Thank you for this … I LOVED your insights, review, and mostly, your appreciation for the novel. We readers .. gotta stick together …. Always good to know our thoughts can be more alike than not. Thanks again.
Your reviews of George Eliot's books always make me appreciate them that bit more! Just finished this one and glad to see that you had reviewed and enjoyed it! Have you read Felix Holt yet? I just have that and Scenes of Clerical Life to go...
Thank you so much! Congratulations on finishing Romola! I finally read Felix Holt earlier this year and definitely enjoyed it. It's ranked above the Mill On the Floss for me but below Janet's Repentance. I enjoyed Janet's Repentance most out of Scenes of Clerical Life and the other ones only so so.
Wow! Kate, hearing you talk about this book made me appreciate it even more. Tito perfectly fits the definition of a fool! Haha. I'm so glad you included that because I didn't know the definition! Now I kind of feel like I'm slandering Pinocchio! 😆🤣 He acts like a fool throughout most of Carlo Colodi's book, but EVENTUALLY he learns his lesson! Unlike Tito! Also that's a really good point about the moralizing in modern literature. I'll have to stop using that phrase, "Victorian moarlizing" bc now that I'm thinking about it, it's totally a double standard. Many times, the moralizing in modern literature is about politics rather than virtues. Reviewers don't really mention the moralizing unless the storytelling stinks. You really have to earn the right to moralize, which Eliot certainly does. GREAT video! I loved the length 😃
Kate I read this last year and had no idea going into it that it was historical fiction. Her portrait of the period is so detailed and I found myself Googling constantly. Savonarola in particular I just found so intriguing, it’s a fascinating character study of, as you say, a real figure in history. Romola too was such a compelling character as she was so more complex than the angelic persona that could have grated and I too loved the ending with these two women joined together. The tension created in the novel when you suspect Tito will sell the books, have an affair, etc and the revenge his father seeks just keep the pages turning despite the sometimes heavy material. I totally agree that this is one you could go back to again and again and get something more out of as you could other Eliot novels. Thank you for your review, I could have listened for longer!
I found myself googling so much! I was so intrigued by the character of Romola and agree that she has some wonderful complexity to her. Now that I'm continuing to mull over her character - I feel like she's a very reactive character and Tito is more of the character who makes big actions happen in the plot. What do you think? Yes - George Eliot is a wonderful author to reread!
I really enjoyed this novel so much. It's so profound and so compelling. It's really a masterpiece. I too disliked the cover! Read the book before you choose the cover, publishers! I think the story of Tito's slow and steady downfall, wrought though his weakness and selfishness that is camouflaged by his psychical beauty and ability to charm people.was so interesting! It really illustrated how every time we make a sinful choice, our soul is further corrupted. I agree with Christie! But on the other hand I was thinking psychologically about Tito. He was rescued from an abusive childhood. Maybe he had detachment disorder and had been so damaged, he could not be loyal to anyone. That attachment capcity simply doesn't exist and so his survival instinct takes over. Romola has such a strong attachment to her father, it's given her strength to grow as a person. So in spite of the fact that Tito is a terrible person I still felt sympathy for him, even though he becomes more and more reprehensible. There's so much to say about this novel. Great review. I didn't realize I was supposed to comment at the announcement video. Or I guess I forgot. But I thank you for suggesting this book. I actually did enjoy the experience of reading it. Sometimes it feels good to sink my teeth into something really meaty and absorbing. And this novel fit the bill for me!
Good point about the attachment disorder. That would make it harder to care about other people and put their needs over your own. I will have to read more about that!
@@faithbooks7906 Thank you for linking this, Faith! I can't believe I forgot to link it in my description. I look forward to my next review having comments from you to include in my video! That's such a good point about Tito. The early years in a persons life are so crucial in what their emotional development will be like.
