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Monday, May 16, 2005
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Book Review #2
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A Portrait of a Lady
by Henry James
I do not recommend this book to those that prefer dialogue to discription. Henry James is an author that puts a great deal of attention on detail. I found myself skipping almost whole chapters and still not missing a beat as far as the story goes. Personally, I was disappointed in the herione, but that may be because of my views on feminism.
Isabel Archer, an American 23yr-old orphan with high ideals and high expectations of the world, arrives in England where she meets with long-estranged family members. Her cousin, Ralph, proves to be a valuable companion and friendly adviser and her ailing uncle, who simply adores his young niece and, when he dies, he leaves her a large income.
Isabel now has beauty, wealth, intelligence, and friends who take a interest in helping her, yet she is self absorbed and seems to willfully embrace those that would destroy her, and shuns those that truly care for her. Scorning several "eligible" suitors, she fixes on a fortune hunter, despite the counsel of those dearest to her. She finds herself disillusioned and literally caught by a man who cares little for her. Faced with a decision that will change her life, the decision of deserting her husband and stepdaughter or continuing to live under the authority she has chosen for herself, she chooses what I'd call the right decision, in that it is biblically supported whereas the alternative would have left me greatly disappointed in her character. Many, I'm sure, would argue that a woman should never be trapped into such a marriage and should escape if she could, but this is a discussion/debate for other posts.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. Even though it frustrated me that it took so long to read through the simplest scenarios, it did keep me interested enough to finish the book. |
posted by cori
5/16/2005 12:54:00 PM
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| The ShugaBowl |
| Sounds like some kind of sports thing, but in reality, the ShugaBowl is just a little hideaway for me, Sugarcube herself, to let loose my thoughts and occasional creativeness. |
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