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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
I didn't realize this book had been finished by another author until I'd started it, and then my plan was to just forget that fact. But then the ending was QUITE bad so I ended up taking comfort in the fact that Wharton didn't write it.
This is the first Edith Wharton book I have read. As other reviewers have noted, there is a distinct difference in writing after part III going into part IV of this book due to Ms. Wharton’s death.
I absolutely loved the first three sections of this book. The author was so subtle in her writing and leaving it to the reader to imagine what took place. In the last two sections, the writer was not as successful as Ms. Wharton, hence; my four star review.
I am eager to read her other books. It has been a very long time since I have read a book with such excellent character development.
I absolutely loved the first three sections of this book. The author was so subtle in her writing and leaving it to the reader to imagine what took place. In the last two sections, the writer was not as successful as Ms. Wharton, hence; my four star review.
I am eager to read her other books. It has been a very long time since I have read a book with such excellent character development.
emotional
funny
reflective
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
At first I thought the transition from Wharton to Mainwaring was pretty seamless and then it got very bizarre in the last 10-15%. Wharton hadn't used parenthesis to foreshadow, the paragraph became shorter and shifted rapidly between cast members, there were long quotations... it was just a bit sloppy in my opinion, and I would have like to have read more from the perspective of Nan in the culmination, as in the end it just seemed things happened to her, rather than her playing an active part.
The BBC adaptation featuring Carla Gugino (Nan) and Mira Sorvino (Conchita) was great if you can find it. The Apple TV one looks like it is full of anachronisms, I'm sure it will be enjoyable, it just might not be believable.
The BBC adaptation featuring Carla Gugino (Nan) and Mira Sorvino (Conchita) was great if you can find it. The Apple TV one looks like it is full of anachronisms, I'm sure it will be enjoyable, it just might not be believable.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
This review is for the version of the book that was finished by Marion Mainwaring.
I generally love Edith Wharton and her part of this book was good. It’s not her best, but it wasn’t edited, so I would expect that. I would give her sections 3.75 or 4 stars.
But the shift in tone when the other writer takes over is palpable. Wharton can be so deliciously subtle, but Mainwaring takes all the depth out of everyone immediately upon picking up the narrative. The characters you’re supposed to like become more jolly, more charitable. The characters you’re not supposed to like become more spiteful and vindictive. She has to hit you over the head with everything. The last quarter of the book is so sappy and exaggerated that I could barely get through it.
I generally love Edith Wharton and her part of this book was good. It’s not her best, but it wasn’t edited, so I would expect that. I would give her sections 3.75 or 4 stars.
But the shift in tone when the other writer takes over is palpable. Wharton can be so deliciously subtle, but Mainwaring takes all the depth out of everyone immediately upon picking up the narrative. The characters you’re supposed to like become more jolly, more charitable. The characters you’re not supposed to like become more spiteful and vindictive. She has to hit you over the head with everything. The last quarter of the book is so sappy and exaggerated that I could barely get through it.
What a lovely, hard-to-put down novel. I stayed up past my bedtime several nights to continue reading this. In many ways, it feels like an homage to the books Wharton would have grown up with, like Middlemarch, and some plot points and characters reminded me so much of Jane Austen and Henry James.
I’ll echo what many others have already said: I wish Wharton had been able to finish this novel before she died because it might have ended up her best work. The first 75 pages were a bit slow for me, and some further sections could have been edited down. Wharton scholar Mainwaring did an excellent job completing the novel, mostly matching Wharton’s style and syntax. I’d love to know Wharton’s vision for the ending because, although this one is satisfying enough, it lacked some of the tragedy and hard social commentary I love about Wharton’s New York novels.
I’ll echo what many others have already said: I wish Wharton had been able to finish this novel before she died because it might have ended up her best work. The first 75 pages were a bit slow for me, and some further sections could have been edited down. Wharton scholar Mainwaring did an excellent job completing the novel, mostly matching Wharton’s style and syntax. I’d love to know Wharton’s vision for the ending because, although this one is satisfying enough, it lacked some of the tragedy and hard social commentary I love about Wharton’s New York novels.
Honestly, this book is giving "marriages are only happy when you have an affair with someone else." Everyone was either incredibly immature, only in it for the money, or both. The only sort-of redeemable character was Guy Thwarte and he's only in about 10% of the book. Major bummer.
Also - the audio for this was awful, everyone under the age of 40 sounded like a tempestuous, whiny, child (which; valid. But also, I don't need every young adult male and female character to sound like a 7 year old about to throw a tantrum.)
Also - the audio for this was awful, everyone under the age of 40 sounded like a tempestuous, whiny, child (which; valid. But also, I don't need every young adult male and female character to sound like a 7 year old about to throw a tantrum.)
medium-paced
2nd Wharton I've read. I really enjoy her sarcasm and wit. I picked this one up post the Apple TV show and I enjoyed but definitely think her classic titles are stronger!