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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Spoilers. My appreciation has grown for this book. I definitely hated the ending, but then my perspective of the ending changed. I guess it was supposed to show how women's oppression is still continuing. LIke even though Olive has gained confidence to go on stage, Verena is now with Basil, so it's like one step forward, two steps back kind of a situation. But both and Olive and Basil were horrible to Verena. And I wish Verena didn't go with Basil and I wish there was more to her, but I guess that was the point, Verena was purposely written to be a mystery, so whatever. Well, I wouldn't say I enjoyed the book, but it definitely made me think and made me feel angry, so I guess that's something.
Not the best Henry James has wrote although I've never been a Henry James lover. I couldn't even finish this one!!
Gonna stop reading and get out while I can. Silly me for thinking a satire of the women's rights movement would be cleverly written and not a shallow portrayal of feminism. Also: edit, James.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read for my "Getting Out the Vote: US Suffrage Literature" class.
Well. There's certainly a lot to discuss in class, but I can't say I liked this. In fact, this has been an incredibly frustrating experience and I am still questioning what the actual point of this was. My main takeaway for now: I hate Basil Ransom.
Well. There's certainly a lot to discuss in class, but I can't say I liked this. In fact, this has been an incredibly frustrating experience and I am still questioning what the actual point of this was. My main takeaway for now: I hate Basil Ransom.
Okay so I sat for a while and I love to hate this book or a hate to love it. I have olive and I hate basil too :( but I think James is trying to do something interesting with this book the feminine vs masculine characteristics, oof I could go on and on.
3.5 stars. Henry James masterful depicted conflicting viewpoints of men and women involved in the women’s movement. Olive Chancellor is the masculine female who represents what men believe feminists are; Verena is the “innocent” “childlike” woman who is influenced by anyone and doesn’t hold an opinion of her own; and Basil Ransom makes me want to vomit. He is the traditional, misogynistic, overbearing man who thinks women’s position below men is good for them because women are meant to make men happy and serve them and believes THAT makes women happy. I truly despise him.
However, James’ story depicts what we SHOULDN’T do when trying to accomplish a mean feat, which I appreciate.
However, James’ story depicts what we SHOULDN’T do when trying to accomplish a mean feat, which I appreciate.
Bloody good denouement - I always say that no one does an ending like Henry James and the ripping pace of those last few pages were extraordinary, especially since most of the book is slow, thoughtful, tentative, steering. Mrs Luna was brilliantly done and so was Olive's anguish at Verena's inability to reciprocate the 'unprecedented queerness' she wanted from her. Suffering women is such a general subject in literature that pointing it out borders on the obvious, but I think in this particular respect Henry James is in the same league of Shakespeare so it has to be said. Now some of the characters are ridiculous: Verena's parents barely pass inspection; Verena herself is a blank canvas; the Burrage affair was diverting and I don't know why. But those are minor criticisms. If anyone else had written this novel, I'd allow it all those things.
Michael Davitt Bell called this book a glorious mess, but honestly--although yes, there are flaws--I loved it. One of my favorites as I read through James's oeuvre, a huge step up from The Princess Casamassima.