ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
5.0
Edith Wharton had an impeccable ability to make upper society look as ridiculous as it really is. This time she takes on upper New York society in the 1870s.
The double standard shown in this book between men and women is just asinine. Countess Olenska is shown as unfortunate because she left her cruel husband. Because of his follies, she is punished for leaving him.
The Age of Innocence shows the ridiculous standards of old New York. You couldn't even sneeze in public without someone knowing and gossiping how unsanitary you are. This is just an example, not used in the book. Bottom line, you could not do anything without being exposed to the horrible monster called gossip. The people who you regularly converse with (your friends, I guess, although I wouldn't call them that) one week could shun you the next.
People's lives were structured by these standards. A man and woman who could have such happiness together could not otherwise be together because of something in one of their pasts. Newland Archer married May because it's what society basically wanted. It was a safe marriage, free from scandal.
Wharton is the queen of satire, in my opinion. She was also an author not big on the happy ending. So far, this is my favorite of her work.
The double standard shown in this book between men and women is just asinine. Countess Olenska is shown as unfortunate because she left her cruel husband. Because of his follies, she is punished for leaving him.
The Age of Innocence shows the ridiculous standards of old New York. You couldn't even sneeze in public without someone knowing and gossiping how unsanitary you are. This is just an example, not used in the book. Bottom line, you could not do anything without being exposed to the horrible monster called gossip. The people who you regularly converse with (your friends, I guess, although I wouldn't call them that) one week could shun you the next.
People's lives were structured by these standards. A man and woman who could have such happiness together could not otherwise be together because of something in one of their pasts. Newland Archer married May because it's what society basically wanted. It was a safe marriage, free from scandal.
Wharton is the queen of satire, in my opinion. She was also an author not big on the happy ending. So far, this is my favorite of her work.
lois_bozilovic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarkiste's review against another edition
5.0
I know this story for so long, yet this is the very first time I've got to read it. One thing I can say about her is that she was master of descriptions and bringing atmosphere to the people, you can really feel everything she is writing about. The way she saw society of her time her open criticism she presents directly and without hesitation, which I personally loved way more than Jane Austen's way. It a true beauty her way of writing romance and making you feel that it's so wrong but yet it's so right at same time, you just can't help but live every moment Ellen shares with Newland, from another side there is perfect but boring May left an example that perfect girls were great choice for wife but they were never interesting, she doesn't stop there and in last moment she'll show readers that May is not so innocent. Choosing main female character as one not so perfect woman who lives in the moment was rare in her time, especially for female writers but Wharton gives us one character you can connect with and you can love in character of Ellen. I truly loved how easy but smart this book was.
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Priča koju toliko dugo znam a koju sam imala prilike da po prvi put iskusim rečima čuvene Idit. Ono što se definitivno da zaključiti je da je ona bila majstor opisivanja i prenošenja atmosfere na čitaoce, njeni pogledi na društvo njenog vremena i njena kritika drušrva koje je tada postojalo je direktna i bez okolišanja, meni lično mnogo bolja nego Ostinina npr. Čar kojom ona opisuje romansu koja je istovremeno toliko pogrešna ali i toliko prava je za svako divljenje, gutaš svaki trenutak kada se Elen i Njuland sretnu, sa druge strane savšena ali bleda Mej ostaje kao primer da savršene devojke jesu bile sjajan izbor za suprugu ali nikada nisu bile interesantne, međutim ona se ne zaustavlja tu te će čitaocima na samom kraju pokazati da Mej nije bila toliko nedužna koliko je delovala. Odabir jedne nesavršene žene, jedne žene koja voli da živi u trenutku nije bio tako čest za spisateljice njenog vremena a opet Vorton nam daje junakinju sa kojojm možemo da se saživimo i koju možemo da volimo u liku Elen. Uživala sam u lakoći kojom se čita a da pri tom nije glup ili plitak.
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Priča koju toliko dugo znam a koju sam imala prilike da po prvi put iskusim rečima čuvene Idit. Ono što se definitivno da zaključiti je da je ona bila majstor opisivanja i prenošenja atmosfere na čitaoce, njeni pogledi na društvo njenog vremena i njena kritika drušrva koje je tada postojalo je direktna i bez okolišanja, meni lično mnogo bolja nego Ostinina npr. Čar kojom ona opisuje romansu koja je istovremeno toliko pogrešna ali i toliko prava je za svako divljenje, gutaš svaki trenutak kada se Elen i Njuland sretnu, sa druge strane savšena ali bleda Mej ostaje kao primer da savršene devojke jesu bile sjajan izbor za suprugu ali nikada nisu bile interesantne, međutim ona se ne zaustavlja tu te će čitaocima na samom kraju pokazati da Mej nije bila toliko nedužna koliko je delovala. Odabir jedne nesavršene žene, jedne žene koja voli da živi u trenutku nije bio tako čest za spisateljice njenog vremena a opet Vorton nam daje junakinju sa kojojm možemo da se saživimo i koju možemo da volimo u liku Elen. Uživala sam u lakoći kojom se čita a da pri tom nije glup ili plitak.
laurac_ol's review against another edition
3.0
Well-written and enjoyable, however I found that it lagged in between "action" scenes. This lagging made it difficult for me to want to keep reading at some points.
cassiefleurs's review against another edition
4.0
Initially drawn to this book becausw it's the first female written novel to gain a Pulitzer prize , i am now fully convinced of the merit the book has to earn it.
