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Summary: To earlier reviews..
Review: I haven't read this book, but I think I will. I love boring, overly descriptive, slow moving, short on plot books. And to whoever said they had never heard of, seen, or read a book with so much description, pull your head out of the sand and go read something by Michener. He can describe a rock for 5 pages and he does a darn fine job of it! Also, if you have to read something for a report, of course you'll hate it. Try doing some reading for the pure pleasure of expanding those MTVed brains that only want action, adventure, comedy, and general mayhem and bloodshed. Maybe you'll learn something useful.
Rating: 
Summary: The plot is way too slow!
Review: I know Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the classic American authors but this book was not very good. For the most part, he took way too long explaining things in great detail that really had little to do with the main story. I don't recommend it, especially if you're planning to write a paper on it because it's too slow-moving to get you excited and thinking about the underlying meaning.
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Summary: In response to the negative reviews...
Review: I must say that the negative reviews that I have read about Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables are sorely off the mark. The prevalent sentiments are that the plot is dull (or almost absent), the characters are flat, and the description is overwrought. But you who say this are simply missing the point, as well as taking Hawthorne's work out of context. You have to understand that this novel was written during a very transitional period in literature. Writers had shifted from the Enlightenment to Romanticism (the period in which Hawthorne writes), and as Hawthorne writes his novels, another movement is being made to Realism. Realism is what we are used to in modern fiction. It contains real characters and real events. But Hawthorne had not yet fully employed these new ideas, and he still hung on to the Romantic sentiments. Therefore, he was much more interested in ideas rather than character development (a modern technique). Hawthorne chooses to convey ideas, emotions, morals, etc. rather than fully developed the characters like they would be in a novel today. As for no plot, you have to keep in mind that Hawthorne still looks to the old tradition (not to mention his guilt of his heritage), so he uses his writing as a way to teach moral lessons, not necessarily to describe a highly detailed story and plot. Finally, I can't deny that there is plenty of narrative description, but most of it serves a great purpose, and for the parts that you think do not belong, just read and enjoy them for their poetic beauty and technical merit. Hawthorne is a fantastic writer, but to acknowledge this, the reader must not take his work out of its context.
Rating: 
Summary: wonderful.
Review: i really enjoyed this book. i do not understand why people can not get into this book and enjoy it. "oh it's not for teenagers blah blah". i would like to say i am 15 and i loved this book. the plot is not that slow moving, the language and word used may be difficult, though. i feel sympathy for anyone who can not enjoy a good book or who would rather watch televsision.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Neatly Wrapped Up
Review: I tried to read this book for the first time when I was in my late teens, but I couldn't stand it. The language was just too flowery and long-winded. After twelve years or so, I just tried to read it again. This time, I was able to get through the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hawthorne's descriptive language. His ability to paint a picture through words is amazing; however, this same technique is what caused the book to move so slowly. Hawthorne took hundreds of words to say what could easily have been said in a couple of sentences. Yes, that is just the way American romantic novelists of the mid-nineteenth century wrote; still, for American readers of the twenty-first century who are used to fast-paced life, this sort of writing can be difficult at times.
My biggest problem with this book was its ending. Everything was just too neatly wrapped up. The remainder of the Pyncheon clan and Holgrave had too happy an ending. With the background of the Pyncheons, they should not have had such an ideal ending! The ending should not have been so neatly tied up. There should have been loose ends and serious problems remaining for everyone.
If you enjoy Hawthorne or just simply want to become more familiar with mid-nineteenth century American literature, read The House of the Seven Gables. If you cannot abide books that spend more time with setting, descriptions, etc., than actual movement of the plot, you might want to read another book.
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Summary: It Was Amazing!!!
Review: I was reading this book and i couldn't believe my eyes when i discovered that this book was written for me and only me. It was a story of my life!!! I want the rest of the world to know what kind of life i lead and i want to thank Mr. Hawthorne for so honestly discribing my life and for telling me how i feel insted of leting me have my own feelings. Thanks again!!
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Summary: At least I can say I read it
Review: I wish I could say I enjoyed it. The writing was excessively descriptive; the plot was plodding.
Rating:
Summary: It was a little difficult to understand.
Review: I'm 15 years old and I read this book as an independent study for English. It was a little difficult to get into this book because Nathanial Hawthorne is a very descriptive writer. But once I got to about the middle of the book and the plot picked up, I had to say it was hard to put it down. All in all, it was a decent book.
Rating:
Summary: True depth of understanding required.
Review: If you want a fast paced action thriller, then rent a movie. This book has depth and meaning that only the "true" classics have. If you're into thinking for yourself and seeing a wonderful story unfold in your mind then this book is for you. And by the way, this can be understood by teenagers- I was 19 when I read it. I think the awful reviews are written by people with a lack of character, or perhaps maturity.
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Summary: Big on Words.. Small on Plot
Review: If you're into action, suspense, comedy, humor, violence, excitement, or anything else normal people like, then DO NOT read this book. It has a very slow moving plot, that does not do anything for anyone. This book could have been condensed to 3 pages, instead of its novel size, because the plot has so few events. Perhaps it was a fine novel back when it was written, but it was a bit too "lugubrious" for me. The bottom line is this: if you are suffering from insomnia, I would recommend this book, because it will put you right to sleep. One more thing.. I gave it one star, but if I really had a choice it would receive zero stars.. and even zero would be more than generous.
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