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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Someone else mentioned that this book was impossible to put down, no matter how devastating it became and that is exactly how I felt. At the beginning I did not like Isabel Archer's arrogance but by the end I pitied her. She was just as much imprisoned by the institution of marriage as Pansy was caught by the father/daughter relationship. If only Isabel hadn't been so arrogant about her choice of spouse at the beginning, she would have led a much happier life...
I ended at like page 386 or something. I stopped when i realized I didn't at all like the story and because my sister almost took it to the library, I've had it so long (and it was on the going out pile) (yes I have a going out pile of books). I completely agree with her cousin (forgot his name) I think she could have married somebody better. Not money wise but I imagined the guy to sweep her off her feet would be somebody who probably actually sweeped her off her feet, or be so kind and caring the pages crinkle. I know in real life what happened probably would be it (He meets the guy through her friends, they get married.....) I feel like the author didn't want to jump into the stream with everyone else; wanted to do something different, something that'd stand out. Instead she produced the opposite effect. A book so ordinary, I felt the summary was overreacted. I find that kind of lazy that she didn't that the chance to make the guy better and make a twist or somehting.
That brings me to the herione. I didn't like her. I know when they explained that she was vain in some things and explained her behavior, I just took her as a stuck up priss who wanted everything. Then she (im guessing; havent read that part) married Osomond (or what his name is), a man so plain and 1 dimensional! Moving on.
I loved the daughter! Im glad she wasn't killed in the story like my other two favorite characters! I mean, I was just loving the father when he uped and died!! Then farther in the story, the son uped and died! I guess the author didn't know what to do with them so she killed him!
i'll probably not read another book by this author. I'll stick to Jane Austen. Three stars to my three fav characters.
That brings me to the herione. I didn't like her. I know when they explained that she was vain in some things and explained her behavior, I just took her as a stuck up priss who wanted everything. Then she (im guessing; havent read that part) married Osomond (or what his name is), a man so plain and 1 dimensional! Moving on.
I loved the daughter! Im glad she wasn't killed in the story like my other two favorite characters! I mean, I was just loving the father when he uped and died!! Then farther in the story, the son uped and died! I guess the author didn't know what to do with them so she killed him!
i'll probably not read another book by this author. I'll stick to Jane Austen. Three stars to my three fav characters.
Hard to get into but the ending was brilliant. Not sure it merits the time spent reading, but an interesting historical look at marriage vs. love.
Portretul unei doamne este un roman al cărui acțiune era destul de previzibilă la început, dar despre care nu știam în ce direcție se va îndrepta odată ce am trecut de jumătatea cărții. Isabel, aproape arogantă în mândria și încăpățânarea sa, cade într-o capcană bine gândită, iar felul în care personajul este construit la început m-a făcut să consider că aceasta-și merită soarta. Totuși, odată cu trecerea timpului și cu evenimentele ce au loc, Isabel începe să arate și o altă latură a sa, dar păstrează eleganța și rafinamentul de care a dat dovadă de la bun început.
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I confess, The Portrait of a Lady was not enthralling. I enjoyed it more towards the end, but I just could not get inside James' world. I loved The Turn of the Screw when I read it, so I don't really understand myself. Maybe I'll try some more of his works someday and see if Lady was just a fluke.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finishing this feels like an accomplishment similar to ascending a mountain successfully. It is a very long book and at times fails to be captivating which made me take almost 20 days to finish it. But i am glad i am done with this book. It is a little different from other books that fall into this genre of Drama. In the sense the main character is very unique in her thinking, actions and behavior; While there are other heriones from other books who gave themselves heart and soul into debauchery at the slightest trigger,this one Isabel Archer proves loyal to her wicked husband.
Rating: 3.5/5
A young girl comes into a sudden inheritance of seventy thousand pounds when her uncle dies. Her cousin plays a part behind the scenes in convincing his father to bequeath his share of fortune to her so that she would have a life of freedom. Having no experience handling money nor knowing much of the world that is pretentious and wicked, she falls victim to a man(and his friend) who wooes her into marriage for her money. The truth unravels and she finds out how the man and his friend(whom she had idealized much in the past) hoodwinked her and tricked her into the alliance. She also learns what kind of a relationship existed between them once that made this act of capturing necessary. Prior to her marriage, she had two notable suitors - one a lord of england and another a successful businessman from united states. She rejects both of them and they loyally stick around for her affections for a long time - until the end of the story..and i guess even beyond that if this were real and not a tale of fiction. I felt the story to be a little dragging at times and liked most of the sequences of the plotline except the ending. Despite knowing the truth about her husband and what fate awaits her, knowing how her life could turn to better if she accepted Mr.Goodwood, Isabel makes a choice i honestly dont think is smart. Her claim for being unique is even though she is not beautiful or knowledgeable of the world - but has brains, ideas and plenty of imagination. I think all of her positive traits deserted her in the time of her most need - at the end of the novel.
