A review by frogwithlittlehammer
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

challenging funny reflective slow-paced

5.0

Tbh… this guy gets women.

An example of how protean (in a great way) the verse of literal conversation is. I can see how Rooney is so deeply influenced by James. 

This story about a precocious woman deeply appealed to me. I can’t help but resonate with Isabel Archer, I loved her perception to others as a pegged defiant individualist, when really she is only doing what she thinks she ought to despite all she is wanting is love and happiness. 

A lot of the dialogue made my guts twist, like conversations with friends did. Henry James is sort of extremely cruel as an author and deus ex machina, but it makes it all the more delicious. I especially enjoyed that she was an American abroad (like me!) Remind me to never
fall into a large sum of money  and marry who I love
I wish I had more profound things to say but really I just loved reading it.