The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Approval Rate: 76%

76%Approval ratio

Reviews 38

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  • by

    sk4u2009

    Mon Mar 23 2009

    I couldn't put this one down....... read it twice in a row in fact....... adultry, conspiracy, and humilation.... and the tearing at one's heart........ how quick to judge people are...... an amazing novel!

  • by

    irishgit

    Wed Jan 14 2009

    Highly over-rated, although there are some very good sequences, particularly those between Roger and Hester. Hawthorn writes pretty turgid prose, even for his time, and to the modern ear its positively glacial.

  • by

    fluffy_theodore_senior_09

    Sun Dec 21 2008

    I hated this book...with a passion! It may be a classic, but still. I couldn't even get through it!

  • by

    historyfan

    Sun Nov 09 2008

    Adultery in Puritan-era New England; it doesn't get any better than this.

  • by

    marcelina

    Thu Oct 02 2008

    The scandal in Puritan America is delicious. Especially since so little has changed!

  • by

    jamie_finn

    Tue Sep 30 2008

    This is one of my favorite novels

  • by

    sondra

    Mon Sep 29 2008

    I love when the book said that the "A" no longer stood for adultery but stood for able.

  • by

    mummy_loves_you

    Sun Sep 28 2008

    Hester shows her love and devotion to her lover even though it was wrong to be with him.

  • by

    effy05

    Wed Sep 24 2008

    stigma

  • by

    animalgirl

    Wed Sep 24 2008

    Awesome - thought provoking!

  • by

    bigbyrdies

    Mon Mar 13 2006

    This book was stupid and i would not reccomend it for anyone who loves excitement!I wanted to go to sleep so badly, and if i didn't have to take a test on the whole book, i would have!

  • by

    emj5687

    Thu Apr 28 2005

    the book was so obvious, i never felt surprised. my biggest problem with book was hawthorne's blatant attempt at influencing the reader, i generally agree with his ideas anyway, but the book would of been better if he had been more subtle.

  • by

    onehungrymonst_er

    Sun Aug 29 2004

    It's a good story and a nice read. But it isn't something I'd recommend.

  • by

    tmcmulli

    Sun Apr 06 2003

    I was just going to rate this book until I saw the comment about "rent the movie". If you'd rather rent the movie, please don't rate books... different medium, and I've never seen a movie that has been better than the book it was based upon. Hawthorne was one of our great founders of American literature. The Scarlet Letter is a portrait of that time, brilliantly done. If you're bored by this, don't read any Pulitzer prize winners from the last 20 years.

  • by

    bookworm

    Mon Jan 14 2002

    I guess it is the times we live in, but this book was not as "scandelous" as I thought it would be. It is hard to relate to a time when a woman was made an outcast for having premarital sex. I had a hard time getting into this one.

  • by

    kebpe809

    Wed Jan 10 2001

    Maybe it's because I had to read this in high school, but this book just didn't do it for me. The casual reader probably won't pick up on the symbolism that makes the book rich. Without the symbolism, there's really no reason to read it.

  • by

    lucy_22

    Wed Jan 10 2001

    I really hate this book. I found it boring, obvious, and silly. Hawthorne's over attention to detail in places is hard to read and boring. The characters are sad adn not completely described. Many people love Hawthorne but I sure don't!

  • by

    bchang

    Tue Jan 09 2001

    With the movie, you can more deeply understand the book. Though it's a tragic love story, it reveals how strong a human should be once he finds his true love.

  • by

    jewelss

    Tue Jan 09 2001

    I enjoyed the symbolism within the reading. Many topics for discussion.

  • by

    bluelady

    Mon Jan 08 2001

    I hate this book, how could one call it a classic? Dragging on about this whole "love" affair, making something natural and healthy and good into a dievient act of gross proportions. It's all about culture, the culture feels it has a right to know-the characters (parts of the culture) feel they are obliged to tell the culture. The culture disgusts me.

