Unlike the other people who’ve written entries about this book I’m halfway through it and really really loving it. I find the main character, Tess, very likable, and her story is an interesting but sad one. I don’t feel the book to be depressing, although I admit it is quite sad. The descriptions are lovely, and I think that like all things it is just a matter of personal taste as to whether you will enjoy this book. Try it and see if you like it. Btw, if you like:
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, but also
Emma by Jane Austen
you will probably like this book!
Much Love
XX

My advice—if you’re in the process reading this, and you’re hoping it’s going to get better, give up now. The descriptions in this book are beautiful, but I found the characters intolerable and the plot uninteresting. So if slow, pretty, depressing stories are your cup of tea, go right ahead. Otherwise step slowly away.

I couldn’t really get into it. I got about halfway through it without ever feeling any particular affinity for the heroine or the plot. I then lent it to my roommate over spring break, who read it and loved it. I, however, decided it hadn’t captured my interest enough for me to pick it back up, and slated it for bookcrossing rather than give it the space in my luggage to come back to the US.

Who knows, maybe I’ll pick it up again from the library in the summer. I just couldn’t get into it, that’s all.

Mental note: avoid Hardy in the future.

Wow. That was depressing.