Rating: 
Summary: "The Scarlet Letter"
Review: Like many reviewers here, I was "forced" to read this book for my English Composition class. However, unlike many reviewers here, I have a much different view of the story. As some people have said before, Hawthorne's book takes a good deal of concentration, effort, and strength to understand. Not only to understand, but to finish. The story can drag sometimes, it is true, and Hawthorne's style of writing occasionally leaves something to be desired (I don't think I've ever seen that many commas, 15 letter words, or page long paragraphs before), but we simply must look past these minor issues. Overall, the plot is highly creative and intense, despite the writing.\Ok, ok, I agree that the first chapter, "The Custom-House", was pretty bad. In fact, it was so bad and boring that I drifted off to sleep several times while reading it! The first chapter has little relevancy with the story, so, unless you have to, I would suggest skipping that part of the text. The rest is exceptionally good, and the quality of the plot cannot be overlooked. My advice is to just lay off the first chapter; that way you'll be able to enjoy the rest of the book without difficulty. The story itself deals with sin and adultery, a subject that isn't very popular right now. Hawthorne does an excellent job of telling us about this, but he leaves the reader with many questions floating around in his mind at the conclusion. At the end of the story you're not 100% sure if Hawthorne was condemning the Puritan society, or if he was commending it. He leaves that for the reader to figure out, which is a thing authors seldom do. That's a major reason I believe this work is so unique and timeless. The story involves a women named Hester Prynne, living in the New World in the late 17th century. She has committed adultery with someone unknown, and, since the Puritan society considered the Bible to be their ultimate source of law, the punishment was quite severe for such an act. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her attire at all times, as a sign to everyone that she has sinned deeply. And so she must carry out the rest of her life this way. That's the major gist of the plot, although there's much more. I won't give it anyway, though, you'll have to read the book to find out. Let's face it: at some time or another we all are going to probably have to read this book, voluntarily or involuntarily. Shouldn't we try to make the best of it? Read it for its enjoyment, anything else would be missing the point.
Rating:
Summary: Read This Book
Review: This story is a moving representation of the dissonance that can be found between the human soul and society. Hester Prynne's suffering is painful because the reader understands that though she feels the sin of her actions, it is society that has condemned her. She must forfeit her freedom to walk as an equal citizen of Boston, never allowed to forget the silent agony haunting her every moment.
It is not only Hester who is affected by social expectations and custom; it is eventually revealed to the reader that Hester's crime affects those who surround her, which tells us how much of an impact a individual's actions can have on another.
Hawthorne's novel displays this fallen, detached member of Puritan society, but counters it with the revolutionist, the demon, the wild rose of Puritan lifestyle--perhaps hinting at the author's dislike for Puritan attitudes. Hawthorne reiterates these two devices: depicting his personal opinion through the actions of the characters and creating characters that refract each other.
This is an amazing part of American literature, reflecting on human behavior and commenting on aspects of American history. How do people today act and react to each other, dominated by our culture's expectations? How are we self-serving or self-deprecating? A tip to readers: "The Custom House" (the book's preface) is dense stuff, quite possible of cultivating a strong dislike for Hawthorne as a writer, so I recommend saving it for last or skipping it completely.
"It is remarkable that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society. The thought suffices them without investing itself in the flesh and blood of action."
Rating:
Summary: Beauty in simplicity
Review: The beauty of this book rests in its simplicity. On the surface, the story might seem dated (even out of date) and a cliche, but it's not. The sheer clarity of the writing, coupled with the wonderful characterizations and unparalled setting, make this a riveting read on many levels. I also enjoyed Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Bark of the Dogwood" by Jackson McCrae, and "The Great Gatsby" by Fitzgerald.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: I enjoyed reading The Scarlet Letter. I was not forced into by a Literature teacher; I picked it up on my own because I heard it was a great American classic; and, indeed, I have to agree. It is truly timeless. It has been almost five years since I have read this book and I can remember the scenes and words so vividly. Hawthorne's dizzying imagery provides an adventure into the life of a Puritan woman, Hester Prynne, that one does not soon forget. Hester, practically abandoned by her husband is left to take care of herself in a lonely new world. She is flesh and bone with desires and passions like any other human being. Hester commits adultery and is found out by a cruel, judging community. She must wear a Scarlet A on the front of her dress; A for Adultery. Hester refuses to give the name of her lover Dimmesdale so he goes free and untouched by the damning society, but must face the tortures of his own conscience. Hester is humiliated and must suffer the consequences for her actions but she is not a broken woman. She stands, brave. Dimmesdale comes through in the end and admits his role in the dangerous game. Hawthorne takes the readers on a spinning ride to get to this point. Read it and know the exact ending for yourself. I recommend it; highly.
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Summary: The truth shall set you free.
