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A review by ajsterkel
Daisy Miller by Henry James
challenging
sad
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
2.0
I've been reading a lot of Henry James recently, and I'm just not smart enough for his work. His books leave me bored and confused.
This one is about a young American man named Winterbourne who is traveling around Europe. On his travels, he meets Daisy Miller, another young American. They hang out a few times, but Daisy's behavior causes nonstop scandals. She loves to flirt and has several close male friends. A few of those friends may be trying to get her family's money, but she doesn't care. She just wants to have fun in Europe. She ignores all the warnings about her reputation. Winterbourne stops hanging out with her because it's social suicide. Then tragedy strikes.
I'm not smart enough to know what I was supposed to get out of this story. I wasn't entertained by it. Is it a warning to Americans who are traveling abroad for the first time? The book was published in the late 1800s, when it was fashionable for wealthy Americans to take extended European vacations. Daisy Miller is too American. She ignores local customs and doesn't think about her safety. She pays the price for it.
Or, maybe this book isn't about Daisy at all. Maybe it's about Winterbourne. At the end, it seems like he regrets ending his friendship with Daisy because she got herself into trouble after he left. Is it a story about regret? I have no idea.
I don't understand this book.
This one is about a young American man named Winterbourne who is traveling around Europe. On his travels, he meets Daisy Miller, another young American. They hang out a few times, but Daisy's behavior causes nonstop scandals. She loves to flirt and has several close male friends. A few of those friends may be trying to get her family's money, but she doesn't care. She just wants to have fun in Europe. She ignores all the warnings about her reputation. Winterbourne stops hanging out with her because it's social suicide. Then tragedy strikes.
I'm not smart enough to know what I was supposed to get out of this story. I wasn't entertained by it. Is it a warning to Americans who are traveling abroad for the first time? The book was published in the late 1800s, when it was fashionable for wealthy Americans to take extended European vacations. Daisy Miller is too American. She ignores local customs and doesn't think about her safety. She pays the price for it.
Or, maybe this book isn't about Daisy at all. Maybe it's about Winterbourne. At the end, it seems like he regrets ending his friendship with Daisy because she got herself into trouble after he left. Is it a story about regret? I have no idea.
I don't understand this book.