Far From the Madding Crowd

 

I've been trying to read more classics and expand my reading vocabulary (horizon, library). I decided to pick up Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd after hearing some good reviews online. Sometimes classics are really hard to read and understand. I have found that reading the physical book and listening to it at the same time helps with comprehension and overall enjoyment. 

Far from the Madding Crowd is about Bathsheba Everdene and her three suitors: Gabriel Oak, Farmer Boldwood and Sergeant Troy. While working her land and figuring out her best match, Bathsheba finds out how much heartache she can take and how to overcome many trials. There is a lot to unpack in this book so just read it and buckle up cause things are about to get crazy! 

While reading it, I realized that I was about four or five chapters away from the end and there was still a lot that needed to happen. If you have seen the movie, or even the cover for the movie you know who Bathsheba ends up marrying. I had only seen the cover, so I had a pretty good idea of who ended up together. Knowing the ending, I kept wondering how Mr. Hardy was going to wrap everything up. I was NOT prepared for what happened! It came out of left field and completely took my breath away. I was in absolute shock at the ending. It does end very satisfactorily, but it is nuts how we get there as a reader! Needless to say I loved the ending and plan on watching the movie soon to do a compare and contrast (nerd alert)!    

This is perfect for high schoolers and up. I think this should be on every bodies to-be-read list as it was a great page turner. 

Enjoy! 

Now, go and READ! 

Grab your copy here: Far from the Madding Crowd