Comments on: Daniel Deronda

By: Mary E.

Mary E. — Sun, 09 May 2010 01:19:09 +0000

I finished this book a few days ago. It seemed to consume my life for several days and I can see what people mean by wanting to “recover” from the book before seeing the movie. I was weeping during the last scene between Gwendolyn and Daniel!. Personally, I felt like Mirah wasn’t as interesting as Gwendolyn, because she wasn’t as flawed and she didn’t go through as many changes. Not that I wouldn’t want Mirah as a friend, but as a character, I preferred Gwendolyn. But it was an unforgettable book. Thanks for the recommendation.

By: Mary E.

Mary E. — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:12:28 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation. I needed a “new” book to read, so I took it out of my library yesterday. (I read Middlemarch years ago and enjoyed it.) So far it seems interesting and I can tell right away the characters will be complex. I’m at the part where D “rebuys” the necklace.

The copy I borrowed has its own little ribbon bookmark, which makes it seem more “classic” to me for some reason. I’m a book geek that way. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion/review.

By: Rebekah Dickinson

Rebekah Dickinson — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:54:23 +0000

I have just watched the film and now I must read the book! It was very meaningful for me, particularly at this time. I will write to you about it at some point. love Rebekah

By: Claudia Adams

Claudia Adams — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:20:37 +0000

Reading this book was a memorable experience for me. The movie has been on my shelf for quite awhile but I could never let myself watch it until I had read the book. When the perfect time came for me to read this book I was so glad I had no idea of the story line. There were at least two places in the book where I was so moved by “their” lives that I could not pick up the book again for a couple of days…I felt drained by “their” experiences. There is no doubt that George Eliot was a genius !! I cannot began another book for a little longer because I miss “my people”.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:35:45 +0000

George Eliot has long been a favorite of mine. Ever since a college friend mentioned she was reading Middlemarch for a humanities class, I’ve had an interest in Eliot’s work. The first (and favorite) I read by her was Silas Marner. That was several years ago. I recently watched the film starring Ben Kingsley and got to enjoy it all over again. Daniel Deronda was the one I had a difficult time getting finished with and I really can’t remember why. I think I’ll read them all over again soon. Thanks for a great post.

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:16:30 +0000

I actually haven’t seen the film yet, Elisabeth. It’s been sitting on the shelf waiting till I’ve recovered sufficiently from the book. But I’ll let you know what I think!

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:37:58 +0000

I’m always intrigued by the fact that Daniel is the hero and Gwendolen is the heroine, yet they’re not meant for each other – or if meant for each other, they’re kept apart by her marriage and his discovery of his spiritual roots … among other things. And then there’s Mirah. Have you see the film? Although I know it can’t compare to the book, I’d love to know what you thought of it if you have seen it …

I love the way you say George Elliot “leaves us with an undying idea of what might be in the lives of her characters long after the cover has closed on this portion of their journey”. Now THAT’S something to strive for as a writer.

Thank you for sharing with such honesty and inspiration.

By: kristin

kristin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:56:47 +0000

We read The Mill on the Floss during one of my college upper-division English classes, and I appreciate what you say about Eliot never being a comfortable companion. Lately I read a fascinating biography of her. Her life, her relationship with her “husband” (as they were never legally married due to his extremely unfaithful but undivorceable legal wife), and her poor health (she often had blindingly horrible headaches in an era where pain control was very limited) are such an interesting window into the woman behind the characters. As my major professors always insisted, you should never mistake the AUTHOR for the NARRATOR, nor assume a connection between the novel and the real life, BUT we certainly create the character in the mind we possess.

Thanks for an interesting post; I’ll have to look out Deronda! kristin

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:39:09 +0000

Wow! I’ve never read any George Eliot, but I surely will soon!