Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë, Anne Brontë

17 reviews

headachesince03's review against another edition

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funny reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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jessi825grace's review against another edition

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

5.0

I honestly don’t know why there isn’t more hype for this book. Of the four Brontë books I’ve read, this might be my favorite love story. It is so sweet and honestly just brought me immense joy. Six stars!! 
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cosmina_sb19's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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ghostsversion's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

To be honest with you, I didn't expect to like this book so much. I think that's because most authors during the 1800's weren't too focused on making catchy opening chapters. But regardless, this was actually a very interesting and cool story about a young woman trying to make a profession in a time when being a plain poor woman was the crime of a lifetime. The romance also was unexpected but a very nice inclusion especially the constant yearning that may or may not be a bit too relatable.
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bashsbooks's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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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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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lizzylakes's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I thought this book was really quite adorable. It follows the main character Agnes Grey as she becomes a governess to help her family and show them that she is a capable woman. One of the main focuses of this book is the upper class treatment of those considered lesser than them. 
While it sometimes felt like the descriptions of the characters dragged on a bit and there was more tell than there was show, I enjoyed all the cute moments that did happen in this book. Because of the way it was told, you get the sense that you are traveling with this woman as she walks down memory lane and recounts her governess years. There is never really any rush and things go at their own natural pace in this slice-of-life type novel, which, depending on the person, can be a good or bad thing.
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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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mondovertigo's review against another edition

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

2.75

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isabella_reads's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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