Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Agnes Grey

Agnes Grey is a fine book. It's not exceptional, it's not the worst, it's just fine. There are lots of things I enjoyed about it - a real strength of Brontë's, for example, is her descriptive prowess. I especially loved the description of the walk on the beach at the end, right before she reunites with her beau and dog. But Agnes is a fairly boring narrator. There's not much of interest a good clergyman's daughter can bring to a story, and her supreme judginess toward everyone else gets tiresome quickly. Like yeah, yeah, we get it, rich people are assholes. What else is new? It's a little funny how manners keep her from being anywhere near direct about this to the Murrays, but not funny enough hinge an entire novel on.

When I was about halfway through Agnes Grey, I commented to my partner that I felt bad for Anne Brontë that Agnes Grey was originally published as the third of a three-volume set, with the first two volumes being her sister's Wuthering Heights. I read the two back-to-back in that same order, and I think I would've thought Agnes Grey better without the comparison.

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eparris's review against another edition

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funny reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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hjb_128's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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mari1532's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I own a paperback of this book but chose to listen to it on Audible.

Brief Summary: A young girl, Agnes Grey, whose family falls into hard times decides to take on employment as a governess. After experiencing abuse at her first place of employment she moves to a home where she experiences less. However, she is put in charge of a vapid young woman who dreams of only marrying for money. As the young girl finally reaches marriageable age she toys with the men around her and Agnes finds she is jealous when her attentions turn to a certain gentleman.

Thoughts: I hated nearly everything that Agnes had to work for in this book. They were vain, elitists who had no sense and fewer manners. I will say that this is probably an important work in terms of understanding the wider culture of how governesses were often treated throughout England. However, this book didn't make me like or hate Agnes. I wasn't rooting for her even when the end came all I could think was "I'm happy the dog's storyline is resolved". I don't think I will ever pick this book up again, but don't regret reading it.

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alisylvi's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Genuinely happy for Agnes in the end!! After all the mean people she lives with to get a happy ending <3 I was smiling and eagerly reading the last chapters!

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solouncapitulomas's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

or those that said this book had not enough romance in it are y'all blind? ugh, just say you want smut and go read another book, leave my girl Anne alone ok?

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caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

The writing is very good but you can tell this is Anne Bronte's first novel. The beginning was rough but the novel redeemed itself in the end. I just wished that Agnes was written with a less heavy hand. She was a little, ok, a lot, self-righteous. She could do no wrong and everyone else was wrong, and wronged her. A little character growth would have made for more enjoyable reading, and a more likeable MC.

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