what do you think?

[beth01081]

I'm thinking of reading jude the obscure by thomas hardy. please tell me what you think of it.
Thanks.
Bethy

[LitNetIsGreat]

Delightfully tragic little book, mature Hardy at his very best, I would safely say this is his finest novel. So yes, go on read it definitely.

[Babelfish]

I think that it doesn't really matter at all what I think of it. It's very possible that we could disagree entirely; and that would be quite alright. Why don't you just read it and tell us what you think of it. Who knows? perhaps an interesting discussion will develop.

That said, I haven't ever read it. hehehe.

[subterranean]

Jude the Obscure is the novel that made me fell in love witn Hardy. Absolutely well written; tragic life story of man in pursue of a dream. Hardy, I think, was one of the writers with ability to attract readers' attention in first few pages. I bet you'll love the novel. I also suggest his other novels Far from the Madding Crowd as well as Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

[kasie]

Gloom, doom and general despondency.

If you haven't read any other Hardy novels, then I suggest you don't start with this one: try Far from the Madding Crowd or Tess or The Mayor of Casterbridge first. Then try Jude if you decide you like Hardy and can cope with the deep vein of sadness he tapped so successfully.

But as Babelfish posted, you really have to read it for yourself.

[beth01081]

thank you all for your opinions. I have read Tess, and decided that i do like Hardy. So, I think after I finish reading The Scarlet Letter I will read this book.
Bethy

[gabbyhayes]

In his attitudes and his use of language and situations, Hardy hardly seems like a 19th century English author. I admire Graham Greene, who often wrote about similar themes, and I think I would put these two authors side by side in terms of a contemporary point of view. The book isn't thick and it isn't daunting. You quickly become emotionally involved in the situations that civilization and morality put people in. I just got done recommending it to a friend of mine and I'd certainly recommend it to you. It was this book and the outrage it inspired among readers that turned Hardy from a world-renowned, skilled, insightful, and entertaining novelist into a relatively obscure poet for the remainder of his life. If it were not significant for any other reason, that would make this novel worth the entry fee.

[janesmith]

I've studied Hardy for some time now and I can honestly say he has to be considered one of the most influential writers of his time. His anti-marriage stance, as located within "Jude", is in my opinion quite enlightening. Many readers find him too dark and depressing but I disagree. Hardy is a realist with a true desire to investigate the human condition.
I would recommend "Jude" to lovers of well written literature. Enjoy!

[kelby_lake]

I don't find Hardy depressing. I found the ending of Middlemarch far more depressing. The thing about Hardy novels is that the hero/heroine normally has a period of true happiness so whilst their ultimate fate might be tragic, they have lived far more than any other Victorian characters.