Adam Bede (Abridged) Audiobook

" This is George Eliot's first novel. To read it after Middlemarch is to be aware both of how she improved as an author and of how inherently talented she always was. This was not my favorite of her works. The characters were flatter than in her later novels, the plot less complex. However, the narrative style is a force to be reckoned with, and Adam Bede is certainly worth reading just to experience Eliot's experimentation with the form of the novel. "

" A good story that grabs at your heart. The scene descriptions are wonderfully written although the book gets tediously long at time. "

" I actually cheated and watched the movie. "

" I absolutely loved the main character(s) of this novel and was so uplifted by its message. I wish there were more people in this world with such morality, courage and strength. The final scene is beautiful to me. One of my favorite books of George Eliot. "

" Initially, the book didn't really capture my attention and I wondered if this was going to be a book where I had to force myself through the pages, but after the first fifty pages, it became far more interesting so I was very pleasantly surprised. Adam Bede is an absolutely lovely character who really stole my heart with the way he understood the world and the way he lived and loved and he made me want a happy ending for him because he thoroughly deserved it. I loved that George Eliot created characters that were so righteous and so flawed at the same time and that even when you feel like you should hate Hetty Sorrel for how manipulative she can be, you were also made to feel sympathy for her and how childlike she was and that really, she was also a victim in this book and not to be judged so harshly. Eliot's periodic little ramblings about love or her attempts to persuade the reader to understand why the characters act the way they do, that emotion sometimes triumphs reason, that we too might not have acted differently had we been in Adam's shoes or Arthur's place, are also quite admirable. This is a fantastic book, where it's hard not to get emotionally invested in the characters who are human and real and wonderfully created. "

" This book stood out in my memory for its title character, who is something of a male, working-class Elizabeth Bennet in his virtuous, principled and confident posture, so charming that his slight errors in judgment are effortlessly ignored. Apart from the story of his marriage Eliot says a lot about grief, sin, sympathy, honesty, etc. "

" I slogged through this mess when I was in college with my ever-faithful Cliffnotes at hand. I think I fell asleep at the end of every sentence. How I ever passed that George Eliot class is beyond me. "

" Yes, it's a little slow until the main scandal, as many other reviewers of this book will tell you, but the author does such a good job of recreating rural life in the late 1790s and introducing us to the characters and their flaws, that it's enjoyable and all necessary. The ending is satisfying as everyone recognizes and repents of their trespasses. "

" The colloquial made it difficult. "

" Adam is somewhat immature though; his rather strict view of life has not been tempered by experience. As his reactions to his father show, he lacks sympathy for other people's weaknesses; "

" The problem with reviewing books I read a long time ago is that I can barely recall details. I remember loving this book. George Eliot's "seriousness" was no doubt at work here, but she gives one so much to think about that I cannot help but loving pretty much everything she writes. "

" Middlemarch is one of my all-time favorite books but I've never read any other Eliot. So, I decided to read all of George Eliot's works this summer but, unfortunately, I was only able to finish this one. Highly reccommend it. "

" The problem with reviewing books I read a long time ago is that I can barely recall details. I remember loving this book. George Eliot's "seriousness" was no doubt at work here, but she gives one so much to think about that I cannot help but loving pretty much everything she writes. "

" I loved Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life so much, I found this book a disappointment. If I didn't know George Eliot could do better, I'd consider giving it a higher rating. "

" Honestly, I read half of it and then got so bored with it that I read the Spark Notes. I really wanted to finish it, but after a full month of not reading a single page out of sheer dread, I decided it was time to read a synopsis and move on with my life. Just not my kind of book. "

" The colloquial made it difficult. "

" Immediately turned me into an ardent fan of Maryanne Evans, a true genius. "

" mp3 Brilliant writing again from Eliot, she was a prodigious talent indeed. "

" I read it for class. It wasn't as bad as some people made it out to be. Good story. "

" George Eliot rocks my socks. This book has some interesting and inspiring moments and characters. "

" I was first exposed to Elliott in school and I was glad to have read this. Although this is stilted, I enjoyed the experience and recommend this those interested in in a classic of English literature. "

" 4.5 stars rather than 5...but that's not an option. A tale of unrequited love, requited love that crossed class boundaries, and suppressed love...wrapped up in a pastoral setting. Probably not for the "The Davinci Code" crowd. "

" Immediately turned me into an ardent fan of Maryanne Evans, a true genius. "

" A charming little (long) story. George Eliot is more entertaining and insightful than her contemporaries Thomas Hardy and Thomas Carlyle but despite the romantic appeal, the story is awefully moralistic, conventional and religeous. "

" Beautifully written with some great moments and insights. Maybe one to read again when life is less hectic. "

" Not the best writing, but a good story. "

" Eliot's ability to write believable and colorful characters is just one aspect of this beautifully written novel. The love triangle and 'fallen woman getting into trouble' theme is old news, but refreshingly told here. Highly recommend...as I do all of Eliot's books! "

" She develops well-rounded characters that have a life of their own, and her writing really conveys the attitudes, accents, and lifestyles of rural 18th century England. "

" The Reconciliation part with prayer was rather powerful. "

" Too much adultery, lovers, etc. Didn't finish but I was part of a book club that did. The end was very twisted and problems very complex due to the sexual controversy so lesson learned, but I still chose not to finish. "

" I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the way Eliot communicated and expressed things to her readers, not to mention her characters and the level of description. I felt a fondness for Adam from the word go, such a shame that such a gentleman rarely exists in this day and age. "

" An interesting love story sparked by wonderful characterization and observations of life. "

" I was mostly bored by this book untill the last several chapters. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. "

" This is the first book I read by George Elliot. She can be a little slow, but she's an outstanding writer. "

" Fits its genre well. Think of "Mill on the Floss". "

" Loved this book. The author had a lot of insight into love, forgiveness, and the depth of human emotion. "

" "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!" HETTY SORREL "

" An interesting love story sparked by wonderful characterization and observations of life. "

" Tess of the D'Urbervilles with a happier ending. Enjoyed Middlemarch more. "

" A beautifully written sad story of people, interaction, love, revenge and forgiveness. The words are flowery and expressive. The thoughts are detailed and draw you into the minds of others. A lovely book. "

" Elliot's first novel, and it shows. But an interesting slice of lower class English life. "

" Started out as a typical story of countryside England in the 1800s, then got REALLY dark. "

" Just finished this book. I really liked it. George Eliot is such an amazing observer of human nature. "