Reviews - The Age of Innocence

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3.5k reviews for:

The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton

3.89 AVERAGE

manus_books's review against another edition

3.0

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thirdcoast's review against another edition

5.0

I started to tear up describing the end of the book to my partner. It’s a slow build and as one sees how Archer is trapped in the mores of his society, one must admit how they are similarly fenced in by their own mores. The novel works so well due to Archer and Ellen never following through with their affair. If they had, the final scene with Archer in Paris would have no power.

hcube3's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful 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

sofia_mains's review against another edition

4.75

emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bruttidifosco's review against another edition

5.0

emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Archer sei un'idiota ed è tutta colpa tua.

Mi ha lasciato un po' di malinconia. Tra Ellen e Archer non succede quasi niente, ma ogni gesto, ogni sguardo, è carico di tutto quello che avrebbe potuto essere. Alla fine si allontanano perché è “giusto così”, ma non basta. Archer finisce per vivere una vita che non apprezza davvero, May resta con un uomo che non la ama, e tutti soffrono, schiacciati dai pregiudizi della società e dalle scelte che sembrano giuste ma che in realtà fanno solo male. Il finale poi è quella ciliegina sulla torta che ti spezza definitivamente il cuoricino.

" «Non posso, adesso, cambiare di nuovo modo di pensare. Non posso amarti se non rinuncio a te.» Le sue braccia la bramavano; ma lei si sottrasse, e rimasero a guardarsi, divisi dalla distanza che le parole avevano creato."

suzanjackson's review against another edition

4.0

My book group decided to read a classic this month (in fact, both of my book groups did!), and we chose Edith Wharton's Age of Innocence, an author I had never read before. It provided a nice escape during my vacation last week on the beach.

Winner of the 1921 Pulitzer Prize, The Age of Innocence is about a love triangle set in the 1870's high society of New York City. While I enjoyed it overall and can certainly see how Wharton's beautiful writing won the Pulitzer, I'm not generally a huge fan of period novels. I find I get a bit impatient with the characters, as their strict societal rules keep them from relating to each other honestly. Perhaps this is why I have still never read a Jane Austen novel (though I do still plan to).

Despite this (not Wharton's flaw but my own!), I did admire the way Wharton drew a picture of a long-lost time and place. She transported me back in time, and I had no trouble finishing the book. In fact, I enjoyed it enough that I've requested the DVD from the library.