mrears0_0's review against another edition
challenging
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
if it’s a portrait of a lady why do I know nothing about her
annemariewellswriter's review against another edition
3.0
It was a drama that kept me interested to know what was going to happen next.
***Spoilers***
That being said, I hate a good cliffhanger. I hate not knowing - does she go back to her shitty husband because she promised his mistress's daughter that she would? Or does she go back to rescue the daughter from her shitty father and return to Goodman? I hate not knowing.
***Spoilers***
That being said, I hate a good cliffhanger. I hate not knowing - does she go back to her shitty husband because she promised his mistress's daughter that she would? Or does she go back to rescue the daughter from her shitty father and return to Goodman? I hate not knowing.
kellysavagebooks's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
r1ta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
knees_n_toes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
anaphabetic's review against another edition
3.0
The Portrait of a Lady had me confused all the while I was reading it. As a matter of fact, it still has me confused. This novel gives me all kind of ambiguous and contradictory sensations, and I’m still not sure what to make of it.
One of top reviews here in Goodreads compares the experience of reading this book to the one of going to the gym after a long, tiresome day, and I find the metaphor only too fitting. This novel, with its 500 pages, took me so long to read, mainly because picking it up was a kind of sacrifice; it’s a hard, dense book that often drags. And here is where the first contradiction appears, because it’s a book that for me was extremely hard to start, but also extremely hard to put down . The ultra-descriptive style of Henry James makes for both a nuisance and a delight. Once you have gathered the strength of will necessary to choose reading it over, let’s say, watching an episode of your favourite show, the book becomes a pleasure to read. For instance, the first part, with its luxurious and detailed account of the quiet life at Gardencourt, transmits such a sense of calm and coziness that I couldn’t help but feel warm and fuzzy.
The main contradiction I find in The Portrait is that I can’t decide whether I’m reading a proto-feminist piece or a traditionally misogynist one. On one hand, the character of Isabel is so modern; she’s alive with curiosity, intellectual inquiries, and a refreshing appreciation for her freedom. Most of her suitors and her cousin Ralph seem to be delighted with her uncanny personality. On the other hand, some characters, especially the odious Gilbert Osmond, seem to find she has “way too many ideas of her own”. And it would be easy to declare these ideas as proto-feminist, because most of the misogynistic vibes comefrom “the bad team” characters. However, the problem is that at times there’s a slight feeling of judgement passed on Isabel and her attitude, subtle and not explicitly shown. I’m still trying to make my mind about this one.
Despite all these contradictions, I still enjoyed the novel, and would recommend it to those interested in the peculiar way of writing, and Henry James’ use of character development. And one last thing: Ralph Touchett <3.
She had long before this taken old Rome into her confidence, for in a world of ruins the ruin of her happiness seemed a less unnatural catastrophe.
One of top reviews here in Goodreads compares the experience of reading this book to the one of going to the gym after a long, tiresome day, and I find the metaphor only too fitting. This novel, with its 500 pages, took me so long to read, mainly because picking it up was a kind of sacrifice; it’s a hard, dense book that often drags. And here is where the first contradiction appears, because it’s a book that for me was extremely hard to start, but also extremely hard to put down . The ultra-descriptive style of Henry James makes for both a nuisance and a delight. Once you have gathered the strength of will necessary to choose reading it over, let’s say, watching an episode of your favourite show, the book becomes a pleasure to read. For instance, the first part, with its luxurious and detailed account of the quiet life at Gardencourt, transmits such a sense of calm and coziness that I couldn’t help but feel warm and fuzzy.
She was always planning out her development, desiring her perfection, observing her progress. Her nature had, in her conceit, a certain garden-like quality, suggestions of perfume and murmuring boughs, of shady bowers and lengthening vistas, which made her feel that introspection was, after all, an exercise in the open air, and that a visit to the recesses of one’s spirit was harmless when one returned from it with a lapful of roses.
