About the style of writing: 
 I am so often torn when it comes to the style of writing, especially with regard to 19th century writers. 
 Hardy writes beautifully, detailed, - he almost makes you feel like you are smelling a particular heavy and full scent. At the same time, personally, I do not enjoy reading "wordy descriptions". Maybe I could compare it to a piece of art, for which I fully recognize and appreciate the craft, but would never hang it up on my own walls. 
 About the story: 
 Yes, it is not a feel-good book. And so, like Pat Peoples, I'm looking for the Silver Linings at the moment, or would at least prefer them. 
 I appreciate the social criticism. Recent expierences have yet again proved to me that women are still fighting against double standards, oppressive husbands, and what not - even in my own circle of friends. 
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 For almost the whole story I wanted to yell at Tess to stop being so devote and humble, and finally fight for herself. And when she -sort of- does, you can't help but shake your head at the way she has chosen. It seems so simple for her to just leave the "bad guy", and go with "the good" - although: is there really a good guy in this story? And even if the answer is yes, it is true that life is more complex than that. I have often thought "why doesn't she just leave him?" and when I really thought about it, I understood that life is not that simple, situations seem easier from the outside, but they are not if you are in the middle of it all. 
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 I found the book ok, - I did not truly enjoy reading it, but I appreciate many things about it.