Silas Marner: 150th Anniversary Edition

a cure for insomia

BORING and DULL.This book can definately put you to sleep. It's too wordy and slow. Don't read this book unless you're getting ready for bed.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Silas Marner

Generally, I love most books, especially classics. Also, I can say that I liked the idea of the plot. Otherwise, I did not care for the book. I thought the author's writing rambled for the first 210 pages, and did not actually get good until the last thirty pages. The characters were all exceedingly self-righteous, except for Priscilla Lammeter. Also, Chapter Six was a nightmare. So, if you decide you want to read Silas Maner, please do yourself a favor, and skip over Chapter Six. That chapter is only confusing, long, and does not offer any information that is vital to the book. P.S. Kids, you have to read Chapter Six, because you will be tested on it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Nice Tale

Since I am not used to reading classic novels, I found it really interesting to read. I found this book really excellent because of the the descriptive writing and now I am really looking forward to reading many classic novels through my high school years. George Eliot is a really good writer. I want to read all of her books now.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Lovely, sweet and charming!

I love this story, it is one of the best classic novels. It makes me sad to learn that it has become highschool english fodder. It is the perfect book for reading by the fire on a cold winter day. Silas's tale of loss and gain, love and and selflessness, and the many ways to have wealth.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Silas Marner - A Must Read

As an English teacher I love re-reading novels each year. What I didn't expect this year was a new-found appreciation for Silas Marner. The theme of redemption and the colliding of parallel plots moved me this year like no year before. It just makes you feel good to read a story based in love, honor and just reward in a time like ours. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a feel-good story for spring.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Give it a Chance

The first half of this book is hard to get into, and quite boring, but after that, it becomes an unforgettable heart warming story of a child's love changing an old man's life.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A worthwhile classic!

Although the language is 'old,' this book is a fabulous read. I encourage readers to 'plow through' the beginning even if it seems a little long on description. Once the story begins to unfold, it is engaging. Eliot's ability to weave a story out of small vingettes is amazing. The language may be old, the but the themes in the book are timeless: love, dishonesty, redemtion, and celebration. If the text is too difficult to read, let me suggest that you get the book on tape (or CD), take it on a long trip and listen to it. I think that by the end of the first CD, you will be fascinated.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

WOW!!!

This book is outstanding!! George Eliot has to be one of the greatest writers ever.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Outstanding book!!!!

This book is outstanding. The characters are interesting and story is great. The only reason this book didn't get five stars is that it should of been longer because I would love to know more about silas marner and his relationship with Eppie. It is a good short read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Warm and Tender

This book truely touches your heart and soul.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Literature!

Wonderful story of love, gold, and redemption. I highly recommend it. Go out and buy it or rent it!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Nicely written story about a bitter man's transformation

This is an interesting, nicely written book about a man who becomes so disappointed with the circumstances of his life that runs away and lives far from society. He becomes bitter, loving only his gold, but then changes. What made him change and rebuild his life is brought to him by chance. Destiny seems to have laid it at his door. Then begins the story of the man's transformation and his further affairs, all well told. The best thing about the book was the message it conveys that even when all seems to be lost, everybody can change and lead a full and happy life. What I did not like was that the protagonist did not really change because of his inner will but because of something foreign to him. Destiny will not always lay salvation at our door; more often, people have to make a very strong internal effort to overcome bitterness. In spite of this, the novel is definitely worth reading

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I rate it a 9 oit of 1000

Boo

Stupid teachers

Teachers are ridicilious why do we hage to read this. Ots so boring! I think im going to use this as a bed time story for the kids i baby sit!!!!

