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A review by ricefun
The Children by Edith Wharton
4.0
I was immediately drawn to the main character of this lesser-known and later Wharton novel. Boyne felt authentic and interesting as a 40+ year old bachelor traveling to re-connect with a close friend. His interest in a large family of boisterous children belonging to former acquaintances is believable. And I'm even impressed by his conflicting emotions about their eldest daughter.
However, about half way through the novel I just couldn't keep the motivation to continue reading. I stopped caring about this never ending question of what will become of the children. And all of the various romances played out in unsatisfying ways. While I don't believe that a happy ending = a good ending, I do believe that Wharton ran out of steam and turned a very interesting leading character into a sad old man who isn't satisfied with his life choices. Not a favorite.
FUN NOTE: My personal copy, which I purchased through Better World Books, was bound at the Heckert Bindery located in N. Manchester, IN where I attended college. Many family and friends have worked for this now defunct bindery over the years and finding that connection was like gold in the midst of a pandemic.
However, about half way through the novel I just couldn't keep the motivation to continue reading. I stopped caring about this never ending question of what will become of the children. And all of the various romances played out in unsatisfying ways. While I don't believe that a happy ending = a good ending, I do believe that Wharton ran out of steam and turned a very interesting leading character into a sad old man who isn't satisfied with his life choices. Not a favorite.
FUN NOTE: My personal copy, which I purchased through Better World Books, was bound at the Heckert Bindery located in N. Manchester, IN where I attended college. Many family and friends have worked for this now defunct bindery over the years and finding that connection was like gold in the midst of a pandemic.