The main contradiction I find in The Portrait is that I can’t decide whether I’m reading a proto-feminist piece or a traditionally misogynist one. On one hand, the character of Isabel is so modern; she’s alive with curiosity, intellectual inquiries, and a refreshing appreciation for her freedom. Most of her suitors and her cousin Ralph seem to be delighted with her uncanny personality. On the other hand, some characters, especially the odious Gilbert Osmond, seem to find she has “way too many ideas of her own”. And it would be easy to declare these ideas as proto-feminist, because most of the misogynistic vibes comefrom “the bad team” characters. However, the problem is that at times there’s a slight feeling of judgement passed on Isabel and her attitude, subtle and not explicitly shown. I’m still trying to make my mind about this one.
The real offence, as she ultimately perceived, was her having a mind of her own at all. Her mind was to be his – attached to his own like a small garden plot to a deer-park. He would rake the soil gently and water the flowers; he would weed the bed and gather an occasional nosegay. It would be a pretty piece of property for a proprietor already far-reaching. He didn’t wish her to be stupid. On the contrary, it was because she was clever that she had pleased him. But he expected her intelligence to operate altogether in his favour, and so far from desiring her to be a blank he had flattered himself that it would be richly receptive. He had expected his wife to feel with him and for him, to enter into his opinions, his ambitions, his preferences.
Despite all these contradictions, I still enjoyed the novel, and would recommend it to those interested in the peculiar way of writing, and Henry James’ use of character development. And one last thing: Ralph Touchett <3.
talina's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it but it was hard to feel like all these proposals and marriages weren’t just plot devices. No one had any chemistry and so it was difficult to understand why this woman was beating them off with a stick and yet they kept coming back.
Interesting themes and very well written though.
Interesting themes and very well written though.
mvatza57's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
karaklos's review against another edition
2.0
Phew I’m so glad to be done with The Portrait of a Lady. While there are some beautiful and clever pieces of writing, it is a painfully slow and tedious book with a pretty light plot.
The premise is interesting…a sort of social experiment where a young, broke woman named Isabel is given a fortune and can live freely without marrying if she so chooses. I was excited to learn what she would choose to do with her life. Unfortunately the spirited young woman we meet in the beginning does not in any way resemble the woman at the end of the book.
The narrator is a third person omniscient narrator who likes to make the reader wait before he reveals what will happen. The narrator’s voice is condescending and judging. Big events like engagements, marriages, and deaths happen and the reader is told after the fact as if these events were not important.
I became very annoyed with every man falling in love with Isabel. There is a whole chapter dedicated to Isabel’s ego…how smart and great she thinks she is (the narrator tells us otherwise). I wish Henry James had shown us her folly instead of just telling us. All of Isabel’s confidence vanishes into thin air as the book progresses.
I don’t feel that James understood women enough to create believable characters. By the end, all of the women capitulated into what society expected of them contradicting their original characters completely.
I enjoyed the psychological elements to the story but would have enjoyed it more edited down. The pacing of the last 15% of the book was much quicker and the story more engaging; however, I wanted to throw the book across the room after I read the last line.
The premise is interesting…a sort of social experiment where a young, broke woman named Isabel is given a fortune and can live freely without marrying if she so chooses. I was excited to learn what she would choose to do with her life. Unfortunately the spirited young woman we meet in the beginning does not in any way resemble the woman at the end of the book.
The narrator is a third person omniscient narrator who likes to make the reader wait before he reveals what will happen. The narrator’s voice is condescending and judging. Big events like engagements, marriages, and deaths happen and the reader is told after the fact as if these events were not important.
I became very annoyed with every man falling in love with Isabel. There is a whole chapter dedicated to Isabel’s ego…how smart and great she thinks she is (the narrator tells us otherwise). I wish Henry James had shown us her folly instead of just telling us. All of Isabel’s confidence vanishes into thin air as the book progresses.
I don’t feel that James understood women enough to create believable characters. By the end, all of the women capitulated into what society expected of them contradicting their original characters completely.
I enjoyed the psychological elements to the story but would have enjoyed it more edited down. The pacing of the last 15% of the book was much quicker and the story more engaging; however, I wanted to throw the book across the room after I read the last line.
orlywelch's review against another edition
3.0
A well-written book, this story of Isobel's life is predominantly one of romance and social status, which I found to be dragged out and quite dull. That said, the latter half of the book does improve and get more interesting.