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: A frustrating story, only for literary fanatics.
Review: This book has a nice plot, but it just isn't exciting. It's not riveting enough, maybe because it was written in the 19th century. Things that are exciting more than a 100 years ago just don't seem all that interesting to me. It's hard to read because most of the book is composed of metaphors and other examples of figurative language. If you had to read it, I'd say give yourself at least three weeks.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful
Review: This is a book on the thoughs and motivations of a person who is outcast. The specifics are nonsense to just about any other time than those of the Puritans, but the humanity is still the same. It's a story so easy to relate to because we have our own scarlet letter or letters. Our own scarlet letter might be our appearance or our lack of education. Read the book and do not concern yourself of those who say the book is difficult. It is not. Hawthorn uses a few words that you might find as stumpers on your SAT tests, but hey why not just learn those and titillate your friends with them sometime. Meanwhile enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Another High School English Class Classic
Review: This is one of those stories that I did not really enjoy reading the first time, as it was layed upon me by a High School English teacher when I would have prefered to be reading something else. Upon reflecting upon and rereading the novel, it becomes obvious that a great deal of this novel's brilliance was lost upon me so many years ago.
Rating:
Summary: At closer look, a gem
Review: I definitely agree that 'The Scarlet Letter' wasn't the easiest read of my life. However, now that I've been able to thoroughly digest Hawthorne's language and message, the beauty of this great American work shines through clearly in my mind. I'll admit that I did not come to the book by myself - it was assigned to me over the summer - but that hasn't stopped me from appreciating Hawthorne's command of the English language, his sensitivity and astute view of humanity, and his extensive use of allusions and images to carry his story beyond Puritan times and into all time. Hawthorne's writing style, while dense and very literary, isn't impenetrable; and once you break through the shell of our own modern prejudices, it's easy to see what a wonderful and important novel this is.
Rating: 
Summary: Pearl only brilliant part of book
Review: Typically, I don't read fiction, non-fiction is my favorite, but you can't be well read without reading The Scarlet Letter. Right? I'm glad I read it, but it isn't a masterpiece. As far as characters go, Pearl (Hester's daughter) brings the most to the reader. She actually came across as the most mature, despite being a child. Aside from that, read it for an original account of the Puritan world.
Rating:
Summary: The Scarlet Letter
Review: As I am an adult, this book was not assigned to me for reading. I've wanted to read this novel for some time now, and am glad I did. The Scarlet Letter is one of the best novels I've ever read. This reader found it to be an interesting and suspenseful story. Should you read this novel, I would suggest skipping over the introduction regarding the customs house. It's a boring chapter, and really has nothing to do with the rest of the story.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone who's ever had a secret...
Review: This book really expresses any feelings of shame that I may have ever had, but I still cheer on its hero and heroine.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for Cliffs Notes
Review: Having to read this book over the summer was not the right atmosphere for a high school student. I appreciated the book's deep symbolism and rich emotion. These aspects had a great impact on me, especially the significance of Pearl who connects the two adulterers. Unfortunately, reading this book was a summer assignment and I would rather do other summer activities. The diction in Nathaniel Hawthorne's works are noted among high school students as having a syntatic permutation. We usually do not understand the point of his works until we have read it over a few times or until the teacher has given us the explanation. It is a great book, especially in the right atmosphere, but high school students should also look at the Cliffs Notes if they have a difficulty in understaning it.
Rating:
Summary: A Different Angle
Review: The Scarlet Letter is one of the most fascinating and interesting books I have ever read. It questions people's integrity and standards, along with forcing people not to underestimate one's capability of being infalliable. Hester Prynne is a perfect example of how one can have a ruined reputation and still choose to do good.
|