  • by

    zarbon

    Fri Dec 29 2000

    Very interesting at times, but a definite STINKER. Most of it was boring. Sometimes, entire chapters were extremely boring. The characters, I think, were very well explained. Each one had it's own characterstics and traits. I found Dimmesdale to be the most interesting of the bunch. Not a page turner. A nice piece, but boring. Not reccomended to anyone, especially youngens. I think I can sum it up as, BORING.

  • by

    angelj

    Tue Dec 19 2000

    Although everyone rants and raves about how classic this book is, you'll probably end up falling asleep before you get to the part where the "letter" come into play. My advice, watch the movie, they always are more entertaining with Hollywoods help.

  • by

    cyrano76

    Mon Dec 11 2000

    Exploring the depths of human emotion and intolerance, the Scarlet Letter is a classical book that much can be learned from. With a continuously mysterious undertone, it keeps you reading till the end. A good book to study or just read for pleasure.

  • by

    laroser

    Wed Dec 06 2000

    Unforgivable melodramatic and completely out of touch with vernacular spoken by people he was trying to reach, Hawthorne's novel was terrible even for its time. Interesting symbolism. Terrible telling.

  • by

    sharkaria

    Wed Dec 06 2000

    This book was boring. Nothing happened. I don't see what was so scandalous. Hard to read old fashioned language, even with a teacher assisting.

  • by

    voilodion

    Sat Nov 25 2000

    The Scarlet Letter is the best book I have ever read. Hawthorne displays the artistic touch that authors don't have anymore as he paints this subtle, captivating story of love, guilt, corruption, redemption, and hope. Before I began reading The Scarlet Letter, all I heard was how boring it was. But as I began reading, page after page was brilliant. Hawthorne beautifully counterbalances the somewhat dark subject material of the book with a prologue that is lighter mood, and at times even deleriously funny.

  • by

    chinajohn

    Thu Nov 02 2000

    On the whole, I enjoyed the story. The Reverend's personal torment about Hester Pryne's pregnancy and being unable to claim his own child is wrenching. However, the first chapter about the "Charter House" slows the reader down considerably.

  • by

    mityf46e

    Thu Oct 26 2000

    Good book. Scandalous. Keeps you reading. You want to find out what happens. A book that you will always remember. Memorable characters like Hester.

  • by

    dieselgrrl

    Wed Oct 25 2000

    The Scarlet Letter was an awesome book filled with the basic conflicts we all face, backdropped against a setting less forgiving than the one we live in. A story of love called lust and one of the strongest heroines in literature today. An excellent book.

  • by

    undine

    Wed Oct 18 2000

    I loved this book! The language was beautiful, full of imagery and symbolism. A clever attack on American Puritanism.

  • by

    srkoala

    Mon Oct 16 2000

    A slow story with only limited interest. Read the Cliff Notes instead.

  • by

    jliu037d

    Thu Oct 12 2000

    Even though this novel is required for most high schoolers, it can be a good book to read.

  • by

    alittleweirdo

    Wed Oct 11 2000

    This book is readable, but doesn't speak to modern audiences. I was not able to relate to the characters, and felt removed from the story. I doubt I would read it for fun, but it is often assigned at school.

  • by

    arizvi

    Fri Oct 06 2000

    Hawthorne weaves a beautiful story about injustice, persecution, and subsequent redemption.

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    rocket

    Tue Oct 03 2000

    The Scarlet Letter is very intriguing.

  • by

    alsu7146om

    Mon Aug 14 2000

    I got a funny story to tell about this book. I think most of the people in the U.S. have read Scarlet Letter in High School or even before. Unfortunately, I only read the first half of this book. In my English Class, my teacher divided the reading between all my classmates. So, I only read part of it, and the rest, I got by listening to the summaries. Looking back, I am sad that I was not encourage to read the whole book by myself and not be able to give you a full scoop on this book. But I still recommend this novel, just for the fact that it's a "Classic".

  • by

    tles823du

    Thu Nov 04 1999

    The best guilt, lust, drama ever written!

  • by

    john430et

    Tue Oct 26 1999

    Classic. Better than the movie.