Daniel Deronda

Daniel Deronda bifurcates into two main plots - one centers on the haughty and selfish Gwendolen’s girlhood and transition into marital life; one centers on the title character Deronda’s gradual embrace of Judaism and pursuit of Zionism. Being George Eliot’s last book, it’s true that the characters have shown more complexities - no one was born purely good, and the book apparently had quite an influence on Jewish Zionism upon publication. But due to my lack of knowledge as well as interest in Judaism, I find the Jewish section flat and honestly quite a bore. And its connection to Gwendolen through Deronda to purely drive the plot feels artificial. Overall I didn’t feel particularly impressed compared to my awe-struck impression with Middlemarch. Also this line is perfect proof that George Eliot was a feminist of her time - “You are not a woman. You may try—but you can never imagine what it is to have a man’s force of genius in you, and yet to suffer the slavery of being a girl.”

I did not know what to expect when j started reading this massive book. It took me a little while to get into the book but once I did I actually enjoyed it. (It's sad how surprised I am by this fact when it concerns a "classic.") At first I found Gwendolyn a completely unsympathetic character and could see no reason for writing both Gwendolyn's story and Daniel's story. As the book unfolded I saw just how carefully Eliot weaves together these seemingly disparate the threads of narrative and subject matter. Eliot uses so many words yet not once did I get lost in the narrative. I highly recommend this book but be warned, it's quite long.