A review by kayedacus
Washington Square by Henry James, Michael Cunningham
3.0
Summary of this book:
Plain Young Woman in 1850s New York is a severe disappointment to her wealthy, Narcissistic Physician Father. Plain Young Woman meets handsome, worldly older (she's 18, he's around 30) man in need of money. Plain Young Woman has the potential of a large dowry/inheritance. Scheming Young Man schemes to get Plain Young Woman to marry him by convincing her he loves her and isn't a Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father sees through Scheming Young Man's scheme. Tells his daughter. She doesn't believe her father. Plain Young Woman agrees to marry Scheming Young Man. Scheming Young Man draws out the scheme (won't set a wedding date) until Narcissistic Physician Father relents from withholding Plain Young Woman's inheritance if she marries Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father tells everyone (including Scheming Aunt) how stupid Plain Young Woman is and that she will eventually come around and realize Scheming Young Man is scheming. Narcissistic Physician Father takes Plain Young Woman to Europe to force her to get over Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father insults Plain Young Woman one too many times and she is more determined than ever to marry Scheming Young Man when they return to New York. However, Scheming Young Man decides he doesn't want to marry Plain Young Woman for a livable income (which is what she will have without her father's fortune) and tells her he can't live with himself if he causes Plain Young Woman injury by keeping her from her father's inheritance. Plain Young Woman becomes Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman. Narcissistic Physician Father dies and Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman inherits part of his fortune. Scheming Now-Balding-and-Even Older Man returns and tries once again to convince Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman to marry him (obviously having discovered that a livable income is better than no income at all). But Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman has pretty much had-it-up-to-here with all men and sends Scheming Now-Balding-and-Even Older Man away for good.
The End.
2.5 stars
And thus continues my hate-hate relationship with most American "literature" from the late 19th/early 20th century for its focus on unhappy endings. (Looking at you, too, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Sinclair Lewis.)
Plain Young Woman in 1850s New York is a severe disappointment to her wealthy, Narcissistic Physician Father. Plain Young Woman meets handsome, worldly older (she's 18, he's around 30) man in need of money. Plain Young Woman has the potential of a large dowry/inheritance. Scheming Young Man schemes to get Plain Young Woman to marry him by convincing her he loves her and isn't a Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father sees through Scheming Young Man's scheme. Tells his daughter. She doesn't believe her father. Plain Young Woman agrees to marry Scheming Young Man. Scheming Young Man draws out the scheme (won't set a wedding date) until Narcissistic Physician Father relents from withholding Plain Young Woman's inheritance if she marries Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father tells everyone (including Scheming Aunt) how stupid Plain Young Woman is and that she will eventually come around and realize Scheming Young Man is scheming. Narcissistic Physician Father takes Plain Young Woman to Europe to force her to get over Scheming Young Man. Narcissistic Physician Father insults Plain Young Woman one too many times and she is more determined than ever to marry Scheming Young Man when they return to New York. However, Scheming Young Man decides he doesn't want to marry Plain Young Woman for a livable income (which is what she will have without her father's fortune) and tells her he can't live with himself if he causes Plain Young Woman injury by keeping her from her father's inheritance. Plain Young Woman becomes Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman. Narcissistic Physician Father dies and Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman inherits part of his fortune. Scheming Now-Balding-and-Even Older Man returns and tries once again to convince Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman to marry him (obviously having discovered that a livable income is better than no income at all). But Suspicious Not-So-Young Woman has pretty much had-it-up-to-here with all men and sends Scheming Now-Balding-and-Even Older Man away for good.
The End.
2.5 stars
And thus continues my hate-hate relationship with most American "literature" from the late 19th/early 20th century for its focus on unhappy endings. (Looking at you, too, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Sinclair Lewis.)