Vanity Fair (Abridged) Audiobook

" I really can't decide how I felt about this book. The writing style was engaging and humorous, the characters a mix of deplorable, despicable, and pathetic, and Thackeray did a magnificent job of patronizing both his awful characters and other genres of literature. I may need to read it again, I'm still feeling like I missed something. "

" It was OK. I just expected more. "

" Click and read my review. "

" At first glance, Vanity Fair appears to be another simple nineteenth century British romance. The main protagonists are two young, unmarried women, and some gentlemen from upper class families. Jane Austen's notation about single men in possession of a good fortune being in need of a wife seems to apply here. But after the initial date scenes, the story descends into issues of class warfare, the struggle against poverty, true and false chivalry, the curse of debt, the role of peerages and titles in society, and whether good and bad, or justice and injustice, can appear in the same person. All around, a good story that also raises good questions. "

" Excellent, satire at its best. "

" Talk about 30 ways to reinvent yourself. Madonna's predecessor. "

" "That is the last tome for a while! The characters are fascinating and his names for people are hilarious." "

" Becky Sharp is one of the great characters of all time. She's up there with Lily Bart and Scarlett O'Hara. This maybe "a novel without a hero" but it's certainly a novel with a heroine. Becky is not exactly likeable but since when did likeable characters become a plus in a novel? And of course this novel is as relevant today as it ever was. Banking scams and failures, greedy social climbers, thwarted love stories. Nothing new under the sun but satire razor sharp and so very fun to read. "

" Very good, but the usual from this period. "

" I have no idea why I subjected myself to this. "

" Absolutely love it! This masterpiece depicts the ascent and decline of Vanity Fair's players. A delightful novel displaying English society in the 1900s. The omniscient narrator's voice is priceless. "

" By God, I finished it. I've determined that Becky Sharp is even worse than Scarlett O'Hara... and that's saying a lot. God bless Thackeray for writing such a wicked woman. "

" So after a semester in which I had three different literature classes, I have no idea why I read this. And I spent the whole book wondering why I was reading it. Now, having finished it, I still wonder why I read it. At least it was interesting-ish, I guess. "

" Vanity Fair is very long. Very long. But it is overall a very interesting book. "

" A very interesting book about life during the Napoleonic Wars. Amelia and Becky are so different, yet they are friends and I liked the way that their lives are followed during good and bad times....I enjoyed this classic novel even if it was almost 700 pages!!!! "

" The characterizations are more complex and "realistic", more unpredictable, than in Dickens. The narrative, however, doesn't pull the reader forward, and as a result, I had to struggle a bit to finish it. "

" Perhaps the worst of the "Classics." "

" Amelia Sedley is the worst. William Thackeray is also the worst. This book is so annoying. "

" This is a book I enjoy reading and re-reading "

" I've read it twice. Both times it kept my attention but I am one of those people who can't quite get into Becky, her motivations, her choices. It al "

" Hard work at times, but worth it. "

" I'm loving the sardonic humor, and several of the plot lines are really keeping me turning the pages, but this thing is way too long. "

" Hated all the characters in it, and especially the authorial voice. But couldn't stop reading it. I don't understand. "

" Just wonderful!! Entertaining and good fun!! "

" Interesting characters. The book tackles reality poignantly. "

" I know I'm supposed to dislike Becky and all, but...nope, she's totally my favorite. Ugh, why do I forgive a villainess so very much if she meets me halfway by at least being smart and funny? "

" Vanity Fair is one of my favorites! We have two women each making very different choices in life. These choices have ultimate consequences when of course, good triumphs over evil. If life were always this simple. "

" I think I would've liked this book better if I had more time to read it. Thackeray does a better job with characterization than Dickens, but I think Dickens is more successful with social/political commentary. "

" There's not much dialogue in the story so it tends to drag a little. Still a good story and I thought the end where Becky's role in George's life actually helps Amelia be happy was a nice twist. The most romantic line has to be "It was time you sent for me, dear Amelia." "

" Great story. Loved the characters, and the way it wasn't necessarily 'happily ever after'. "

" Magnificent! Truly the best satire's I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is now one of my favorite novels! "

" I rather liked this book. Although it was set 200 years ago, the venal and vapid nature of society has changed little. It's good to be reminded that we're not now going to hell in a handbasket. That's been a key aspect of the human condition for centuries. "

" Indeed , it was very deep . I enjoyed it very much . I must say , though , that W.M. Thackeray is one of my faves :3 "

" He's an entertaining writer but I lost interest. I made it to Chapter 6. Although the main character and plot both had promise, I grew tired of the wink-wink, nudge-nudge commentary of the narrative. Initially it was fun, but it became too self-conscious and unsustainable. "

" Read this years ago. I hated Rebecca, but I loved the book and re-read it until the binding broke apart. "

" Though it does over stay its welcome, it is a brilliant satire on the caste system of yesterday. "

" Brutally long. It took forever to Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley's stories to reconverge. I rooted for Captain Dobbin, so the ending pleased me but there was absolutely no resason the book had to be so long! "

" If I only had one book to read for the rest of my life, it would be this one "

" this is one of the classics i wasn't fond of... i'm more into little women and pride and prejudice...just didn't feel this one. I was annoyed with becky sharp....she's no elizabeth bennett. oh well, can't love them all. "

" One of my all time favorites. The character development was brilliant. "

" Hard work at times, but worth it. "

" Loved it--followed it up with the Reese Witherspoon theatrical version...stick with the book :-) "

" This is a book I enjoy reading and re-reading "

" This book is still one of my favorites. Full or irony and good words, it is a great reading despite the 1,000 pages that make it quite long to finish. "

" There was a good story here but it got too tedious to read properly after a while because the writer kept butting in with useless info. I only really cared about Becky and I didn't like the way she ended up. I really disliked Amelia and Dobbin - they were very annoying. "

" I loved the story, but it was way over-written. It took me 4 months to read because I kept getting bored and reading other things. If you cut out all the unnecessary rambling, it would be half the size and actually an awesome read. "

" Hard work at times, but worth it. "

" Love the manipulative social climbing of Becky, such a good character. "

" An epic novel...and almost 700 pages! I feel very accomplished having finished this book. And oh yes, it was excellent. Loved the narrator/writer and the sheer evilness of Becky Sharp. :) "

" I had a hard time rating this book; parts of it are 5 star quality, the characters have depth, the plot is intriguing, and I especially enjoyed the last fifth or so of the book. Still, it is a very, very long book and has some spells that are a little dry, although not terrible. "

" One of those books that is just so fraught with personal connections for me. It is a book that really marks my coming of age. "

" Thackeray has an accurate eye for the folly ("vanity") of human nature -- as perceptive as a Dickens, while only in his 30's. He understands the fickleness of the world's opinion and the double-mindedness of even the best humans. "

" Love. Admire male writer who can write an accurate female protagonist. Every ulterior motive, every human foible, vice, and denial with the Napoleonic Wars looming in the shadows. My only regret is that it has been too long since I have read it. "

" I finally got through this book. There were parts of enjoyment for me in this but for the most part, this was incredibly slow and wordy. Maybe if I were reading this in installments and living in Victorian England . . . "

" Nobody is better than Becky Sharp or Dobbin. Love this book. "