tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post8596678785714498499..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-90075421919132774122019-01-01T11:53:30.816-05:002019-01-01T11:53:30.816-05:00Hi Naida - I would say that this one is even slowe...Hi Naida - I would say that this one is even slower paced then most classics. That is really a great quotation. Have a Happy New Year's!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-319147758242530502019-01-01T11:44:44.733-05:002019-01-01T11:44:44.733-05:00I haven't read The Portrait of a Lady but I li...I haven't read The Portrait of a Lady but I like that you describe it as being 'low-key brilliant'. I think so many classics are best read and digested slowly. The pace and writing are different than today's works, it's nice to be challenged that way.<br />I like the passage you shared here, especially "she dropped her secret sadness into the silence of lonely places.." that is beautiful.<br />Enjoy your week! The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84922095782790034592019-01-01T04:47:28.929-05:002019-01-01T04:47:28.929-05:00Hi Hila - The character development is so strong i...Hi Hila - The character development is so strong in fbis book I also want to read Washington Square. Probably sometime after I get to The Golden Bowl. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-68230439179118915102018-12-30T16:16:33.088-05:002018-12-30T16:16:33.088-05:00Hi Sue - I must give the film version of this a tr...Hi Sue - I must give the film version of this a try. Film is such different art forms from writing so your point makes a lot of sense..<br /><br />I have heard such good things about it. I must also read Turrn of the Screw soon. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-83126984251613956452018-12-30T16:13:04.682-05:002018-12-30T16:13:04.682-05:00Hi Violet - Based on this book, James really did d...Hi Violet - Based on this book, James really did do a great job writing women. I must catch the film version. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-17662370146449423912018-12-30T15:55:50.506-05:002018-12-30T15:55:50.506-05:00I haven’t read this novel, but I believe there was...I haven’t read this novel, but I believe there was a film version, with a big name cast. Sometimes a film can take all the story elements of something otherwise too literary and make it watchable even for those who prefer story to “beautiful writing”. The only James I have read so far was The Turn Of The Screw, which was a wonderful piece of scary fiction in which you didn’t know whether the heroine was really seeing ghosts or whether it was all in her head. But it was a novella, so not too hard to get through. Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-29468577670780999072018-12-29T09:02:46.229-05:002018-12-29T09:02:46.229-05:00Thanks Maria - I would have hated this book when I...Thanks Maria - I would have hated this book when I was younger. It is just too slow and wordy. It is much more so then Jane Austen, or Charles Dickens or Fyodor Dostoevsky or most other Classic Literature authors. I am even thinking that The Glass Bead Game moved faster! <br /><br />James really created a great female character here. I think that there is a list somewhere that someone created of male authors that wrote women characters particularly well. I presume that James is on it. <br /><br />I had heard about the Reginald Archer connection. I should read that novel. There are also similarities with Dorothea Brooke’s marriage from George Eliot’s Middlemarch. <br /><br />I have not seen any of the film versions of this book either, but I really would like to. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64628503401099393222018-12-29T02:35:21.179-05:002018-12-29T02:35:21.179-05:00BRILLIANT POST, BRIAN!
I greatly enjoyed reading ...BRILLIANT POST, BRIAN!<br /><br />I greatly enjoyed reading your analysis of this novel!! (Although of coure, as you've mentioned, you could devote several posts to it.)<br /><br />This novel was a high school reading assignment, and I have to admit that I found it rather tedious. In fact, I was as bored with it as I was when I first read "Pride and Prejudice". Lol. The funny thing is that I read "Jane Eyre" shortly before I started on "Pride and Prejudice", which I never finished. (I did return to this novel years later, and reviewed it on my other blog, MindSpirit Book Journeys.)<br /><br />Around this same time, I also read "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Crime and Punishement". Neither bored me at all. So I guess this means that I thrived on passion and drama at the time! Lol. <br /><br />I think I would definitely be better able to appreciate "The Portrait of a Lady" at this point in my life. I would have more patience now! Lol. Interestingly, however, I first read "Magister Ludi" ("The Glass Bead Game") while I was in college, and was able to get through it. I reread it in 2011, so I could review it on my blog. The plot of this novel is slow-moving, too, yet, I was able to finish the book both times.<br /><br />That paragraph you quoted definitely resonates with me. I have been in a similar mood before. (I also tried to read Kafka and Camus in college, and never finished those books. I was flirting with existentialism. Lol.) This quote is indeed beautifully written, and is very poignant. <br /><br />It's wonderful that a male writer of that time was able to plumb the depths of the female psyche as brilliantly as James did. It seems he was ahead of his time in doing so. However, when I looked up this novel on Wikipedia, I read the following:<br /><br />"Critic Alfred Habegger has written that the main character of Portrait was inspired by Christie Archer, the protagonist from Anne Moncure Crane's novel, 'Reginald Archer' (1871). Crane (1838–1872) may have influenced James, who Habegger considers was interested in Crane's female characters.[citation needed]<br /><br />In the preface to the 1908 New York Edition of the novel, James referred to several of George Eliot's female protagonists as possible influences on the Portrait. Habegger questions this and quotes others as doing the same.