Reviews

The Bostonians by Henry James

bwood95's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

lizawall's review against another edition

5.0

I read this book because I just moved to Boston and hoped it would give me a sense of atmosphere, which it did. I was not expecting it to be as hilarious as it was. Unfortunately the humor tones down a little bit after the first hundred pages. It starts out absolutely ruthless but then you get the sense he maybe relented a little, because after all he loves these Bostonians, doesn't he? And so do we. (Or if you don't, you might be heartless.) Anyway, as the humor starts to fade the book becomes completely gripping in a dramatic way, so it is a win-win. Have you ever had friends or maybe even people you don't like very much who, for some reason, enter your consciousness such that even their smallest gestures or off-handed comments seem extremely significant, even urgent, fraught with a kind of meaning that points way beyond themselves? That's how these characters are, I think. (Maybe all Henry James?) And I guess I could see how it could get tiresome for some people, but I disagree with them. So, anyway, I read this book on the edge of my seat and was blown away at the end.

tiimothynguyen's review against another edition

3.0

Quite an interesting book to read for one of my English literature modules whilst studying in the UK. One of the most intriguing moments for me in this book was the concept of 'Boston Marriages' and its relation to homosexual relations for women in the 19th century.

Another interesting thing about it was the idea of bisexuality that is presented within the book through the character of Verena and how it ties bisexuality with political ideologies of conservatism and liberalism.

Yeah, I had to read this for class but I didn't expect to truly use for an English final essay for my module. Regardless, I'm glad that studying English literature in the UK has allowed me to broaden my reading

gioferrazzi's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

3.5

ilaria1999's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

fiction_queen's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

4.25

capodoglio's review against another edition

Read in four days for an exam, nightmarish deed.

A way to conclude, somewhat posthumously, a year (2008) in which I read half a dozen of Henry's novels and a still greater number of his short stories.

coralinejonesss's review against another edition

1.0

Absolutely could not get into it, and I like Henry James. Bleurgh - every character is absolutely insufferable, James's handling of the early Feminist topic material is sigh-worthy, and after 5 hours into the audio book with 12 hours left I flew the white flag. Oh my god what a despicably dreary book to get through....

leelulah's review against another edition

challenging tense 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

3.25

As far as the narrative goes it's two cousins fighting for the allegiance of a girl who carefully seeks to never displease anyone, and the stakes are high. But everyone is selfish and doesn't really consider the girl's actual opinions in question, though it's debatable whether she has any. 

lindseysparks's review against another edition

1.0

This is my second time trying to read this satire of the women's suffrage movement. I just could not connect with it and from the reading the other reviews it seems like you either like it from the start or hate it. The writing was not nearly as good as in Portrait of a Lady, or even Daisy Miller or The Turn of the Screw. I'm also probably not the right audience for this. This is also the first time I've ever struggled with reading a font in a book. My Penguin edition uses Octavian font, which is so hard to read!!! I'm not sure I could have finished this edition even if I had decided to finish the book. I really hate not finishing a classic, but even Henry James isn't going to hit it out off the park every time and he's not someone I have a goal of reading all of their works so I'm calling it quits.