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jemsrb18 's review for:
The Enchanted April
by Elizabeth von Arnim
I felt so let down by this book when I finished it. I actually couldn't believe I had finished it because it felt so unfinished. I couldn't fathom that it would end with so much misogyny. I had been adoring the descriptions, the characterisations, and everything about the writing itself - this is why it's 2 stars, not 1 - but the plot was just so incredibly sexist. The women were victim blamed, the men were atoned for despite their lack of remorse, and the climax never even happened. I had my fingers crossed for some big comedy reveal to redeem the men and then... nope. Just a thoroughly sexist exchange and more victim blaming.
As other reviews have said, at the beginning the novel felt revolutionary! Women being independent! Pushing the boundaries of social norms and pursuing beautiful female friendships instead! I was so excited to read about the 4 women becoming friends and finding their worth outside of their relationships with men. I say this as a happily married 24 year old - I love marriage! I know wonderful men! I didn't love the marriages and men that were described. I wanted to read about the women finding strength in friendship, finding value in relationships outside of the approval of men. But that's not what happened.
Instead...they all return to their men, delightedly transformed after a few short weeks. Men who are, invariably, dishonest. Men who blame the unhappiness of their marriages solely on their wives and never, at any point, take responsibility for making them uncomfortable and scared. Men who pine, and womanise, and stalk them to Italy.
The women are all victim-blamed in this story, but Caroline most of all. My heart breaks for Caroline. I adored the idea of her, and what I was convinced would be made of her. She seemed to be a fierce and traumatised modern woman, overzealously guarding her rights to her own body and shutting good people out in her fear. I wanted to see her soften but strengthen, simultaneously. But instead, she just... gets over herself and falls in love with a creep. And this is presented as some kind of win.
Sure, maybe it was delightful in the 20s. But to a modern reader, this book should set off alarm bells. I'm actually stunned there are so many women giving this 5 stars and saying it's sweet and romantic. The difficulties women experience as they move through a patriarchal society are not merely the result of our own character flaws, as the novel clearly believes they are. Once we get over being grabbed at, and dismissed, and ignored, and just *love men anyway*, everything will be fine, right? Nope, and I can't enjoy books that imply this.
Some people may think it's unfair to hold old literature to modern standards. I disagree. I'll stick to Austen, to her masterfully underwhelming matches that perfectly show the reality of patriarchy for Regency women, without blaming them for their own misfortunes. Or, even better, to her masterfully modern men who realise their flaws, and put in the work, and hold error to account. But this? Nah. I'm good. This is just the groundwork for rape culture.
As other reviews have said, at the beginning the novel felt revolutionary! Women being independent! Pushing the boundaries of social norms and pursuing beautiful female friendships instead! I was so excited to read about the 4 women becoming friends and finding their worth outside of their relationships with men. I say this as a happily married 24 year old - I love marriage! I know wonderful men! I didn't love the marriages and men that were described. I wanted to read about the women finding strength in friendship, finding value in relationships outside of the approval of men. But that's not what happened.
Instead...they all return to their men, delightedly transformed after a few short weeks. Men who are, invariably, dishonest. Men who blame the unhappiness of their marriages solely on their wives and never, at any point, take responsibility for making them uncomfortable and scared. Men who pine, and womanise, and stalk them to Italy.
The women are all victim-blamed in this story, but Caroline most of all. My heart breaks for Caroline. I adored the idea of her, and what I was convinced would be made of her. She seemed to be a fierce and traumatised modern woman, overzealously guarding her rights to her own body and shutting good people out in her fear. I wanted to see her soften but strengthen, simultaneously. But instead, she just... gets over herself and falls in love with a creep. And this is presented as some kind of win.
Sure, maybe it was delightful in the 20s. But to a modern reader, this book should set off alarm bells. I'm actually stunned there are so many women giving this 5 stars and saying it's sweet and romantic. The difficulties women experience as they move through a patriarchal society are not merely the result of our own character flaws, as the novel clearly believes they are. Once we get over being grabbed at, and dismissed, and ignored, and just *love men anyway*, everything will be fine, right? Nope, and I can't enjoy books that imply this.
Some people may think it's unfair to hold old literature to modern standards. I disagree. I'll stick to Austen, to her masterfully underwhelming matches that perfectly show the reality of patriarchy for Regency women, without blaming them for their own misfortunes. Or, even better, to her masterfully modern men who realise their flaws, and put in the work, and hold error to account. But this? Nah. I'm good. This is just the groundwork for rape culture.