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A review by holtfan
Daisy Miller and Other Stories by Henry James, Jean Gooder
4.0
Giving the book four stars may be a little generous, but the last story is what changed my mind. Daisy Miller and Other Stories consists of four of Henry James's "short" stories, Daisy Miller, Pandora, The Patagonia, and Four Meetings. Overall I found his dialouge great, his writing interesting, but his characters infuriating. He also doesn't appear to believe in happy endings, as all the girls seem to be disgraced or die.
His view of the females in general seems to be that they are petty, naive, frequently flirtacious, and don't care a fig about what others think. Or maybe that is just the type of girl he likes writing about.
Of course, taking it the other way, all the male protagonist seem like very confirmed bachlors without a romantic bone in their bodies xD
Anyway, I overall found Daisy Miller horribly dull. It took me forever to get into it, but the ending was good. (I know, morbid of me, but that is what made that story with it)
Pandora was interesting, the beginning amused and facinated me, and though I was initially upset by the ending (the fiance was 40!), I eventually came to appreciate it.
The Patagonia was...odd. But I liked it. Again, the morbid ending quite...did it. I'm not sure how. Maybe that is the master of James's writing.
Finally, Four Meetings which was probably my favorite. I liked the heroine. She wasn't like the other girls, who annoyed me excessively. Her dreams were quaint and beautiful, and her tragedy actually left me sad, instead of vaguely pleased. I wanted more about her. And really, I wanted her happy ending to come true (though I'd be satisfied with the large "countess" getting booted out of her house). I guess I was disapointed with the hero, though. I mean, I suppose he didn't know her. She was hardly an aquaintence, but he was so passive. That seems to be the general trend with this bachelor bunch.
Anyway, Daisy Miller which I expected to like the most, was actually my least favorite, but the others were various degrees of good! James is an interesting writer, and while he probably will never be a favorite, I'm glad I read this book and would probably read more by him.
His view of the females in general seems to be that they are petty, naive, frequently flirtacious, and don't care a fig about what others think. Or maybe that is just the type of girl he likes writing about.
Of course, taking it the other way, all the male protagonist seem like very confirmed bachlors without a romantic bone in their bodies xD
Anyway, I overall found Daisy Miller horribly dull. It took me forever to get into it, but the ending was good. (I know, morbid of me, but that is what made that story with it)
Pandora was interesting, the beginning amused and facinated me, and though I was initially upset by the ending (the fiance was 40!), I eventually came to appreciate it.
The Patagonia was...odd. But I liked it. Again, the morbid ending quite...did it. I'm not sure how. Maybe that is the master of James's writing.
Finally, Four Meetings which was probably my favorite. I liked the heroine. She wasn't like the other girls, who annoyed me excessively. Her dreams were quaint and beautiful, and her tragedy actually left me sad, instead of vaguely pleased. I wanted more about her. And really, I wanted her happy ending to come true (though I'd be satisfied with the large "countess" getting booted out of her house). I guess I was disapointed with the hero, though. I mean, I suppose he didn't know her. She was hardly an aquaintence, but he was so passive. That seems to be the general trend with this bachelor bunch.
Anyway, Daisy Miller which I expected to like the most, was actually my least favorite, but the others were various degrees of good! James is an interesting writer, and while he probably will never be a favorite, I'm glad I read this book and would probably read more by him.