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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
I didn’t read this book a friend told me there was a movie. So I am home sick decided to watch the movie. I am glad I didnt waste my time reading it. No rating.
October 2021. Well-done but not that exciting of a novel. The growth of Catherine over the novel is great, but the whole novel is distant, holding the story at arms’ length like her father.
“Washington Square” by Henry James.
“Washington Square” by Henry James.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excruciatingly dull. But it's short and I just hate DNF-ing so I plowed through until the end. It's the worst kind of "kill me now" tedium that weighs down more 19th century literature than many cottagecore bookworms will honestly admit. Melodrama that feels a million miles away from a relatable human emotion is mercifully cut by occasional moments of wit between Dr. Sloper and Mr. Townsend, but it's not nearly enough. I felt whatever the inverse of caring is. At least James himself acknowledged this was a total face-plant.
This was a book I was looking forward to read for a while. Having watched both versions of the movie, the old one based on the play and the newer one based on the actual book, I was intrigued to see how the actual story developed.
Unfortunately, I found the book a dreadful read. Slow moving and narrated from a third party POV the story failed to capture me. Add to that the fact that it's not a story that ends with a HEA, but a book about a woman who who ends up being wronged by everyone around her and it made reading one sad experience.
After finishing the book I read some isolated reviews which complain about this particular version and I wonder if I picked the wrong one to read, but the deed is done and I don't feel like chancing another version for further disappointment. At least, I remain in love with the 1949 screen version of the play.
Unfortunately, I found the book a dreadful read. Slow moving and narrated from a third party POV the story failed to capture me. Add to that the fact that it's not a story that ends with a HEA, but a book about a woman who who ends up being wronged by everyone around her and it made reading one sad experience.
After finishing the book I read some isolated reviews which complain about this particular version and I wonder if I picked the wrong one to read, but the deed is done and I don't feel like chancing another version for further disappointment. At least, I remain in love with the 1949 screen version of the play.
So good! My first James novel. I was expecting long, convoluted sentences wrapped around an impenetrable plot, but this was a quick read with great depth. He takes a tired old nugget of a plot and pushes it in unexpected directions, meanwhile drawing out the complexity of the characters involved. Good stuff! I was captivated the entire last fifty pages of the novel, flipping pages like it was a potboiler.
This was my first Henry James novel - I loved it, devoured it quicker than some other books I had on my list. It's a simple story about a "plain" rich girl, a "mercenary" suitor, and a disapproving father - as well as a meddling aunt (portrayed by maggie smith in the film adaptation that I can't wait to see) - but, without spoiling, there are just no flash points in the story, no melodramatic scenes, or comeuppances that you want to see (especially with Dr. Sloper who's a real piece of work). It's just building building tension as you quietly ponder these difficult characters. How James could write something so surface-level dull that's still so compelling (and quick read) I have no idea!
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated