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div94's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
acmarinho3's review against another edition
3.0
Não foi uma história que me cativasse... Senti que era sempre o mesmo e irritava-me a forma como Lily era tratada. Detestei a premissa da "pressa para arranjar marido" por causa da idade.
modoc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
maddie_1999's review against another edition
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
3.0
lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Overall, I liked this book - there were moments of sheer heartbreaking brilliance, usually around Lily and Selden. Yet, these beautiful moments were trapped by a lot of fluff that meant it never quite got off the ground for me. Partly I think this was deliberate to reflect the nature of turn-of-the-century New York society, but it also meant I couldn't connect with the novel in the way I was expecting. I was left feeling empty, wanting more of the powerful connection I felt with the last two chapters.
There is something about these tragic tales of fallen women I can't quite get on with. Perhaps it's the pragmatist in me but most of these tragedies could be averted... Much like Madame Bovary didn't need to have an affair and commit suicide, Lily Bart could have rescued herself from her self-inflicted doom (well Bertha Dorset helped too.) I NEED one of these women to have some common sense, particularly as Lily regularly had Gerty and Selden advising her what to do! I just find these narratives slightly stressful because they could be easily resolved, but I guess that is the point.
I just have to say - what is it about American classics and money? There is something about American 20th century novels that always deals with money. It brought out the British snob in me because it felt so distinctly American. However, the discussion of money was a vital part of this novel, the plot couldn't move without it driving Lily's descent into social isolation and poverty.
Overall, I liked this book - there were moments of sheer heartbreaking brilliance, usually around Lily and Selden. Yet, these beautiful moments were trapped by a lot of fluff that meant it never quite got off the ground for me. Partly I think this was deliberate to reflect the nature of turn-of-the-century New York society, but it also meant I couldn't connect with the novel in the way I was expecting. I was left feeling empty, wanting more of the powerful connection I felt with the last two chapters.
There is something about these tragic tales of fallen women I can't quite get on with. Perhaps it's the pragmatist in me but most of these tragedies could be averted... Much like Madame Bovary didn't need to have an affair and commit suicide, Lily Bart could have rescued herself from her self-inflicted doom (well Bertha Dorset helped too.) I NEED one of these women to have some common sense, particularly as Lily regularly had Gerty and Selden advising her what to do! I just find these narratives slightly stressful because they could be easily resolved, but I guess that is the point.
I just have to say - what is it about American classics and money? There is something about American 20th century novels that always deals with money. It brought out the British snob in me because it felt so distinctly American. However, the discussion of money was a vital part of this novel, the plot couldn't move without it driving Lily's descent into social isolation and poverty.
bobbygw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
lalawoman416's review against another edition
4.0
Lily Bart was raised to be charming, social, and well, useless. She was born into New York society and taught by her parents to disdain everything "dingy" and beneath her. Lily, thanks to her extraordinary beauty, never really questioned the social norms and mores that shaped her. Tragically, her parents die, she becomes impoverished, and she is forced to live on the goodwill of her aunt. Her aunt, is somewhat of a stickler and disapproves of Lily's gambling, drinking, and socializing. She provides Lily with all the necessities but barely more. Lily resents her aunt for not understanding Lily's social obligations include dressing well and playing bridge for money. Still, Lily is unable to adjust her spending habits and lands into a bit of trouble because of it. Lily, an unmarried, beautiful woman garners the jealousy and disdain of the most influential patronesses of New York society. And because she is unwilling to play fire with fire descends in social standing falling from upper class, to the not so upper class, to middle class, to working class. With each fall, Lily is certain that it is a temporary situation which will see her hobnobbing with high society again.
The most interesting thing about Lily and this novel is that Lily is definitely not a feminist heroine. She doesn't accept that she has to help herself. She doesn't accept that her current situation may be a permanent situation. she never does adjust. She never picks herself up by the bootstraps. She allows her up bring to define her and doesn't much fight it. In the end, there is no happy ending for Lily because she won't give herself one. She willfully submits to her circumstances and it never really even occurs to her that she has the power to change her life. I know that when it came out it exposed the horrors of NY society, but the most interesting thing to me was Lily's unwillingness to take ownership in her own life.
The most interesting thing about Lily and this novel is that Lily is definitely not a feminist heroine. She doesn't accept that she has to help herself. She doesn't accept that her current situation may be a permanent situation. she never does adjust. She never picks herself up by the bootstraps. She allows her up bring to define her and doesn't much fight it. In the end, there is no happy ending for Lily because she won't give herself one. She willfully submits to her circumstances and it never really even occurs to her that she has the power to change her life. I know that when it came out it exposed the horrors of NY society, but the most interesting thing to me was Lily's unwillingness to take ownership in her own life.
lcf1023's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as part of my project to read one book by a female author from each decade of the 20th century. This was the first installment from the 1900s.
Poor Lily Bart. She was an infuriating character, but I was rooting for her until the end. I enjoyed the novel a lot more than I thought I would. I haven’t read much from this time period and it was a fascinating insight into the high society of the Gilded Age. Although I can’t say Edith Wharton gave it a ringing endorsement. I look forward to reading The Age of Innocence.
Poor Lily Bart. She was an infuriating character, but I was rooting for her until the end. I enjoyed the novel a lot more than I thought I would. I haven’t read much from this time period and it was a fascinating insight into the high society of the Gilded Age. Although I can’t say Edith Wharton gave it a ringing endorsement. I look forward to reading The Age of Innocence.
sportula's review against another edition
dark
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
heytaytay12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Fantastic look into the societal view of women as ornamentation. Beautifully written, with a lovingly crafted heroine. I rated it a little lower just because the the ending was so sad. It makes sense - she was a flower plucked from her garden - but the lack of hope in the ending had me rating it lower.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Drug abuse