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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book started off very descriptive – of people, of locations, of society, of theater – for at least four chapters. Once I realized that this is the style of writing, I muddled through it almost quitting once or twice throughout the book. However, I am glad I powered through the story. It isn’t very exciting by modern standards, but still worth the read. The themes are pretty relevant to modern times. Don’t let the Victorian era setting fool you.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
Saw the movie long before I read the book, and I think that's a good thing. I had visuals and had some idea of the feel and plot. Otherwise I might have gotten a bit tired of the will-they-or-won't-they that is most of the plot of the book. Beautiful, evocative writing. I very much sympathized with both Ellen and May. Newland Archer never really knew either of them, in my opinion, but put them in the boxes that he felt fit them best, labeled "bohemian" and "good girl". Too bad, for both of these women were far more interesting than our hero. Wharton manages to show, through hints and sideways glances, the complexity of the female characters which is lost on Newland.
medium-paced
This is not a true review, but rather thoughts about reading the book for my local library book club's choice this month. Previously the only Edith Wharton book I had read was Ethan Frome, and that was in high school. I don't feel I know enough about the book or Wharton to say anything useful.
Most of the book cluber readers found The Age of Innocence writing style and characters held no appeal. They wanted action and plot, not an 1870 society commentary. In other words, they wanted a 21st c book. It is very frustrating to me, as if readers have become addicted to sugary and salty snack books an can't tolerate foods that require chewing anymore. I read to escape, one said, I read to forget.
Readers did not like the characters. Why would any woman, none-the-less two women, fall for Newland Archer? He willingly has accepted the straight-jacket of societial expectations. The rare moments when he feels alive, he shuts it down and puts on blinders.
And May, Newland's love interest and then wife, is such a cool character, with that mild smile, never allowing herself to feel any passion.
But Madame Ellen Olanska! She has been burned and is trying to be good. She's seen more of the world than anyone else. Growing up rich, married to a Polish Count, living in a freer European social set, Ellen also suffered the indignity of her husband's unnamed abuses. She ran off with his secretary, followed by scandel, and returns to her family in America seeking refuge and a new start. Only to face New York Society's censure.
Newland falls for Ellen, as has the banker Beaufort who is known as a ladies man. Don't go making love to me, she pleads to Newland; too many men have already done that.
New York society won't tolerate a divorce and the family pressures Ellen to return to her husband. Newland understands they can't marry, unless they retreat from society in a distant corner of the world. Perhaps Japan. Ellen knows there is no escape.
May is more knowing than she appears to be, and manipulates Ellen and Newland to get what she wants: their separation.
Poor Newland, who had found passion and real life but instead did the right thing. And the worst of it was that he even accepted and enjoyed his little life. No wonder he couldn't face Ellen again, years later, when he was free again.
One reader thought that Ellen Olanska's husband was gay. After all, he will take her back, just to apper at social gatherings. He needed her for cover, she thought.
Which is pretty interesting, since I just read a story about how Nick Carraway was sexually in love with Jay Gatsby. I just thought Ellen married a cad.
I enjoyed the novel and would like to revisit it with commentary so I can pick up all I missed.
Comments? Please, enlighten me!
Most of the book cluber readers found The Age of Innocence writing style and characters held no appeal. They wanted action and plot, not an 1870 society commentary. In other words, they wanted a 21st c book. It is very frustrating to me, as if readers have become addicted to sugary and salty snack books an can't tolerate foods that require chewing anymore. I read to escape, one said, I read to forget.
Readers did not like the characters. Why would any woman, none-the-less two women, fall for Newland Archer? He willingly has accepted the straight-jacket of societial expectations. The rare moments when he feels alive, he shuts it down and puts on blinders.
And May, Newland's love interest and then wife, is such a cool character, with that mild smile, never allowing herself to feel any passion.
But Madame Ellen Olanska! She has been burned and is trying to be good. She's seen more of the world than anyone else. Growing up rich, married to a Polish Count, living in a freer European social set, Ellen also suffered the indignity of her husband's unnamed abuses. She ran off with his secretary, followed by scandel, and returns to her family in America seeking refuge and a new start. Only to face New York Society's censure.
Newland falls for Ellen, as has the banker Beaufort who is known as a ladies man. Don't go making love to me, she pleads to Newland; too many men have already done that.
New York society won't tolerate a divorce and the family pressures Ellen to return to her husband. Newland understands they can't marry, unless they retreat from society in a distant corner of the world. Perhaps Japan. Ellen knows there is no escape.
May is more knowing than she appears to be, and manipulates Ellen and Newland to get what she wants: their separation.
Poor Newland, who had found passion and real life but instead did the right thing. And the worst of it was that he even accepted and enjoyed his little life. No wonder he couldn't face Ellen again, years later, when he was free again.
One reader thought that Ellen Olanska's husband was gay. After all, he will take her back, just to apper at social gatherings. He needed her for cover, she thought.
Which is pretty interesting, since I just read a story about how Nick Carraway was sexually in love with Jay Gatsby. I just thought Ellen married a cad.
I enjoyed the novel and would like to revisit it with commentary so I can pick up all I missed.
Comments? Please, enlighten me!
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