Tess of the d'Urbervilles - dd is loving it on tv is there a child's version of the book?

[twinsetandpearls]

As she keeps asking if I can read her the book but am asusming the charm will wear off if I get out the original Hardy. She is 7.

[islandofsodor]

I wouldn't have thought it was suitable reading for a 7 year old to be honest. I have to admit I have never read it though I did read Jude for A level but isn't one of the themes rape and murder.

[LurkerOfTheUniverse]

i don't think it's suitable viewing for a 7 yr old either

[morocco]

good grief - do you really let her watch it twinset? it's enough to get me crying just watching the happy bits (am v soppy and always aware of the ending)

[Bink]

Seriously seriously?
15 year old falls asleep & is guilty of death of family horse (& crux of income); is sent off to earn a bit & is "seduced" (rape in all but name) & made pregnant by vile advantage-taker; has fragile baby which dies as a newborn, after an amateur christening which names him "Sorrow"; tries to find herself another life, which involves suppressing this whole tragedy (inc. half-farce of the letter slid under the door which goes under the doormat); is found out by new husband who cannot cope with her reality; is sent mad by rejection & goes off to kill initial advantage-taker; Stonehenge dénouement etc. etc.

Just play her Verklarte Nacht instead. It has sort of the same back-story, and a Lovely Happy Ending. It's the antithesis of that horrid Angel Clare.

[hellymelly]

I'm with Bink on this one-under age girl is raped, gets pregnant,baby born,baby dies,falls in love,tells husband,husband legs it,gives up and in extreme poverty and despair prostitutes herself off to the rapist,kills him and gets hanged.Loads of great stuff for a book for wee girls there!

[twinsetandpearls]

She has been watching it on replay with dp who watches it first. AS it was repeated at tea time I assumed it was OK. I don;t know the story tbh, dp said he lets her watch it on replayso if necessary he can edit it.

Thanks for the recomendation Bink.

Once again I realise I am actually quite a crap mother even whenI think I am doing well.

[twinsetandpearls]

Has anything unpleasant happened yet in the BBC adaptation?

[LurkerOfTheUniverse]

i doubt very much that you are a crap mother

but there was a rape scene, lots of sexual undertones

i'm surprised a 7 yr old is even interested, tbh

[islandofsodor]

I've not seen the BBC adaptation. I think there is a bit of a tendancy to assume that a classic Sunday Night costume drama is child friendly. If you have never read the book you wouldn't know.

[twinsetandpearls]

Perhaps not crap but just a bit useless!

She was fascinated this afternoon, she caught the re run and asked to watch it so dp let her watch it on replay.

She even said to me when we were baking " I really like Tess Mummy"

She has never seen something on TV and asked to read the book and as we are having some problems with getting motivated with her school books I thought I could read her a simplified version of this. Maybe I will make something up.

Has the rape scene been on TV, I will check with dp if dd has seen this. Maybe it went above her head.

[ahundredtimes]

Oh you are not a crap mother Twinset. The rape scene was all quite misty - nothing to traumatize. She probably didn't understand what was happening.

I expect she likes the costumes and watching it with dh.

Don't panic.

But doubt there is a children's version of the book.

[twinsetandpearls]

Yesa I thought it was like a Jane Austen type affair, she does like anything historical. I am clearly not a crap mother but just a cultural heathen.

I am a bit at this being on before the watershed. But it is not up to the BBC to control my child's viewing, I do need to take more responsibility.

[PortAndLemon]

Could well have gone above her head. Can you talk to her about what it is she likes about Tess? Clever Mumsnetters might be able to suggest something else that ticked the right boxes.

[KatyMac]

My DD is desperate to watch it - but I said no

She has however watched the lost in austin thing - which she has loved

It is so hard to decide what is suitable - I don't think Tess (this adaptation) is too bad - just that one scene

But I also struggled with Mamma Mia - is it acceptable

She thought the diary scene with dot, dot, dot very naughty

[LurkerOfTheUniverse]

we all are sometimes

[twinsetandpearls]

I will ask an a level student to write a non rape version

[LurkerOfTheUniverse]

well, Tess is very pretty and quite captivating to watch, imo

[twinsetandpearls]

Yes we took dd to see Mamma Mia and there were a few moments when I wondered if I had made a mistake.

I will ask her what she likes, I don't know the book but dd likes to see herself as a bit of a rebel and tends to like charactars in films or books that are rebels. Could that be it.

[Bink]

If it's a faithful adaptation she wouldn't realise the rape is a rape (which is partly the horror of it, actually). All the staff who work at a particular big house have been to a party & are walking back ... the son of the house (the advantage-taker) has either been at the party to, or comes across the group, and sort of separates Tess from the rest. Then there is a scene where the two of them sink into some bracken, or similar. It's very ... "The rest is silence."

So, in fact, it utterly exactly captures the awfulness of certain kinds of date rape. It's brilliantly done, with all the ambivalence & self-directed guilt & everything. A 7yo just wouldn't see the layers at all. (Even a 15yo doesn't, really.)

[twinsetandpearls]

I will borrow a copy of the book from school to read myself.

[Tidgypuds]

Argh! I didnt know there was going to be a spoiler in this thread...I havent read the book and didnt know what happens. Really now. Why did I click.

[twinsetandpearls]

sorry tidgypuds.

[Bink]

There is a solecism in my post*the son of the house has "either been at the party too" (and not, in any universe, to)I have also done spoilers Without Thinking*I am getting my cape

[edam]

I wouldn't feel guilty about giving away the plot of a story that has been in print for 117 years, Bink!

[Tidgypuds]

No dont feel bad, no worries at least now I wont be sorely disappointed at the last episode, that it doesnt all come good for her. I love a happy ending.

I have really enjoyed this adaptation.
In print for 117 years and still there will be a great deal of people that haven't read it.