Silas Marner, boring at times, intriguing and thrilling at other times

"Poor Marner went out with that despair in his soul- that shaken trust in God and man, which is little short of madness to a loving nature." (Eliot P 9)
It was Silas's night to watch the sick and old Senior Deacon in the Church of Lantern Yard; the home in which Silas had become so fond of. Then something horrific happened that night. "The lots declared that Silas Marner was guilty." (Eliot P 9) Silas had lost everything. But he would not leave until he cleared his conscience of the false accusation. "The last time I remember using my knife, was when I took it out to cut a strap for you. I don't remember putting it in my pocket again. You stole the money, and you have woven a plot to lay the sin at my door. But you may prosper, for all that; there is no just God that governs the Earth righteously, but a God of lies, that bears witness against the innocent." (Marner P 9) And with that, Silas set off as far away from the town of Lantern Yard, hoping that God would justify him and show him refuge.
To inflict more damage to the already broken Silas Marner, late in the wintery night in Raveloe, to his astonishment he looks down to what appears to be a baby sitting at his chair looking at him. Bewildered by this sight, Silas grabs the baby and goes outside to see where she had come from. In the snow, he sees fresh made footsteps by this mysterious baby, which leads him to a furze bush, and behind it lay the baby's mother dead.
"You won't be giving me away father, she had said before they went to the church; you'll only be taking Aaron to be a son to you." (E. Marner P 150) In the light of all Silas's misfortune and peculiar incidents involving him, it is clear that will all sacrifices comes goodness, and in the end, all ends well and restoration is made to the broken hearts of all that seek love again whether be in gold guineas, another woman, or in the heart of a toddler brought to your doorstep by the all mighty himself.
Although a rather average novel at two-hundred-fifty pages, Silas Marner goes in depth and there are multiple outlooks and perspectives to take on the novel. Readers will also face up to a novel written in majority of classic English, which is often confusing and will lead readers off track constantly. One who reads will find that the book begins slowly and is jumpy throughout. Some chapters revolve all around one character and at the end, readers will be left with cliffhangers to think about. However, the novel begins to interest towards chapter five when readers actually get a feel for what each character represents and symbolizes. This novel provides historical fiction as it is based in England, and shows a complexion that many books may seem just too simple. As the headline states, for those who are only intrigued by the Harry Potters and Twilights of literature who look for action around every corner, unfortunately this book does not deliver. However, a person who is looking for a decent intellectual book that goes deep into the culture of a century ago will find the plot and storyline rather graceful. One book that although does not portray the same historical connection as Silas Marner, but does force the reader to think is Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Silas Marner delivers a spin and a twist which takes any reader for a rollercoaster ride, and in the end delivers a thought provoking insight to love, friendship, betrayal, societal hierarchy, religion, and hope earning "9" out of

hmm...

Seems similar to Les Miserables to me. The men sound the same in the description of the book and they both adopt an orphaned girl. Les Miserables is a grea book and I'm sure this one is too.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book

Silas Marner is a well-written story about a man who is given undeserved pain and punishment in an early period of his life, then is given an unexpected joy later in life. While one of those situations eventually is answered and understood, the other never is. This leaves Silas, and the reader, to realize that whatever our choices in life, we are not always in control of the outcomes.

If you like useless details, this is for you!

Wow. This novel is the most boring book I have ever read in my life. The novel starts off well, but don't let this trick you. Soon after, the author just goes on with uselss details and descriptions of things that are not important or relevant to the plot. I never had that "can't wait to flip the next page" kind of feeling. More like a "how many pages are left?" kind of feeling.

The reason this book receives two stars from me, is because of the beginning and end. As I said, the novel starts off good. Part two is also good, but those are the only good parts of the novel. Very little in the middle caught my attention, or really pulled me into the book.

Overall, Silas Marner is just not that great. It has its moments in the beginning in the end, but no substance in between. It's like a hamburger, without the meat. Two buns, but nothing in between.

Good Story-Disappointing Book

I was assigned to read Silas Marner for a Literature class. At first, I thought the story sounded interesting and original-a classic. Sadly, there were times I had to put the book down because I was falling asleep, and I knew that I was going to be questioned on it. I am a relatively good reader, I love everything about reading-blogs, poetry, music lyrics, et cetra. I did not love reading this book. Personally, I found it very self-righteous. In regards to my ratings, I know for a fact that this book is horrible for rainy days and escapism because I was trying to read it when a hurricane hit, and I was without electricity for a week. If there was ever a time I wanted to escape-it was then!

A Tale of the Redeeming Power of Love

Silas Marner is an excellent classic novel set in early Nineteenth Century England. In this story, George Eliot (pen name for Mary Ann Evans) depicts a man named Silas Marner, a weaver by trade. He lives happily in his home town of Lantern Yard, until his best friend William Dane betrays him by setting him up as a thief. William then marries Silas¿ fiancé, and Silas is shunned from the town. He eventually settles in a very small cottage in Raveloe, where he spends his days making cloth and other materials for the townspeople. Due to his now secretive and reclusive ways, the people of Raveloe never really come to know Silas, and he lives in solitude, having turned away from his former faith and happiness. But one winter¿s night, a small orphan girl comes to his house, and everything changes. Silas cares for the child (with the help of his neighbor, Mrs. Winthrop, whose family soon befriends him), and his heart begins to soften. This is a very good representation of the redeeming power of love, and the consequences of a person¿s actions. For people who enjoy classic literature, this is definitely a must-read. ---Ryan Robledo Author of the Aelnathan