Jude the Obscure

I read this book out of a desire to read the classics, and just for pure pleasure. When I first started reading this book I hated Arabella, but I hated Sue even more, because her evil deeds seemed even more conniving. She is what is known as a drama queen. As the book progressed I begin to feel a little sympathy for Sue. When the three children were found hanging dead, I was unable to continue to read this book. I had a feeling that the unborn child would end up being born dead also.... and it was.

This is a very heart-wrenching book. The characters are engaging but frustrating at times. I found Thomas Hardy's writng style very readable. Interesting critique of institutions like the church, religion, matrimony, universities, and the Victorian class system.

Although not the easiest read, this timeless classic is a beautiful human story and an indictment of Victorian English values/society. It describes this society where a determined, intelligent man is held back from achieving higher education and pursuing his love for academia, forced to be a common laborer and suffering numerous injustices as a result of his being born in a lower class in rural England. It describes the Victorian society where women are scorned for having strong viewpoints and are forced to be manipulative to achieve goals. Yet, even better, this is a complex story of a man and a woman who share common interests, but because Jude and Sue are cousins and because they are bohemian in Victorian England, they are forced to face staggering injustices and tragic consequences of their choices. Thomas Hardy was a master at poignantly pointing out the Victorian values and their affect on the common people of England, at describing the pastoral beauty of Southern England, and at understanding the bond of love between a man and a woman... even if he was a master of pathos! A must read!