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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
An early installment in James' long line of stories about Americans’ encounters with Europe and Europeans (or vice versa). Or in this case, the way Americans shape their opinions of other Americans with the European backdrop. James edited the story about 30 years after he wrote it, leaving us with 2 versions, the earlier of which David Lodge prefers and presents here in the 2007 Penguin edition. Judging from his reasoning, I’d probably prefer this earlier version above the later too – the writing is more spare – he seems to provide too much explanatory hand-holding in the 1909 version. The characters here are deceptively simple, leaving the reader to puzzle out the psychology of another delightful Jamseian Rorschach test.
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This is one of the stories on that list of ridiculous things women have died of
'being outside at night in italy' or something of that sense.
I got this book for free, it was being discarded from a library, I didnt really know at the time what it was about and when I looked it up I thought it was gonna be a bit boring but I quite liked the writing, and the story, Daisy is quite modern it seems, i do wish we knew more about her and what makes her act that way.
'being outside at night in italy' or something of that sense.
I got this book for free, it was being discarded from a library, I didnt really know at the time what it was about and when I looked it up I thought it was gonna be a bit boring but I quite liked the writing, and the story, Daisy is quite modern it seems, i do wish we knew more about her and what makes her act that way.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars. A cautionary tale which gives me a little insight into why Henry James is worth reading, and encourages me to try more.
Another one bites the dust. Daisy Miller tells the story of the various encounters between Winterbourne, a classy american young man studying in Europe and the eponymous american girl who is...non-conventional to say the least. It's not the easiest of reads because the descriptions sometimes seem long-winded and almost pointless - how many times do you have to tell me that Daisy is the prettiest pretty that ever prettied? Also, I fail to see the charm in her, when, throughout the book, she just seems like an immature, volatile and hedonistic young lady. Sure, she's pretty, but every time someone characterized her as "innocent", I couldn't help by chuckle, because it seemed clear to me that her every word was calculated to provoke longing in the gentleman that surrounded her. Essentially, what I'm saying is...Daisy Miller is a cock-tease.
Note this, however: even though I didn't like her, and even though I think the only reason Winterbourne kept going to her despite being shut down every time was because he thought he could tame her and transform her into the perfect girl he imagined...I liked this. I liked the story, and I liked that the characters actually brought out a reaction in me, which speaks of James' style of writing, I think. Plus, much like Winterbourne, I was indeed intrigued by her real motives and how it would unfold in the end. If you like period pieces, then this is a good one to consider.
Excerpt:
Por um instante fez uma nova pausa; olhava para Winterbourne com toda a beleza dos seus olhos francos e alegres, o seu claro, se bem que um tanto uniforme, sorriso.
- Sempre tive muita vida social com cavalheiros - afirmou.
O pobre Winterbourne estava divertido e perplexo - acima de tudo estava encantado. Nunca ouvira uma única rapariga exprimir-se daquela maneira; ou, pelo menos, nunca senão nos casos em que dizer tais coisas correspondia a ter, ao mesmo tempo, uma assaz complicada consciência delas. E no entanto deveria ele acusar Miss Daisy Miller de um real ou potencial arrière-pensée, como se dizia em Genebra? Sentinu que tinha vivido durante tanto tempo em Genebra que acabara por ficar moralmente confuso; tinha perdido o sentido correcto do jovem tom americano.
Note this, however: even though I didn't like her, and even though I think the only reason Winterbourne kept going to her despite being shut down every time was because he thought he could tame her and transform her into the perfect girl he imagined...I liked this. I liked the story, and I liked that the characters actually brought out a reaction in me, which speaks of James' style of writing, I think. Plus, much like Winterbourne, I was indeed intrigued by her real motives and how it would unfold in the end. If you like period pieces, then this is a good one to consider.
Excerpt:
Por um instante fez uma nova pausa; olhava para Winterbourne com toda a beleza dos seus olhos francos e alegres, o seu claro, se bem que um tanto uniforme, sorriso.
- Sempre tive muita vida social com cavalheiros - afirmou.
O pobre Winterbourne estava divertido e perplexo - acima de tudo estava encantado. Nunca ouvira uma única rapariga exprimir-se daquela maneira; ou, pelo menos, nunca senão nos casos em que dizer tais coisas correspondia a ter, ao mesmo tempo, uma assaz complicada consciência delas. E no entanto deveria ele acusar Miss Daisy Miller de um real ou potencial arrière-pensée, como se dizia em Genebra? Sentinu que tinha vivido durante tanto tempo em Genebra que acabara por ficar moralmente confuso; tinha perdido o sentido correcto do jovem tom americano.
reflective
fast-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes