I'd heard Hardy was a bit of a chore, so out of all of his chunky novels I chose
The Mayor of Casterbridge to be my first. I'm not sure it was a wise choice. Not because I thought it was bad by any means. The writing's quite good, the story held my interest, but jeez louise this is bleak stuff! Stories based on drunken missteps that linger into lifelong regrets do not generally lend themselves to frivolity. No, this is not a feel good generator. Are any of Hardy's? Is there a wise choice? I've not heard so, but I thought I had the sort of temperament to handle such stuff. However, now I'm dragging my feet on the way to
Tess of the d'Ubervilles, by the end of which I fear I may want to get as
Far from the Madding Crowd as possible!
