Tess of the D'Urbervilles

“A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.”

Kudos to Thomas Hardy for writing a book that depicts valid criticism of society's hypocrisy and injustice toward women in his time. Although, there are some things I couldn't wrap my head around, especially some of the heroine's choices. However, it is a melodramatic story where tragedy is destined to strike the heroine's life no matter her choices and I couldn't help but be drawn to her story.

“Why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you!”

It is quite depressing which was hard to get through at times, and the ending left me hollow. but i found beauty in this book somehow.