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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I wanted to give this book higher stars since I generally adore classics, but this book was just too depressing.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting read with an immersive atmosphere and an intriguing protagonist.
A book not so splendid as The Age of Innocence with a quite depressing ending.
Should have written this review when the book was still fresh in my mind. Mainly I remember hating the ending. I saw it coming and I hated it. Did Ms. Wharton actually think that an accidental overdose was the better alternative to marrying someone who doesn't have much money? I know that's not what she's saying. She was a feminist before her time. But it just left me with such a hollow feeling. Dismal feeling. Downer big time. Marred any love I had for the book. And just where did the title come from? The House of Mirth indeed. I should look it up but I'm too lazy.
For book club. Only got through first 100 pages. Not a time period that really interests me that much. Book club discussion was interesting though. Classic tragedy, women's lives as having running themes of passivity, existing just out of reach of the solution to your problems and not having the ability to name or understand what it is that is causing your dissatisfaction with life.
This is why you shouldn't get attached to nice things. It doesn't end well. Poor Lily.
I first started this book about six years ago and have tried to finish it on several occasions. I'm glad I took the time to reread and finally finish the book. I've never been a fan of tragedies and traject flawed characters, but for some reason I kept coming back to this book. Despite my frustration with the characters, I did feel invested in their story and its outcome.
Shallow rich people drink tea while alternately scheming, gossiping, getting bored and scorning each other.
To be serious:
- The writing was great.
- The book was too stretched out with inconsequential never-ending dialogues, the point of which was either to climb the social ladder or to give a slight. The book could have easily been half the size.
- All of the characters were unlikable. For most of the book, it was uncomfortable to read about these double-faced, back-stabbing, mercenary, haughty people. They were well-written and felt very real, but still, I longed for at least one good person to root for.
- By the end of the book, I learned to appreciate Lily Bart's character, as the novel followed her descent. I was even going to give it a higher rating, but the ending ruined everything for me.
I think Edith Wharton did a great job creating a realistic character in Lily. A woman who wanted luxury she couldn't afford, craved admiration and a life of uninterrupted leisure, thought she was better than everyone else even while leeching off of their resources. She scorned the people she borrowed money from, refused every marriage proposal thinking she could do better, basically told the whole society to fuck off. Being beautiful and charming she could pull this off, but at thirty it started to backfire. Lily doesn't take the hint and keeps digging herself a grave.
We follow her downfall, as she becomes progressively indebted, a social pariah, moves to a tiny room, seeks employment, unsuccessfully pursues the men she once refused to marry, and they politely pretend to be sad about being 'unable' to be with her now. BUT THAT MELODRAMATIC ENDING!!!!! We know Lily wasn't a paragon of nobility and doubted to the last second if she should return her debts, she didn't blackmail Bertha only because that would spoil the imaginary chance for a marriage she wanted to preserve, etc etc.
But at the very end, Wharton for some reason does a 180 and depicts a melodramatic death/half-suicide, and everyone who scorned Lily supposedly feels bad and regrets turning away from her, she gets a Romeo-and-Juliet kind of moment with a dude who 'suddenly realized' he loved her, and Lily looks so unbecomingly angelic. This made me angry. It felt stupid and contrary to the whole story. Am I supposed to feel bad? Because boohoo heaven forbid one would stoop to live in anything but absolute luxury - of course, it's an unbearable nightmare and requires suicide. Not to mention Lily had a million chances to easily avoid that, but her arrogance prevented her. She got what was coming to her. And it could have come faster if the book wasn't so drawn out.
To be serious:
- The writing was great.
- The book was too stretched out with inconsequential never-ending dialogues, the point of which was either to climb the social ladder or to give a slight. The book could have easily been half the size.
- All of the characters were unlikable. For most of the book, it was uncomfortable to read about these double-faced, back-stabbing, mercenary, haughty people. They were well-written and felt very real, but still, I longed for at least one good person to root for.
- By the end of the book, I learned to appreciate Lily Bart's character, as the novel followed her descent. I was even going to give it a higher rating, but the ending ruined everything for me.
We follow her downfall, as she becomes progressively indebted, a social pariah, moves to a tiny room, seeks employment, unsuccessfully pursues the men she once refused to marry, and they politely pretend to be sad about being 'unable' to be with her now. BUT THAT MELODRAMATIC ENDING!!!!! We know Lily wasn't a paragon of nobility and doubted to the last second if she should return her debts, she didn't blackmail Bertha only because that would spoil the imaginary chance for a marriage she wanted to preserve, etc etc.
But at the very end, Wharton for some reason does a 180 and depicts a melodramatic death/half-suicide, and everyone who scorned Lily supposedly feels bad and regrets turning away from her, she gets a Romeo-and-Juliet kind of moment with a dude who 'suddenly realized' he loved her, and Lily looks so unbecomingly angelic. This made me angry. It felt stupid and contrary to the whole story. Am I supposed to feel bad? Because boohoo heaven forbid one would stoop to live in anything but absolute luxury - of course, it's an unbearable nightmare and requires suicide. Not to mention Lily had a million chances to easily avoid that, but her arrogance prevented her. She got what was coming to her. And it could have come faster if the book wasn't so drawn out.
It was interesting at first, but then it got boring for me