North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

I don't read classics much anymore, but I do try to get in at least one a year, and this was my choice for 2023, mostly based on the fact I love the BBC miniseries. It's a real hefty book, so I took my time with it, reading a chapter or two most nights. And I had a great time from start to finish.

It's about Margaret, an innocent but headstrong girl from a country village near London. Her father is a minister who, because of a change of faith, quits his job, and so they move North to Milton, a manufacturing town. The whole family has prejudices against the working class and people in trade, but gradually they come to accept their new home.

This book has lots of interesting things to say about classism and distrust of the other, with a major plot being some workers wanting to go on strike. But at its heart is the relationship between Margaret and Mr. Thornton, a factory owner. They butt heads at first, but it turns into an epic love story that rivals Elizabeth and Darcy, and I don't know why people don't talk about it as much. There's just so much pining!

The only reason it doesn't get a 10/10 is because it could get repetitive and overly detailed, and then the final scene is strangely brief and the ending abrupt. With 570 pages, I think the author could've given us an epilogue at least.