Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(Click the title to find the book description/blurb.)
She had turned away, but in the movement she had stopped herself and dropped her gaze upon him. The two remained a while in this situation, exchanging a long look–the large, conscious look of the critical hours of life.
This is the first novel I read by Henry James, and I was utterly fascinated by it. Not only by Isabel’s complex story, which I did enjoy, but by the way in which James told the story with such a command of English. To an extent which I hadn’t experienced before reading James’s writing, I became unafraid of words, even ones that are woven together in lengthy sentences, multiple-page-long paragraphs, or coupled with a number of adverbs. The detail of ideas was engaging, and I found nothing dull or drudging about learning these characters in-depth.
I understand the importance of brevity in literature where brevity is required, but in a society of increasing sound bites and 140-character limitations, I also appreciate the chance to be able to delve into the breadth and magnificence of words, in writing like James’s, to realize something beyond life’s surface layers.
Absolutely, the older style of complex and nuanced writing has much to recommend it!
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Right! Even at times when the narrator or a character may say something I don’t like, I still have to give them credit for saying it so well. 🙂
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It’s a gift, being able to use language so well! 🙂
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Your blog is great! I was hoping that you could kindly read my new post and like or comment on it if you found it interesting?
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Thank you for the invitation!
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It’s a great book, by a great author. I often think the ‘classics’ get a bit ignored in the world of the sound-bite and instant gratification, but once you discover them, they invite you to a world deep with resonance and subtlety. Nice and refreshing review of an old favourite of mine.
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Thank you! Yes, sometimes people immediately think “too old,” “too long,” or “boring” when they hear of “classics,” but I’m frequently amazed at how engaging older literature often turns out to be.
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