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katzreads's review against another edition
1.0
This could be the most boring book that I ever actually finished, although I'll confess that I skimmed the last half. Not much happened, the ending was predictable, and it was just so much exposition. I guess if you're really into the interior life of stuffy people, you might like it. I didn't.
kristenbarbie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jbragg6625's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jabnj's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
okenwillow's review
4.0
Prix Pulitzer 1927, Précoce automne est à peu près aussi guilleret qu’Ethan Frome, ma précédente lecture. Mais le souvenir d’avoir adoré Les nuits de Bombay il y a des années m’a poussée à redécouvrir Bromfield. Il n’y a pas que la rigolade dans la vie !
Olivia Pentland, presque quadragénaire et très bien conservée, est l’épouse esseulée d’Anson Pentland, héritier de la dynastie du même nom, et vit depuis vingt ans au sein d’une famille dans laquelle son intégration reste relative. Mère de deux enfants, elle nourrit plus d’espoir pour sa fille adolescente que pour elle-même, et tente de lui faire quitter ce milieu étriqué où tout le monde épouse son cousin et vit quasiment en vase clos.
L’histoire regorge de personnages étoffés et passionnants, la tante Cassie, vieille femme envahissante qui se plaît à se mêler de la vie des autres, tout en ayant renié son propre bonheur, le vieux Pentland, gardien fidèle et loyal d’une épouse à moitié folle et cachée aux yeux du « monde », le transparent et rigide Anson, dépourvu de personnalité, obsédé par l’histoire de sa famille, ou la flamboyante Sabine, rancunière, avide de vengeance et vilain petit canard de la famille.
Le retour de celle-ci, une cousine partie depuis vingt ans, sorte d’enfant prodigue rebelle et pleine de vie va bouleverser la terne existence d’Olivia, lui faisant entrevoir les possibilités d’une autre vie. Secrets de famille, traditions d’un autre âge, folie, hypocrisie, la bonne société américaine des années 20 est passée au peigne fin au travers du destin d’Olivia, résignée certes, mais encore assez jeune pour se permettre d’espérer autre chose pour sa fille, et peut-être pour elle-même.
Un beau roman, pas très optimiste, un peu violent par son fatalisme.
Olivia Pentland, presque quadragénaire et très bien conservée, est l’épouse esseulée d’Anson Pentland, héritier de la dynastie du même nom, et vit depuis vingt ans au sein d’une famille dans laquelle son intégration reste relative. Mère de deux enfants, elle nourrit plus d’espoir pour sa fille adolescente que pour elle-même, et tente de lui faire quitter ce milieu étriqué où tout le monde épouse son cousin et vit quasiment en vase clos.
L’histoire regorge de personnages étoffés et passionnants, la tante Cassie, vieille femme envahissante qui se plaît à se mêler de la vie des autres, tout en ayant renié son propre bonheur, le vieux Pentland, gardien fidèle et loyal d’une épouse à moitié folle et cachée aux yeux du « monde », le transparent et rigide Anson, dépourvu de personnalité, obsédé par l’histoire de sa famille, ou la flamboyante Sabine, rancunière, avide de vengeance et vilain petit canard de la famille.
Le retour de celle-ci, une cousine partie depuis vingt ans, sorte d’enfant prodigue rebelle et pleine de vie va bouleverser la terne existence d’Olivia, lui faisant entrevoir les possibilités d’une autre vie. Secrets de famille, traditions d’un autre âge, folie, hypocrisie, la bonne société américaine des années 20 est passée au peigne fin au travers du destin d’Olivia, résignée certes, mais encore assez jeune pour se permettre d’espérer autre chose pour sa fille, et peut-être pour elle-même.
Un beau roman, pas très optimiste, un peu violent par son fatalisme.
mjacton's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Another Pulitzer Prince-winning novel.
This is a novel full of irony about one wasted life of tradition and duty. The titular lady loves her children, but even they don't redeem her loveless marriage.
The setting is small, privileged, populated with well-written but insignificant people. Even the characters with different experiences seem trapped by their own narrow focus.