Rating: 3.5/5
A young girl comes into a sudden inheritance of seventy thousand pounds when her uncle dies. Her cousin plays a part behind the scenes in convincing his father to bequeath his share of fortune to her so that she would have a life of freedom. Having no experience handling money nor knowing much of the world that is pretentious and wicked, she falls victim to a man(and his friend) who wooes her into marriage for her money. The truth unravels and she finds out how the man and his friend(whom she had idealized much in the past) hoodwinked her and tricked her into the alliance. She also learns what kind of a relationship existed between them once that made this act of capturing necessary. Prior to her marriage, she had two notable suitors - one a lord of england and another a successful businessman from united states. She rejects both of them and they loyally stick around for her affections for a long time - until the end of the story..and i guess even beyond that if this were real and not a tale of fiction. I felt the story to be a little dragging at times and liked most of the sequences of the plotline except the ending. Despite knowing the truth about her husband and what fate awaits her, knowing how her life could turn to better if she accepted Mr.Goodwood, Isabel makes a choice i honestly dont think is smart. Her claim for being unique is even though she is not beautiful or knowledgeable of the world - but has brains, ideas and plenty of imagination. I think all of her positive traits deserted her in the time of her most need - at the end of the novel.
I love Isabella Archer. I hate everything that happens to her.
Really not sure how to rate this one - I've settled on 3 stars but I'm not sure I can explain why.
Things that bugged me:
Henry James seems to have an inordinate fondness for the word "desultory" but perhaps this is apt as it seems a good word to describe the book itself. Anyhow, it got to the point where I had almost promised myself that if he should use that word again I should stop reading. I somehow got past it however.
Our heroine. I found the constant train of admirers incomprehensible as I could not for the life of me understand what about her was apparently so wonderful and original. Apart from the one who only wanted her for her money. That I understood.
This book was apparently shocking when it was new but of course, to modern readers, there is nothing remotely shocking here. It just seemed to me a bit thin on plot and lacking emotional depth. The only character I felt any sympathy for was good cousin Ralph.
In all, there was plenty that rubbed me the wrong way in this novel but I still felt compelled to finish it. For all its faults I enjoyed it.
Things that bugged me:
Henry James seems to have an inordinate fondness for the word "desultory" but perhaps this is apt as it seems a good word to describe the book itself. Anyhow, it got to the point where I had almost promised myself that if he should use that word again I should stop reading. I somehow got past it however.
Our heroine. I found the constant train of admirers incomprehensible as I could not for the life of me understand what about her was apparently so wonderful and original. Apart from the one who only wanted her for her money. That I understood.
This book was apparently shocking when it was new but of course, to modern readers, there is nothing remotely shocking here. It just seemed to me a bit thin on plot and lacking emotional depth. The only character I felt any sympathy for was good cousin Ralph.
In all, there was plenty that rubbed me the wrong way in this novel but I still felt compelled to finish it. For all its faults I enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book if you like:
- Extremely entitled and capricious main protagonist ;
- Very poor decision making ;
- Claustrophobia from being inside a character’s dull head for so many pages ;
- A true effort to convince the reader that Isabel is interesting (EVERY man is love with her, isn’t that the best proof??) while giving her the enticing personality of a plastic chair ;
- People that just sit around to discuss things and never resolve anything ;
- Pointless thoughts, interminable dives into internalized masochism and the queen of denial ;
- A character study from someone that writes like he has never met a woman in his life (or just insufferable ones) ;
- The “I’m not like other girls” of Victorian era.
No offence to Henry James but I was bored out of my mind by this book and never want to read something like this ever again. I can’t remember the last time I disliked a main character that much.
- Extremely entitled and capricious main protagonist ;
- Very poor decision making ;
- Claustrophobia from being inside a character’s dull head for so many pages ;
- A true effort to convince the reader that Isabel is interesting (EVERY man is love with her, isn’t that the best proof??) while giving her the enticing personality of a plastic chair ;
- People that just sit around to discuss things and never resolve anything ;
- Pointless thoughts, interminable dives into internalized masochism and the queen of denial ;
- A character study from someone that writes like he has never met a woman in his life (or just insufferable ones) ;
- The “I’m not like other girls” of Victorian era.
No offence to Henry James but I was bored out of my mind by this book and never want to read something like this ever again. I can’t remember the last time I disliked a main character that much.