Book Review: Vanity Fair by, William Makepeace Thackery

In today's video I'll be reviewing the Victorian Classic Vanity Fair by, Williams Makepeace Thackery.
Vanity Fair Written Review: www.instagram....
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IG: / alana_estelle
Blog: www.alanaestelle.com

[@TheChamberOfKnowledge]

I am about to read this book. Thought I would tip around it before diving deep. Just found your channel today, Alana. love your videos. I look forward to watching more reviews of literature from you.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you so much! ❤️❤️

[@elizabethaliteraryprincess]

Dobbin deserved so much better than he got. 💔 I had very similar feelings on Vanity Fair. I had a good time and laughed a lot, but it's not my favorite. And it definitely dragged in places.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Dobbin is really the MVP and he was so mistreated lol. Yes, agreed! Overall a good time, but not the best Victorian classic out there.

[@kevinharrison3265]

I'm an older Black man,61, that really loves Victorian fiction. Have read Vanity Fair many times!

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yes love Victorian Lit! My favorite time period for literature!!🙌🏼

[@kevinharrison3265]

There were two black characters in VF, both minor, one pivotal to the plot.

[@SpringboardThought]

I have recently been hearing about this and previously never really even considered it, for some reason. Does sound up my alley.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Overall, it's a fun classic!

[@EmmaBennetAuthor]

I love the adaptation with Reese Witherspoon.x

[@alanaestelle2076]

I need to watch it!

[@Shiree30]

I really felt like Becky Sharp was very fetishized for being French and poor but also looked down upon for being poor. She honestly was a survivor, while everyone around her had a victim complex. The writer honestly just cake off sexist.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Great review!! 👏👏 loved the Tedtalk.🤣

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you! Looool you know I love a good TED talk!!

[@stevesunusual]

Thank you for this! I've only experienced Thackeray through a couple of films, one amazing, one not-so-memorable. You make a good case for reading "Vanity Fair". I thought I might end up reading "The Newcomes", which some have called a great window into Victorian everything. Another BIG book. Speaking of narrative devices, have you ever encountered "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner" by Hogg? Two narratives of a freaky tale in one slender paperback.

[@alanaestelle2076]

I think you’ll enjoy Vanity Fair - it’s a riot! 🤣 I haven’t! So much to read and not enough time haha

[@patriciapendlbury2603]

I loved the contrast between becky and Amelia. I genuinly would despise Amelia for her weak whimpering ways, her blindness to truth, her immaturity. But later she redeems herself. I would champion becky at times but later her ruthlessness went too far and her heartlessness was too much to bear. She finally got what she wanted but at the price of sacrificing herself....and not in a good way. That is good writing! When you get under the skin of the characters. And YES Charles Dickenson is a feast of words and descriptions that are so amazing. When he describes the fog in England....that was a masterpiece in itself. I really enjoyed your take on this novel. I once read a book on the psychology of Amelia and Becky. It was fantastic! I can't remember the author or the name of the book.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Becky and Amelia are definitely really interesting character studies! 🙌🏼 haha Dickens can make anything sound lush!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Vanity Fair is one of my favourites even thought it's slow in places Think it has a special place in my heart since I read it for the first time nearly 3 decades ago and until then I'd no come across such a scheming character as Becky. Great review.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Thank you! Becky is definitely entertaining! I do have a few scheming characters that beat out Becky - for me at least haha.

[@malexander4094]

I respected more than loved "Vanity Fair" my 1st time. However? I did love certain things about Thackeray's writing voice. So I was curious to at least give him another chance & try something later in his career, when his craft had maybe matured. And, you wanna know what novel that is? "The Newcomes." All the things I enjoyed from "Vanity Fair," but cranked to 11. And it is woefully, woefully underrated! Hardly anyone knows "The Newcomes" & I don't know why! Were banished to the moon tomorrow, I'd want to take "The Newcomes" with me. Wouldn't even hesitate. Seriously! I wish everyone who read "Vanity Fair" & even a teeny tiny bit liked it, would give "The Newcomes" a chance! It's the better novel, I'd argue. Thackeray is also back with some narrator games...but it's quite different: because the narrator is also a character in the story. Yet, it doubles *also* as a thinly veiled Thackeray. It's maddeningly brilliant. He's in top form here. It's also set in the time he wrote it, and it feels like he talks to you like a local. And, also like you're in the room as he's writing & you're catching him mid-process, like forgetting he off'd a character 10 pgs ago.

[@alanaestelle2076]

Yea, that's a good way to put it - it's a respect for Vanity Fair rather than something I was enamored by. I haven't looked into some of his other novels - other Victorians are glaring at me from my bookshelves that have been sitting there for a while haha, but I'll keep The Newcomes in mind, should I venture back to Thackeray. Thanks for the rec!

[@sashahawkins]

I really liked it too but not a favorite. Lots of interesting moments and characters though!

[@alanaestelle2076]

Glad I'm not the only one. I think this one would be fun as an audiobook though!