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slrsmith 's review for:
The Portrait of a Lady
by Henry James
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.