tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post7095373109103356186..comments2024-03-25T19:05:07.205-06:00Comments on Reading, Writing, Working, Playing: The Mill on the FlossJaneGShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-75518684047120518762011-09-04T20:08:17.705-06:002011-09-04T20:08:17.705-06:00I really didn't see the likeness of Moorland t...I really didn't see the likeness of Moorland to Mill. I enjoyed Moorland Cottage so much more. I haven't read most of Eliot's works. I have watched all the movie/Tv versions however of all the works mentioned above. For some reason I could do Tess moreso than Maggie. At least from what I recall. SuzanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-81133634362689808562011-05-06T22:10:03.631-06:002011-05-06T22:10:03.631-06:00I read TMOTF about 40 years ago, in my 20s. I love...I read TMOTF about 40 years ago, in my 20s. I loved Maggie Tulliver, but as the end approached, I was sick of the way it was all winding into a mess. And the end made me so angry I will never read it again, although I absolutely love the rest of GE's books, expecially Middlemarch. The end of Mill is almost as bad as the end of Tess of the d'Urbervilles, although Maggie is much more engaging than Tess.AprilFoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420284866307722243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-83306264094782030782011-05-06T21:27:08.879-06:002011-05-06T21:27:08.879-06:00Based on how you describe Maggie Tulliver she cert...Based on how you describe Maggie Tulliver she certainly sounds far more passionate and Marianne Dashwood-like than Moorland Cottage's heroine they seem to share little in common other than their name and devotion to their brother. I know what I'll be reading after my event for Vol. 1 of Ruth ends. ;)<br /><br />I have seen both adaptions of Mill on the Floss, and although it's been awhile the 1998 version with Emily Watson stands out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-14652440349503627122011-05-06T06:32:02.767-06:002011-05-06T06:32:02.767-06:00Katherine - I've read the comparison of Mill t...Katherine - I've read the comparison of Mill to Moorland myself, and frankly I don't see it. I guess I need to read Moorland Cottage again, but I'm not sure what critics are talking about.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-38034460889512963002011-05-06T03:50:14.124-06:002011-05-06T03:50:14.124-06:00I'm planning to read Mill on the Floss this ye...I'm planning to read <i>Mill on the Floss</i> this year. I've read about it being compared to Gaskell's <i>The Moorland Cottage</i> and some people even think Eliot was inspired by the novella. <br /><br />Looking forward to your comparison of <i>Hard Times</i> and <i>North and South</i>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-40822654077630320962011-05-04T21:39:06.717-06:002011-05-04T21:39:06.717-06:00I see from the range of comments that this book ca...I see from the range of comments that this book can inspire devotion, but I find that my reaction to 'The Mill on the Floss' is very close to yours. And as usual, you articulate very well the factors that may account for the uneasy dissatisfaction I felt after reading it. <br />I could not relate to Maggie's personality or her co-dependence on Tom. I also think you're right that the river as symbol is too self-consciously employed. Making the river such a large force in the novel seemed to drain some of her characters of their intrinsic force. Yet the tragedy, perhaps borne of their weakness, was so out of proportion in melodrama to the somnolent tone of the whole.<br /><br />I'm glad Eliot didn't stop here, but was able to go on and reach her full potential as a novelist in 'Middlemarch' and 'Daniel Deronda.'<br /><br />I look forward to reading your post on 'Hard Times' for the "Dueling Authors" tour!Lucy Pollard-Gotthttp://fictional100.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-21464026595938846782011-05-04T12:29:01.250-06:002011-05-04T12:29:01.250-06:00I loved The Mill on the Floss when I first read it...I loved The Mill on the Floss when I first read it when I was in my 20s. I tried re-reading it in my 40s and was very surprised that I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I had - in fact I gave up on it!Katrinahttp://piningforthewest.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-45709784749052087012011-05-02T12:34:02.615-06:002011-05-02T12:34:02.615-06:00The Mill on the Floss is one of those books I will...The Mill on the Floss is one of those books I will get round to reading, eventually, so thanks for the warning about the tragic ending. I have Silas Marner on my TBR shelf, so I will read that one first.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070070360087765540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-49632031423349263722011-05-02T10:38:16.791-06:002011-05-02T10:38:16.791-06:00How funny that I posted on one of your favorite no...How funny that I posted on one of your favorite novels the same day you reviewed one of mine! I admit it is not Maggie that makes me adore this book so much, but the agonizing tragedy of the end. I have rarely been so emotionally moved by a tale. Enjoy Silas Mariner, another favorite, but I admit that I am most anxious to hear your perspective on Daniel Deronda, which I think is the most magnificent of Eliot's books, a writer who left us such a magnificent legacy.Alexa Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10086472405632748174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-46700188972367075962011-05-02T10:35:54.873-06:002011-05-02T10:35:54.873-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alexa Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10086472405632748174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-36148631184591286812011-05-01T12:11:46.106-06:002011-05-01T12:11:46.106-06:00I've yet to read Mill on the Floss, but I abso...I've yet to read Mill on the Floss, but I absolutely ADORED Middlemarch, and loved what you mentioned about Eliot playing with duel forces exerting themselves on the same character. Thanks for a great review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-54836119513922729772011-05-01T06:17:19.118-06:002011-05-01T06:17:19.118-06:00This is probably my favorite Eliot (having also re...This is probably my favorite Eliot (having also read Silas Marner, Middlemarch, and Adam Bede). I don't disagree with any of your criticisms, but I still adore Maggie, with all her flaws. Some of it might be that I did read it for the first time when I was in college and I didn't have particularly high expectations, so I ended up being totally swept away--and I'll admit to being a sucker for a tragic ending.Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896331683344872038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15714418.post-83343096508215706132011-04-30T20:54:28.718-06:002011-04-30T20:54:28.718-06:00Thanks for the thoughtful review, Jane. I wish I c...Thanks for the thoughtful review, Jane. I wish I could feel as you do about this book, but I know I'll never read it again - I can only torture myself so much. I love Middlemarch, so I began Mill on the Floss with high expectations. I wasn't pre-warned about the tragedy. I felt totally cheated by the ending. I'd invested so much time and so much caring for Maggie that I felt was all wasted effort.Sofiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14951872479480373202noreply@blogger.com