A thoroughly depressing tale of human suffering

I enjoyed the story despite the repeated errors made by the main characters. Can't help feeling that Sue needed to take some personal responsibility but I guess that's how things were at this time, so more a commentary on the social pressures of the age, just when you think things can't get any worse Hardy deals yet another blow to the hopes of the fragile characters, who by the end you really want to find a little peace in their grim existences. Not a happy tale, but glad I read it nonetheless. Might give Hardy a break for a bit though...

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2 people found this helpful

Naive not stupid

What didn’t you like about Neville Jason’s performance?

The characters Jude and Sue are radical and free-thinking, if naive and innocent. Jason gives them both a voice that makes them sound stupid and slow-witted.

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3 people found this helpful

A Pleasant Surprise for Me.

Would you listen to Jude the Obscure again? Why?

Great story but more importantly, brilliantly performed.

What did you like best about this story?

How well the author brought all the points he wanted to make about society and the modern and traditional thought of the time, through a combination of a good plot and crafted and sometimes incredibly explanatory dialog.
And it is a good story.

Which character – as performed by Neville Jason – was your favourite?

Richard Phillotson. Beautifully voiced. I liked this character. For much of the book Phillotson represents convention in progress. Unlike the main characters, when a difficult decision has to be made he does not prevaricate. He acts wisely. His decision is not based on tradition or on modern philosophies but on what he feels to be the human truth of the matter. The decision is greatly to his personal disadvantage but he accepts this because it was the right thing to do.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Reminded me of growing up. (up to a point. I still have all my kids)

Any additional comments?

I only tried this book by chance and I'm really glad I did.

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7 people found this helpful

Hard going

I have listened sequentuially to each of the Hardy Novels. This of course is the last of them. I am sorry to say that this is the only one that I have found to be a chore to listen to. The pace of the narrative is glacial and Jude's voicing does not, I'm afraid, match my hopes and expectations at all. Frankly, he is made to sound a bit like a village idiot . Sue (annooyingly pronounced Syue throughout) is not much better. Ths version seems to be circa two hours longer than all of the other options. I can see why. It just drags. Two thirds of the way through I am about to give up on it and read the final third myself. That way, at least, I can imbue Jude with a hint of savvy.

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Not Hardy's finest anyway, but narration is awful.

This isn't perhaps Hardy's greatest book but what spoilt it was the narration. It made the two main characters sound completely witless!

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1 person found this helpful

A Great Classic

A great Classic by Thomas Hardy beautifully read and interpreted by the narrator. He really expressed Jude's feelings in all their anguish. Would definitely recommend this production.

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