for Mrs. Proudie). The war between the two was played out beautifully. There were numerous times throughout the novel where the side with the upper hand would change, and I would have to reevaluate who I wanted to win and their likelihood of winning.
I started Doctor Thorne, but when I noticed that the two plots weren't directly linked I decided to put it down and take a little break from Trollope for the time being. I look forward to starting Doctor Thorne again. The first few chapters have me convinced that it will be even better than The Warden and Barchester Towers. Dr. Thorne seems a bit pompous, but I'm already attached to Mary Thorne and she was just introduced in the last chapter I read.
Courtny
Overall I preferred Barchester Towers. It was a much meatier story with more characters and plot twists. The Warden felt like a short story in comparison (or possibly the preface or first few chapters for Barchester Towers). I still didn't find Eleanor all that likeable, even though it felt like she was the main point of the novel (at least the second half of the novel). I loved the family from Italy. They added a lot of interest to the last half of the novel. I liked Mr. Arabin right away, and immediately saw where his part of the story was headed. The best part of the novel was the war between Mrs. Proudie and Mr. Slope. I couldn't decide which to pull for as I found them both equally dislikeable (as a woman I eventually found myself pulling for Mrs. Proudie). The war between the two was played out beautifully. There were numerous times throughout the novel where the side with the upper hand would change, and I would have to reevaluate who I wanted to win and their likelihood of winning.
I started Doctor Thorne, but when I noticed that the two plots weren't directly linked I decided to put it down and take a little break from Trollope for the time being. I look forward to starting Doctor Thorne again. The first few chapters have me convinced that it will be even better than The Warden and Barchester Towers. Dr. Thorne seems a bit pompous, but I'm already attached to Mary Thorne and she was just introduced in the last chapter I read.
Courtny