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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautifully written novella. Puzzling but powerful, Daisy Miller is a character study that leaves the reader as mystified and sad as the main character, Winterbourne. The book is an interesting examination of societal norms, free will, and dreams unrealized.
I read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" last year, and one whole section is dedicated to Henry James, with an extensive discussion of this novella, so I was happy to come across a free copy of it. In this story, told in two parts, an American man living abroad, Winterbourne, meets Daisy, a young and pretty but gauche American on holiday with her mother and younger brother. Part One takes place in Geneva, where Winterbourne is fascinated but confused by Daisy; is she a "bad girl" or simply a naive flirt who doesn't understand European mores? In Part 2, he meets her again in Rome, where Daisy scandalizes polite society by taking nearly daily walks with an Italian man who is not quite a gentleman. The payoff, as with any of Henry James' stuff, is all about the psychological insights, the tiny moments, and then the bigger context of these tiny moments within society at large. I read two other James novellas earlier in 2016 and am coming to really appreciate his writing.
What an odd little story. I enjoyed it, and have a lot to think about with regard to all of the characters and their opinions.
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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this! Excellent prose from James with astute social observations and I learned a lot of new vocabulary words. Something something about men and delusional crushes on women and an early prototype for the manic pixie dream girl figure
3.5ish. Worth reading but not a must read.
Daisy flaunted society's norms, teased a gentleman by entertaining a cad, and met her end in accordance with her foolishness. Too short but good intro to Henry James' work. Portrait of a Lady being mentioned a few times in reference to this work lends to my desire to approach that as my next James novel.
Daisy flaunted society's norms, teased a gentleman by entertaining a cad, and met her end in accordance with her foolishness. Too short but good intro to Henry James' work. Portrait of a Lady being mentioned a few times in reference to this work lends to my desire to approach that as my next James novel.
First first back into James since high school. Glad I came back.