Reviews - The Portrait of a Lady

907 reviews for:

The Portrait of a Lady

Henry James

3.66 AVERAGE

waaariotime's review against another edition

3.0

challenging emotional 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

saramedici's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

booksandnothingcels's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lauradestefanis's review against another edition

4.5

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

charlote_1347's review against another edition

4.0

Until the time jump midway through the novel, I would quite happily have classed this as my next all-time-favourite book. I found myself relating to Isabel, which is unusual for me, and it was quite a pleasant feeling. I liked her interactions with Lord Warburton, Casper, Ralph and Osmond too. It was nice to be confronted with a story which did not base itself solely on romance and gushy feelings and love-at-first-sight. Everything about this novel in fact, all the relationships especially, was excellently explored. Detail was intricate and believable and Henry James, I honestly believe, is one of the best writers I have come across. It took serious concentration to understand and absorb his work but it was worth it. The time jump, however, jarred me. It was unpleasant to get so invested in Isabel's future and her ambitions and to be denied the very adventures I wanted to witness: her European visits, her year of travelling and observing human nature. Then the jump with her marriage - three years, I believe. It disconnected me emotionally because the span of time meant she'd changed to such a degree that it was hard to empathise with her without knowing all she'd been through and all that'd changed. Nonetheless, the writing and characterisation were both five star so it almost balances out.