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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
This book was so hard to get through - I fell asleep multiple times while listening to it and had to rewind. It did pick up towards the end.
Brilliant. Devastating. Eloquent. Sharp. A perfect novel, perhaps?
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I begun reading I was constantly comparing it to [b:The Age of Innocence|53835|The Age of Innocence|Edith Wharton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388248423l/53835._SY75_.jpg|1959512], my first Wharton, but now I've completed The House of Mirth, I can say that personally, this far suppresses my initial thoughts. The direct comment on the constitution of high class New York society in the early 19th century is courageous, and Wharton's gentle moments are so beautiful.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I completely understand why this is considered Wharton's masterpiece. With the character of Lily Bart, she delves so completely into the inner workings of a woman struggling to survive in the elitist society of the era. She is almost a sister character to Ellen Olenska of The Age of Innocence (my other favorite Wharton), but Lily has much less money to work with and is much more fully realized. Instead of an ideal seen through the eyes of a male character, like Ellen is, Lily is firmly the protagonist here. Although we see her through the objectifying eyes of men once in a while, more often than not we are in her head, seeing how she constructs her persona and outer self to gain power in her culture. The House of Mirth has the most developed cast of characters of any Wharton novel, with numerous side characters like Selden, Rosedale, and Gerty all have fully realized inner lives. The constant financial transactions and discussions of money in the novel give the upper crust an even darker underbelly than in Wharton's previous novels. The House of Mirth is simply riveting.
Jonge vrouw is slachtoffer van haar omgeving. Dat het plaatje met Whartons On decorating houses klopt, is extra mooi.
reflective
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
In one of her most famous books, Edith Wharton interrogates class, integrity and sense of self. The House of Mirth is a brilliant novel that is, among other things, a sharp social satire, a fascinating, nuanced character study and a relevant commentary on our own times.
Wharton is a naturally precise and witty writer who shines in moments of subtle critique. Her criticisms of early 1900s society are not such vicious lacerations to come across blunt or mean spirited; Wharton's criticisms are matter of fact, succinct, logical. She skillfully exposes the hypocrisy and self-delusion of her characters in small interactions or moments of introspection. It feels less like Wharton is telling you the correct conclusions, and more like she is she is revealing them through demonstration; as a novelist should.
At the center of Wharton's story is Lily Bart, a woman as complex and contradictory as the inner workings of the society she inhabits. Lily's characterization feels surprisingly modern because her psychological burdens are of more intimate knowledge to the reader than most other classic characters. It is Lily's presence, and the modernity of all of her psychology and complexity laid bare, that keeps this novel engaging. Lily is the main attraction, if she wasn't there to center the story, the whole novel would fall apart. She holds attention far more than any passing individual observation or witty exchange. In the end, Wharton understands that "society" (or more specifically early 20th century society) is not some nebulous idea, but a system that affects real, emotion-filled people, such as Lily Bart.
In perspective with our current time, The House of Mirth is surprisingly relevant. The rich of Lily's world are in some ways not unlike modern day internet celebrities; each are groups of people who the rest of the world obsesses over, and who themselves are frantic to maintain their status, but who are often ultimately unhappy and personally unfulfilled. Although the circumstances are of course different, I imagine that many celebrities have similar internal struggles to Lily; how much would they be willing to sacrifice morally for a place in the celebrity pantheon? The reader sees throughout the novel how various characters, primarily Lily, navigate the precarious and artificial space of class culture and manufactured celebrity.
A prime novel and superior classic, it deserves to be read forever. Read it, re-read it, teach it in class. I would love to encounter this in the classroom, as I suspect would many other students. This is the kind of book that makes people fall in love with reading.
(P.S. The introduction to my edition, which is my Mom's copy and so a bit old, has an introduction by Cynthia Griffin-Wolff which is.... not quality. If you happen to have my edition, don't read it, it's a total waste of time.)
Wharton is a naturally precise and witty writer who shines in moments of subtle critique. Her criticisms of early 1900s society are not such vicious lacerations to come across blunt or mean spirited; Wharton's criticisms are matter of fact, succinct, logical. She skillfully exposes the hypocrisy and self-delusion of her characters in small interactions or moments of introspection. It feels less like Wharton is telling you the correct conclusions, and more like she is she is revealing them through demonstration; as a novelist should.
At the center of Wharton's story is Lily Bart, a woman as complex and contradictory as the inner workings of the society she inhabits. Lily's characterization feels surprisingly modern because her psychological burdens are of more intimate knowledge to the reader than most other classic characters. It is Lily's presence, and the modernity of all of her psychology and complexity laid bare, that keeps this novel engaging. Lily is the main attraction, if she wasn't there to center the story, the whole novel would fall apart. She holds attention far more than any passing individual observation or witty exchange. In the end, Wharton understands that "society" (or more specifically early 20th century society) is not some nebulous idea, but a system that affects real, emotion-filled people, such as Lily Bart.
In perspective with our current time, The House of Mirth is surprisingly relevant. The rich of Lily's world are in some ways not unlike modern day internet celebrities; each are groups of people who the rest of the world obsesses over, and who themselves are frantic to maintain their status, but who are often ultimately unhappy and personally unfulfilled. Although the circumstances are of course different, I imagine that many celebrities have similar internal struggles to Lily; how much would they be willing to sacrifice morally for a place in the celebrity pantheon? The reader sees throughout the novel how various characters, primarily Lily, navigate the precarious and artificial space of class culture and manufactured celebrity.
A prime novel and superior classic, it deserves to be read forever. Read it, re-read it, teach it in class. I would love to encounter this in the classroom, as I suspect would many other students. This is the kind of book that makes people fall in love with reading.
(P.S. The introduction to my edition, which is my Mom's copy and so a bit old, has an introduction by Cynthia Griffin-Wolff which is.... not quality. If you happen to have my edition, don't read it, it's a total waste of time.)
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes