Adam Bede by George Eliot

Another read from Gutenberg.org. I had several passages bookmarked, but then I went and misplaced my Palm Z22. So, we’re all the poorer for my lack of quotations.

This isn’t a witty book, although some of the characters are whimsically eccentric. It’s a smooth and engaging read, though. It has a sucker punch towards the end where this light character work takes a sudden dive into darkness. I fully did not expect it, and it sort of horrified me.

Regardless, Eliot does characters very well, and tells a mean story. She’s crafted the most honorable Ideal Christian in the character of Dinah Morris, to the extent that I almost consider her fate to be a tragedy, though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t intended as such. Likewise, the title character of Adam Bede seems almost too perfect in his nobleness, were it not for his weakness for a pretty face.

Good read.