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sian_m's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio of this wonderful book and it took me captive into its world. I absolutely loved Charity’s character and felt a deep sense of empathy for her and her delicate inertia. I felt fully immersed in Charity’s life, as the narrator gave a splendid delivery, expressing the emotion and intensity within the story with beauty.
This is definitely a book I would re-listen to and would love to purchase the paperback.
This is definitely a book I would re-listen to and would love to purchase the paperback.
ioanna_jo's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
When she was a young child, Charity Royall was rescued from “the Mountain” by Lawyer Royall, who is now her guardian. Now she’s eighteen, feeling bored in the small town of North Dormer, and itching to spread her wings. When she meets Lucius Harney, an architect from the city who is visiting his cousin, her eyes are opened to possibilities she hasn’t dared dream about. Their mutual attraction garners some unwanted attention and results in gossip that Charity ignores until it is too late.
Wharton wrote this circa 1917 when she was living in France. When published, it shocked readers; they were not used to reading about a young woman’s awakening sexuality. I wonder if they would have been so shocked if Wharton had set the novel in France, rather than in the Berkshires.
Charity is head-strong and passionate, but also naïve. As frequently happens in Wharton’s novels, the principal characters never come out and say what they mean. They are frequently acting based on assumptions, rather than on a true understanding of the facts. Wharton knew the social makeup of turn-of-the century America, and used her novels to explore the nuances of the “rules” – spoken and unspoken – by which people, especially women, had to live. In this, as in other novels, the social fabric of the community is as much a character as any of the people in it.
It’s a slim novel, and a great introduction to Wharton’s writing. I still prefer House of Mirth, but this was an enjoyable read.
When she was a young child, Charity Royall was rescued from “the Mountain” by Lawyer Royall, who is now her guardian. Now she’s eighteen, feeling bored in the small town of North Dormer, and itching to spread her wings. When she meets Lucius Harney, an architect from the city who is visiting his cousin, her eyes are opened to possibilities she hasn’t dared dream about. Their mutual attraction garners some unwanted attention and results in gossip that Charity ignores until it is too late.
Wharton wrote this circa 1917 when she was living in France. When published, it shocked readers; they were not used to reading about a young woman’s awakening sexuality. I wonder if they would have been so shocked if Wharton had set the novel in France, rather than in the Berkshires.
Charity is head-strong and passionate, but also naïve. As frequently happens in Wharton’s novels, the principal characters never come out and say what they mean. They are frequently acting based on assumptions, rather than on a true understanding of the facts. Wharton knew the social makeup of turn-of-the century America, and used her novels to explore the nuances of the “rules” – spoken and unspoken – by which people, especially women, had to live. In this, as in other novels, the social fabric of the community is as much a character as any of the people in it.
It’s a slim novel, and a great introduction to Wharton’s writing. I still prefer House of Mirth, but this was an enjoyable read.
mayav_p's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
joanaftnobody's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gssarchive's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
myiopsitta's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ljutavidra's review against another edition
3.0
Ovo je bilo sve samo ne "Summer" i korice varaju svojim zelenišem i bezbrižnošću obećavajući laganu priču. Oh man. Ovo je zapravo brutalna priča o devojci koju život nije mazio. Charity mi se svidela kao lik jer je zapravo bez dlake na jeziku i rećiće vam sve što misli o vama bez ustručavanja i uradiće ono što misli da je najbolje po nju. Svidela mi se jer za razliku od ostalih književnih "damica" iz ovog perioda ne glumi i uzima stvari u svoje ruke. Ali priča kao priča mi se nije dopala. Srž priče je položaj žena i bukvalno sam osećala bes jer sve što je zadesilo Charity nije moralo, i gledati kako ova nezavisna devojka postaje žrtva prokletog patrijarhalnog društva je surovo iskustvo. Neki bi rekli da joj sudbina i nije toliko tragična kakvih ima, ali ona je želela mnogo više i zbog kukavičkih poteza onog njanjavog Harnija i jezivog Rojala koji joj diše za vratom, ona ostaje zakopana u tom mestu pored sela za vjek i vjekov.
nozomi's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
maddiemmn's review against another edition
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I've never read Edith Wharton before so came into this classic with zero background or context (fun!), but I did really enjoy the novel. We have the time-honored tale of a dashing young man from the city swooping the small-town librarian off of her feet, except the librarian hates her job and the young man is definitely a sleaze bag. Charity Royall is quite a protagonist! She's equally ridiculous, pitiably, and relatable. It was like watching a train crash in slow motion, but I really couldn't tear my eyes away.