Reviews

Undine is a terrible person...and I just kept turning the page to see what nonsense she'd get into and out of next! As always with Edith Wharton the writing is great. Some of Undine's motivations are stated explicitly when they could have been left at subtext. But I don't see that as a weakness and, if anything, it mirrors Undine's loud character. She's unabashed in what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. It was a really funny book too and the satire is spot on. There were a few occasions where I chuckled out loud!

What makes this so good is that Undine is simple in her desires, but not made totally one-dimensional. You understand what lies beneath and we see the motivation of her actions even when Undine doesn't let herself feel them. And there are some very sad moments that I won't spoil here, but that add weight to Undine's decisions. This is her life that she's treating like a game and other people are left holding the cards.

Content Warnings

bourquesbookshelf's review against another edition

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funny informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gioia1's review

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4.25

undine apologist till the day i die

ehmannky's review against another edition

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challenging funny reflective slow-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

4.5

Undine has such "god forbid women do anything" energy, and it's enough to draw you into her petty dramas despite the fact she is the worst protagonist I've ever read a book about. All of Wharton's best books are when she's writing about the hypocrisies of the wealthy, New York-based society she lived in, and this book is no exception. You follow Undine, who has the brains and drive to thrive in the world of business but is condemned by her gender to frivolity and marriage, as she flits from husband to husband all in a desire to fill in a very distinctly American form of greed and desire for novelty. She's insensitive, she's shallow, she's greedy, and she lacks any feeling of true empathy, and she's such a compelling figure.

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