Review: This book is the first of two grand contributions that Nathaniel Hawthorne made to American literature (the second being the inspiration that he provided to Herman Melville during the composition of Moby Dick.) Like all great books, this novel deals with issues which are timeless and central to the human condition. Can (or should) the state legislate morality? If so, to what degree? Which is the greater sin, a momentary weakness or a sustained and conscious deception? Which is the greater punishment, public humiliation or private guilt? And, perhaps most importantly, what is the proper response to each? The novel provides clear and compelling examples of tragic consequences which can be avoided by the simple, but sometimes difficult, act of telling the truth. The permeating sadness of the story results from the failure of each character to do so. Despite comments here to the contrary, this book is not difficult to read or understand, and it is not dull if you can grasp its themes. The ideas expressed are intricate and symbolism is pervasive throughout the story. However, any reader who really wants to understand and enjoy the book should not have great difficulty in doing so. To those readers who feel challenged to appreciate this book, Hawthorne himself offers you a thought (on page 18 of my edition) which you should seriously consider -- "It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate."
Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully Written and Expressed
Review: Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic reveals a woman with a burning letter A prominently branded on her heart. Hester Prynne's crime of adultery gains her isolation from the rest of her New England town. Her shunned existence is only relieved by her young daughter Pearl whose birth gained Hester her punishment. Reverand Arthur Dimmesdale's life is destroyed by his connection to Hester and his guilt. Roger Chillingsworth, Hester's husband, seeks revenge for his shame. All takes place in this novel that reveals the consequences of human nature and isolation. I enjoyed this book but found the vocabulary and writing tiresome. Though I know that the writing style was appropriate for the time, some of the meaning evaded me. I did enjoy the wonderful metaphores and descriptions, along with the overall message to the book. The beautiful detail made "The Scarlet Letter" a enjoyable novel to read. I reccomend this book and hope that the reader will understand fully the meaning of this work of art.
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Summary: Words Cannot Describe the Vividness of this Novel...
Review: A blazing scarlet letter "A" illuminates the shame and wickedness it symbolizes on the persistent Hester Prynne's chest as she diligently stands before the curious village and its leaders. In her arms lies the direct consequence of her sin and only treasure is the crying baby Pearl. Amongst the restless villagers hides her partner in crime, secretly concealed under the blanket of his most respected profession. Despite the mocking glares and questionings of the crowd, Hester refuses to reveal his identity. But with all the pressure and Hester's former husband evilly breathing behind his back, will the guilt of his shameful crime be more than he can manage to live through? Penetrate into Nathaniel Hawthorne's world of The Scarlet Letter...
Anyone who has the ability to read should look into this famous novel of sin, evil, knowledge, and the human condition. It clearly dominates in the literary world for its indescribable symbolism, depth, and diversity of characters. The Scarlet Letter has certainly earned its well-deserved place into the world of classic novels. ~ Jasna
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Summary: A wonderful classic story!
Review: Nathaniel Hawthorne's prose in "The Scarlet Letter" is slightly complex at first but his description of Boston and of the people during the Puritan era is vivid and strong. I disagree with an earlier reviewer that the book was boring. The description of the characters and of the situations they were undergoing was helpful. It made the story much stronger. The last three or four chapters were surprisingly suspenseful. It is a fantastic read. Moreover, "The Scarlet Letter" is a classic example of why social oppression is such a terrible thing. Thanks to the oppression of those times a child grew up without her father and a man died without ever having a real relationship with his daughter. One can't help but to think about the type of oppression (ie. sexual) that goes on today. This novel is a stark reminder of why oppression of any kind is really not worth it. When oppression exists in society, good people are always bound to suffer and all because of rigid, inhumane, socially conservative beliefs. Within its own context (Puritan era), the novel delves into this topic in a very powerful way. I highly recommend it because its subject matter still applies today.
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Summary: A Classic Everyone Should Read
Review: I first read this book in college, and I have purchased it again to read. I think the book speaks volumes about society that was slow to be tolerant of differences and finds it easy to pile on when someone is ostracized. I found many parallels to today's society, where many people still exist who like to judge first and ask questions later. You will look at today's world with new eyes after reading this story crafted many years ago by one of America's best ever writers. Jeffrey McAndrew author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"
Rating: 
Summary: The Scarlet Letter
Review: Said to be one of the first psychological novels ever written, The Scarlet Letter still captivates its readers. Nathaniel Hawthorne knew how to characterize his characters beautifully. Reading his work is like experiencing that character's life.
The story is set in colonial New England. The plot of the story revolves around the lives of three individuals who lived in Puritan Boston. Hester Prynne, a brave, fierce woman bearing her sin in silence, Reverand Arthur Dimmesdale, a very respected member of the community who suffers with his guilt, and Roger Chillingsworth, Hester's husband who wants revenge, are the three characters of Hawthorne's novel. As the story unfolds, so do the intricacies of the characters and in the end the truth is proven to be the best solution.
Reading this classic novel was harder to accomplish than I expected. The story starts off slow and, from my point of view, the wording of the book is hard to follow and understand. What I liked best about the novel was the underlying meanings you can take from reading the book. A person's passion for revenge and the clash between a person's private life and public life are hidden meanings shown throughout this story. The portrayal of human nature was also done wonderfully. Sin, guilt, pentinence, and lust are some of the main feelings in this book. The Scarlet Letter is a classic that continues to be read by all ages of readers and the story can teach people valuable lessons about life if read carefully.
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