Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge, and Funny Bones

[James]

I finished Mayor of casterbridge the other week, and Funny Bones last week - i was wondering if anyone else had read one (or both) of them. If you have, what did you think?

[che's long lost daughter]

I haven't read Mayor of Casterbridge yet but I have read other books by Thomas Hardy i.e. Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Under the Greenwood Tree, A pair of Blue Eyes and I can say that they were all good. Tess has to be my favorite among them.

[James]

I strongly recomend M. of C.
I bought Tess yesterday funnily enough; i'll probably read it next week (i'm finishing off "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" at the moment).

[noland]

I have little respect for Thomas Hardy after reading his last novel, Jude the Obscure. It was the worst book I have ever read, I I have read a hell of a lot a books. Utterlly disapointing and lacking anything that would make it worth reading. Read it and you'll know why Hardy stopped writing novel after he wrote it. I did have some fun, however, writing a thesis on why it was so bad!

[James]

I've started to read Tess of the D'Urbervilles now. One of the things i love about hardy is the way that he changes focus throughout. Even though we may be following the main character, all of a sudden he'll start talking about C19th rural life and culture. I love what it says on the back of my copy;

"a moving novel of hypocrisy and double standards"

This is another thing i love about hardy: his novels have such deep meaning. In contrast i'd say that the Mayor of Casterbridge is basically, a novel exploring the nature of time and change. Although i also agree with Hardy's description (i think it was said by hardy anyway):

"A novel about character"

[James]

and having had a week or so to reflect on "Funny Bones": i must say, it is one of the most disapointing books i've read in along time.

[DaCuBaN]

i'm finishing off "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" at the moment

:D
That's my 'toilet' book - I find you can pick up at any point in that 250 page rant on punctuation and find something to laugh at. Truly a book worth the paper it's written on.

[commiecrusader]

i read mayor of casterbridge at school. i didnt like it very much, really boring. it was just like a rubbish old soap opera. however the deep meanings about the way time changes/doesnt change aspects of people and their relationships were quite good

[James]

I think it is a shame that we tend to hate the books we are made to read at school.

I hate lord of the flies for example.


Dacuban; it is tremendous isn't it?
Fun, and educational!

[commiecrusader]

I think it is a shame that we tend to hate the books we are made to read at school.

I hate lord of the flies for example.

i agree. i think that people should have more choice in what they read in school. surely at the end of the day, whatever essay or exam they write will be able to be marked on its merits therefore rendering the actual source/subject matter almost irrelevant