These people are terribly constrained by their own making, so much human interaction is limited and barely anything that matters cna be spoken. To get around such limitations the big revalarions, the explosions of sentiment so common in british novels of that period are supplied here not in worda but in what is not said, by silences, by spaces and by allowing scenes to be played out in an specific manner so the message gets a across.
The scenes constructed by the author are vibrant and tender, brimming with human emotion even when nothing is being said and specially when no words are being spoken. I was amazed by how she got the story flowing, by the richness in description and enamored with her hability in describing societal rules. Her characters never fail to communicate what they expect of eachother, she had the knack of anthropologist to gaze into the elaborate rituals of New York society in that time period.
Her delicate choice of words made every page full of layered meaning.
Also what a boom that last plot with May, i howled at her machinations.
These people are terribly constrained by their own making, so much human interaction is limited and barely anything that matters cna be spoken. To get around such limitations the big revalarions, the explosions of sentiment so common in british novels of that period are supplied here not in worda but in what is not said, by silences, by spaces and by allowing scenes to be played out in an specific manner so the message gets a across.
The scenes constructed by the author are vibrant and tender, brimming with human emotion even when nothing is being said and specially when no words are being spoken. I was amazed by how she got the story flowing, by the richness in description and enamored with her hability in describing societal rules. Her characters never fail to communicate what they expect of eachother, she had the knack of anthropologist to gaze into the elaborate rituals of New York society in that time period.
Her delicate choice of words made every page full of layered meaning.
Also what a boom that last plot with May, i howled at her machinations.
b_harrington's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosegoes3's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don’t want my love of the ending to dominate my opinion of the entire book. The pace is slow but consistent, and clearly reflects the flaws of society as shown in these characters.
maureenmcc's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel a great deal. Wharton writes with intelligence, nuance, and, I felt, a gentleness towards her characters. She paints a vivid picture of late 1800's New York and the very circumscribed rules of "Society" that gave comfort to some and constrained others, with heart-breaking consequences. A thoughtful and moving story.
booksbythecup's review against another edition
4.0
"...and so the evening swept on, running and running like a senseless river that did not know how to stop.”
Newland Archer, a young man whose grown up amongst the socialist attitudes of New York in 1870, is eager to marry his sweetheart, society’s standard of a suitable young lady, May Welland. Shortly after pressuring May to announce their engagement and marry quickly, Newland becomes infatuated with May’s cousin, Ellen Olenska. Ellen, estranged from her philandering husband, is viewed as the outcast of the family because she’s chosen to leave her husband.
I have several more marks against Archer but after reflecting on Wharton’s approach in crafting this book, I’ve decided to share what I’ve taken away from reading The Age of Innocence.
Wharton shines light on the common attitudes of the time period while at the same time showing us the effects of those attitudes. Societal norms and unspoken rules; for instance, the behavior of men knowningly being involved with a few women before they settle down with a respectable girl like May. Of course a respectable woman would NEVER engage in such behavior; she is expected to accept her betrothed was involved in other relationships before marriage (and in some cases would continue to do so). This behavior was not frowned upon in the least, dogs will be dogs as some people say, but what respectable woman wants to settle for someone else’s soiled leftovers?
Overall, I think I enjoyed the writing by Wharton, it doesn’t disappoint in the least, but Newland disappoints me. Ellen and May are the women of this story that deserve to be remembered instead.
full review here: https://booksbythecup.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/the-age-of-innocence-review/
Newland Archer, a young man whose grown up amongst the socialist attitudes of New York in 1870, is eager to marry his sweetheart, society’s standard of a suitable young lady, May Welland. Shortly after pressuring May to announce their engagement and marry quickly, Newland becomes infatuated with May’s cousin, Ellen Olenska. Ellen, estranged from her philandering husband, is viewed as the outcast of the family because she’s chosen to leave her husband.
I have several more marks against Archer but after reflecting on Wharton’s approach in crafting this book, I’ve decided to share what I’ve taken away from reading The Age of Innocence.
Wharton shines light on the common attitudes of the time period while at the same time showing us the effects of those attitudes. Societal norms and unspoken rules; for instance, the behavior of men knowningly being involved with a few women before they settle down with a respectable girl like May. Of course a respectable woman would NEVER engage in such behavior; she is expected to accept her betrothed was involved in other relationships before marriage (and in some cases would continue to do so). This behavior was not frowned upon in the least, dogs will be dogs as some people say, but what respectable woman wants to settle for someone else’s soiled leftovers?
Overall, I think I enjoyed the writing by Wharton, it doesn’t disappoint in the least, but Newland disappoints me. Ellen and May are the women of this story that deserve to be remembered instead.
full review here: https://booksbythecup.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/the-age-of-innocence-review/