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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
it was mean of u, henry james to make me read that many pages and give me such an unexplainable ending. bye henry. as a punishment i shall read all of hardy before i touch ur page long paragraphs again. farewell, i dislike you.
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Interesting book, although I had a hard time getting through it. It was extremely well written and I felt it was worth ready since I had never read any James books before. Not sure if it was the style of time, but I had a hard time connecting with or even really caring about any of the characters, which is why I found it a hard slog through the book.
Beyond the writing, which really was great in places, I enjoyed the view of American expats in the 19th century kicking around Europe.
Beyond the writing, which really was great in places, I enjoyed the view of American expats in the 19th century kicking around Europe.
This book is a character study about a woman who comes into money and values her freedom, but ironically chooses a husband who marries for money and limits her freedom. It uses travel and social gatherings as plot devices to further develop the characters. It was published in 1881, so be prepared for lengthy sentences written in the style of a past era. Makes me glad I didn't live back then.
Henry James is one of my favorite American authors, so it is a wonder that it took me so long to read this novel. Portrait of a Lady is a wonderful piece about a young American girl who has inherited a vast fortune, and details her choices with her new found financial freedom. The language is beautiful, the imagery is vivid, and the dialogue is gripping.
However, the pace of the overall plot does not really pick up until you are little more than halfway done.
James does an admirable job of illustrating how much the heroine, Isabel Archer, desires her freedom; this freedom precludes marriage since that is a bond that she does not want attached to her. Because the majority of the book is spent detailing this, including two rejected marriage proposals, the quick change in Isabel’s character is almost inexplicable, and happens so fast you might miss it if you blink.
This shift was welcome because if I spent any more time hearing how much Isabel did not want to marry I might have shed a tear. But then I did shed tears of frustration once we learned that the girl’s choice in suitor was devised by a seemingly good friend. It seemed almost devised since I spent 300 pages of reading how she was going to be the archetypal single lady, but then again, Isabel’s character allows for that. If she had been the narrator (the story is told through the eyes of an omniscient observer), I would have doubted the entire plot because she is the type of character to say one thing and completely mean another; not quite a liar, but not quite a truther either. But because of this innocent deceit that the narrator explains to the reader, I can see why Isabel would make such a decision and fall for such a plot.
To put it bluntly…she falls for the 19th-century f**k boy. The most frustrating thing about Isabel, in my opinion, is that she is a modern character, a modern woman. She has the desire for freedom, for enterprise, for self-expression without sacrifice, but not with a lot of foresight. Which is how she would be led so easily to such a disastrous marriage.
The ambiguous ending seems to have solidified itself in more current opinions. A good deal of people will say that she went back to her husband at the end of the book for whatever noble or prideful reasons she had. Initially, I am inclined to agree with that. Though, taking into account the true gem of Isabel’s nature, she does have the power and will and drive to be independent. So does her thirst for independence, especially knowing that everyone supports that choice, outweigh her pride and reverence for matrimony? This is the question that keeps me coming back to thinking about the novel even though I finished it weeks ago.
It’s a masterpiece and the beginning of an era where authors delve into the psyche of their characters beyond the basic wants and needs. It’s a long book, and the language is a bit steep, though not complicated, so I would recommend you take your time to truly appreciate it. Most of the characters are endearing, some of them disturbing, and there are plot twists towards the end that make you say, “I knew it!” but you are delighted at the outcome anyway. It’s a perfect summer read! Give it a go.
However, the pace of the overall plot does not really pick up until you are little more than halfway done.
James does an admirable job of illustrating how much the heroine, Isabel Archer, desires her freedom; this freedom precludes marriage since that is a bond that she does not want attached to her. Because the majority of the book is spent detailing this, including two rejected marriage proposals, the quick change in Isabel’s character is almost inexplicable, and happens so fast you might miss it if you blink.
This shift was welcome because if I spent any more time hearing how much Isabel did not want to marry I might have shed a tear. But then I did shed tears of frustration once we learned that the girl’s choice in suitor was devised by a seemingly good friend. It seemed almost devised since I spent 300 pages of reading how she was going to be the archetypal single lady, but then again, Isabel’s character allows for that. If she had been the narrator (the story is told through the eyes of an omniscient observer), I would have doubted the entire plot because she is the type of character to say one thing and completely mean another; not quite a liar, but not quite a truther either. But because of this innocent deceit that the narrator explains to the reader, I can see why Isabel would make such a decision and fall for such a plot.
To put it bluntly…she falls for the 19th-century f**k boy. The most frustrating thing about Isabel, in my opinion, is that she is a modern character, a modern woman. She has the desire for freedom, for enterprise, for self-expression without sacrifice, but not with a lot of foresight. Which is how she would be led so easily to such a disastrous marriage.
The ambiguous ending seems to have solidified itself in more current opinions. A good deal of people will say that she went back to her husband at the end of the book for whatever noble or prideful reasons she had. Initially, I am inclined to agree with that. Though, taking into account the true gem of Isabel’s nature, she does have the power and will and drive to be independent. So does her thirst for independence, especially knowing that everyone supports that choice, outweigh her pride and reverence for matrimony? This is the question that keeps me coming back to thinking about the novel even though I finished it weeks ago.
It’s a masterpiece and the beginning of an era where authors delve into the psyche of their characters beyond the basic wants and needs. It’s a long book, and the language is a bit steep, though not complicated, so I would recommend you take your time to truly appreciate it. Most of the characters are endearing, some of them disturbing, and there are plot twists towards the end that make you say, “I knew it!” but you are delighted at the outcome anyway. It’s a perfect summer read! Give it a go.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So many sentences & some of them so obscure. Such drama at the end! I hate the Hardy-like ellipses of major plot points. It feels violating in a sort of ticklish way. I felt like I was looking at all of the characters through a veil except for the last 50 pages. I wish the book would have gone on for 200 more.
challenging
mysterious
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