Reviews

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Only show reviews with written explanations

namelessgab's review against another edition

5.0

I've been meaning to read this for years and I am so glad I finally got around to it. I feel like it can sometimes be missed from "Classics" lists, but it for sure should be included. It is hard to believe that it was written in 1899 because it feels so relevant and fresh. The prose is so detailed. The scene of Madame Ratignolle and Edna sitting at the beach made me feel the heat and the salt air whipping my hair. It was short, thoughtful, and entertaining.

*Spoiler Ahead* I rooted for Edna and it shocked me that modern readers still find her disagreeable. My only thought is that she herself said, "I am no longer Mr. Pontellier's possession to dispose of or not. I give myself where I choose." I wanted her to choose herself, to really live free. If Robert was still too entrenched in propriety to love her as she wished, then she should have gone on without him. I fully understand the devastation of losing him and considering the times, what more did it seem, at least, that she had to live for?

isamerel's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I liked this book because of its feminist ideals and intriguing (and sometimes infuriating) portrayals of life in the 1800s/early 1900s. Because I read this with the rest of my English class, we often discussed or wrote about how these ideals are still present today, and I enjoyed putting my reading into real-life context, especially with everything that has been going on politically and culturally in the world right now. However, this book wasn't the most engaging (in my opinion) in terms of the writing style and I'm not sure if I would recommend this as a "fun" reading. I'd recommend it solely to further educate yourself in the feminist world or life in the pre-20th centuries, but not for a light, happy summer read, for it is also quite dark and does not end on a particularly good note.

ob_ledbetter's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I’m fascinated by this book. While the plot is slow, the emotional and character developments are anything but. I’m a bit sad to have read this on my own rather than in a class or book club setting, there’s so much going on behind the words! It’s a must read, but I don’t think I’ll be reading-reading it any time soon.

2019 reading challenge: a book set in the South.

jen_na15's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

eske_a's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

lukija's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Koin lukeneeni kertomuksen porvarillisesta naisesta ja kotirouvasta, joka eräänä kesäisenä päivänä kohtaa miehen, johon rakastuu. Tästä käynnistyy sisäinen pohdinta ja muutos kohti itsenäistä elämää. Lopetus jäi avoimeksi, vaikka tulkitsin sen epäedulliseksi päähenkilölle. Pidin siitä, että tarinan ulkopuolinen kertoja oli päähenkilön puolella. Ei tullut oloa, että kertoja tuomitsisi Ednan vaan näytti olosuhteita ja hänen ajatteluaan. Ajallinen etäisyys kirjan maailmaan ja tietämättömyyteni New Orleansin kulttuurista jonkin verran haittasi lukukokemustani eli se ei ollut täysin sujuva. Toisaalta pääsin käymään ajassa ja viettämään aikaa kulttuurin parissa, joka itselleni vieras. Luin kirjan englanniksi. Tästä on tehty suomennos, jota en ole lukenut ja en siis tiedä minkälainen se on.