I did it, I read Jude The Obscure and now I have sunk into a deep existential sadness

[rubberglove]

A great book, but not exactly full of the joys of life is it?

Oh, God, in this weather? Did nobody warn you?

Go at once and read Cold Comfort Farm or something, or you'll be depressed til Christmas!

I know it's depressing ("done because we are too menny", my god) but it's a book I love. Just to complete your misery fest, now watch the Michael Winterbottom directed film starring Kate Winslet and Christopher Eccleston. It's well done and the soundtrack haunted me so much when I first watched it that I had to go out and buy it.

That book should be banned! It's lethal and I agree with Seeker about the weather. When I saw the film we walked out of the cinema in to a deluge (this is about 16 years ago btw). It was a tough choice - walk home or throw self in river.
I would recommed a nice Margery Allingham as antidote - or you go for the Crash trolley option of PG Wodehouse.

I have always avoided it. I know I would not be able to bear it.

I've never been able to get into it. Have tried many times.

It was "because we are too menny" that caused me to abandon Thomas Hardy.

Agree that Wodehouse would be the crash trolley option.

just reading the phrase is too awful

Were you the OP on the Tess thread? Didn't we warn you?!

That phrase really is the bottom of the pit of heartbreaking passages in literature. Next to that Lear holding the murdered Cordelia in his arms looks like a picnic.

Yes, it's the bleakest thing I've ever read. I read it before I was a parent; I would be rolling on the floor keening if I read it now.

I believe Radio 4 is doing Far From The Madding Crowd soon.

I 'did' that for A-level and it's not exactly a barrel of laughs either. She went to the wrong church? The sheep leap off the cliff..........

Or go as far as away as possible and pick up Hitchhiker's Guide!

Most depressing book in the English language, surely. I just wish I'd stopped reading at the part with the stuck pigs...

And, strangely enough, throwing bits of offal at young persons of the opposite sex hasn't caught on as a courtship technique.

Hate hardy, so utterly miserable. Would avoid dickens and watership down too while in your depressed state. Something light and life affirming called for, maybe "like water for chocolate" Laura esquivel (sp?) or a bit of Austen.

Not as bad as Tess of the D'Urbervilles and her doomed baby, 'Sorrow.' LOVE Thomas Hardy, but he ain't the most cheerful of souls.

The clue was in the title, no?

God I love Thomas Hardy. Tess is my favourite novel of all time.

disclaimer - I am a miserable bitch

My DDs middle name is Cordelia

Cordelia is such a beautiful name but DH [Shakespeare scholar] wouldn't agree to it.

God i love those books. DS is sort of named after a Hardy character and 'Bathsheba' was vetoed by DH early on as a poss girl's name!

It is a beautiful name but looking for first names I went the happy(ish) route with Miranda, Rosalind and Beatrice.

Northernlurker, I adore those names.

Why not Come ? She loved her Daddy. (I know she killed herself but well.....)

Oh er Northern

I thought she was murdered in prison? Hung yes but not by her own hand.

(Cheerful conversation this!)

Just reading this thread has pulled me into a pit of despair.

First time I read Jude I almost went into shock when I read THAT bit.