The novel is well written, if quite a bit lacking in action. It plods along with very little plot advancement, pages of explanation, internal thoughts, "telling not showing."
There's no commentary on gender, class, race, or anything large. The most I can say this novel is trying to comment on is that one should learn from the past but look to the future. Otherwise, nobody is really doing anything wrong. Even the titular lady doesn't really judge anyone else or their beliefs harshly. She just doesn't want it for herself.
Aside from that, there's a smattering of comment on religion, but it's so very shallow.
One good characteristic of this novel is that, maybe with the Wharton's The Age of Innocence, this has the least amount of casual, excused racism There's only one tiny moment, and it occurs about a century before the main events of the novel. That's a very low bar, but...
I'm not qualified to comment on it, but I'd love to know if queer folks who have read this novel detect a queer coding in the character of Aunt Cassie, the virgin, busy body widow (yes, she never slept with her husband) and who now lives with her female "companion." There's no textual evidence either way that the two women are lovers, but it just seems possible.
Anyway, this is an okay novel. The author fills out the characters well enough, as interestingly as he could, but the setting, the world, is just not that interesting and neither is what the novel is trying to say, which isn't much.
There's more here but not a lot. It's not the worst but far from the best novel I've read.
This is a novel full of irony about one wasted life of tradition and duty. The titular lady loves her children, but even they don't redeem her loveless marriage.
The setting is small, privileged, populated with well-written but insignificant people. Even the characters with different experiences seem trapped by their own narrow focus.
The novel is well written, if quite a bit lacking in action. It plods along with very little plot advancement, pages of explanation, internal thoughts, "telling not showing."
There's no commentary on gender, class, race, or anything large. The most I can say this novel is trying to comment on is that one should learn from the past but look to the future. Otherwise, nobody is really doing anything wrong. Even the titular lady doesn't really judge anyone else or their beliefs harshly. She just doesn't want it for herself.
Aside from that, there's a smattering of comment on religion, but it's so very shallow.
One good characteristic of this novel is that, maybe with the Wharton's The Age of Innocence, this has the least amount of casual, excused racism There's only one tiny moment, and it occurs about a century before the main events of the novel. That's a very low bar, but...
I'm not qualified to comment on it, but I'd love to know if queer folks who have read this novel detect a queer coding in the character of Aunt Cassie, the virgin, busy body widow (yes, she never slept with her husband) and who now lives with her female "companion." There's no textual evidence either way that the two women are lovers, but it just seems possible.
Anyway, this is an okay novel. The author fills out the characters well enough, as interestingly as he could, but the setting, the world, is just not that interesting and neither is what the novel is trying to say, which isn't much.
There's more here but not a lot. It's not the worst but far from the best novel I've read.
danceinrain's review against another edition
5.0
This novel tells the story of the very wealthy Pentland family that is settled in New England and what happens when a member of their family returns to town after a long absence. Sabine Callendar grew up in the Pentland family, conforming to all of their rigid rules regarding proper social behavior, but she fled in her mid-20s. Now she has returned with an 18 year old daughter and a strong independent spirit that defies Pentland tradition. Her arrival shakes things up, especially the life of Olivia Pentland who married into the family and is approaching her 4oth birthday.
Although I felt that the beginning of the book was a tad slow, it soon grabbed my interest completely and I couldn't put it down. I really like Bromfield's writing style and his insights into his characters are simply brilliant. Even though this story was written 90 years ago, I feel like it is just as relevant today. Great book!
Although I felt that the beginning of the book was a tad slow, it soon grabbed my interest completely and I couldn't put it down. I really like Bromfield's writing style and his insights into his characters are simply brilliant. Even though this story was written 90 years ago, I feel like it is just as relevant today. Great book!
wathohuc's review against another edition
3.0
Nice little book. Nothing earth-shattering about the storyline. It's basically about the turn of the 20th century societal transformation from staid New England colonial countryside elites to a new order. It's what I'd call a less impressive Edith Wharton novel with strong hints of an Americanized Jane Austin style of story. Fairly predictable melodrama around gendered old money society and familial relations. Worthy of the Pulitzer? Probably. But a rather forgettable winner.