[5] "<br /><br />Here's the link to this article:<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Portrait_of_a_Lady<br /><br />Reading further, I discovered that this novel has had several TV and film adaptations. Methinks I need to read it again, and completely this time, in spite of its slowness!<br /><br />Thanks for another great, insightful review!! <3 :) <br /> Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28306642357378206802018-12-27T16:43:58.886-05:002018-12-27T16:43:58.886-05:00I haven't read much of James (only a little sh...I haven't read much of James (only a little short fiction), but I love this style of novel, if it's well-written and full of good character development. I'd also like to read Washington Square at some point.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-57550594343916026092018-12-26T11:36:12.482-05:002018-12-26T11:36:12.482-05:00Thanks Baili - These character studies can be grea...Thanks Baili - These character studies can be great if one is prepared for a book that goes slow on plot.<br /><br />I hope that you and your family are having a nice holiday season. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-60682072473400150672018-12-26T11:34:11.248-05:002018-12-26T11:34:11.248-05:00Hi Rachel - I would have hated this book. Isabel c...Hi Rachel - I would have hated this book. Isabel certainly makes mistakes here, but I agree. she is human. Her mistakes are no worse then the mistake that people I know personally have made. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38457723750077586072018-12-26T09:40:58.751-05:002018-12-26T09:40:58.751-05:00I LOVED this book when I was a teenager. It is so ...I LOVED this book when I was a teenager. It is so well-written. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I remember my bf at the time (oh, so many years ago) hated it - probably for the reasons you mention. Also, he thought she just made so many really stupid mistakes. But you know what? She was human. It made her real. Rachelhttp://hibernatorslibrary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-63725118855722624382018-12-26T09:13:55.107-05:002018-12-26T09:13:55.107-05:00I found this novel of great interest through your ...I found this novel of great interest through your beautiful review dear Brain!<br /><br />Either I take more interest in characterization than plot .<br /><br />I absolutely loved the Isabel,s character and story sounds really fascinating.<br /><br />Thank you so much for sharing this incredible read my friend!<br /><br />Wishing you a blessed happy Christmas season:)bailihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498012175058870980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89428278619116326382018-12-22T17:39:42.849-05:002018-12-22T17:39:42.849-05:00Hi Jane - This book is great literature. With that...Hi Jane - This book is great literature. With that, it a lot of great literature moves faster then this book did. Richly layered is a good way to describe this book. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-69605999106396975672018-12-22T11:56:48.346-05:002018-12-22T11:56:48.346-05:00Glad you enjoyed this book--whenever I read a revi...Glad you enjoyed this book--whenever I read a review like yours I think that I will give James another chance. On the surface, this seems like a book I would adore--richly layered, fluid, realistic characters. All the stuff of great literature. JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1125777442710642018-12-21T13:19:05.336-05:002018-12-21T13:19:05.336-05:00Hi WP - I am all too busy too. But there is never ...Hi WP - I am all too busy too. But there is never any rush to post comments. I think it is fine if they come my months or years after the original post. <br /><br />I also want to read more James. I will also likely write another post on the American/European thing. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-75639029321505362712018-12-21T06:42:09.903-05:002018-12-21T06:42:09.903-05:00I have been a bit remiss lately, because I've ...I have been a bit remiss lately, because I've had two weeks of almost back to back Xmas events. I now have a couple of days before the next onslaught, with family arriving, starts. <br /><br />I enjoyed this post, but would love you to write a post on the Americans attitudes to Europeans (and vice versa). I vaguely remember this part of the book but not in detail now. Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, The buccaneers, is good for this topic too.<br /><br />I like James but have only read a couple of his novels. I keep planning to read more ... particularly those well regarded novellas.Whispering Gumshttps://whisperinggums.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58037754973904578412018-12-20T20:18:50.769-05:002018-12-20T20:18:50.769-05:00Hi Fanda - Interesting that you only liked this bo...Hi Fanda - Interesting that you only liked this book. The characters are so well done. I have just heard of Banville’s book. I have mixed feelings about sequels to classics but it does sound intriguing. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84209042898962977092018-12-20T20:08:24.000-05:002018-12-20T20:08:24.000-05:00This is the only James' novel that I have come...This is the only James' novel that I have come to love - I tried to read two others after this, but disliked both. His tedious writing style must have been the cause. But this book is different - James wrought the characters so perfectly, that I could ignore the long tedious paragraphs.<br /><br />Do you know John Banville's new book: Mrs. Osmond? It's the imaginary story of Isabel after marrying Osmond. I have not read it yet, but it looks interesting.Fandahttps://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33985076144318434262018-12-20T12:28:17.742-05:002018-12-20T12:28:17.742-05:00Hi Caroline - I want to read more James. It is int...Hi Caroline - I want to read more James. It is interesting to know that this one was more relaxed then the other ones. The subject of the difference between Europeans and Americans always seems to fascinate. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66702797781258496162018-12-20T10:31:12.307-05:002018-12-20T10:31:12.307-05:00This is one my all time favourite books. I loved i...This is one my all time favourite books. I loved it so much. Compared to other novels by Henry James the style is almost breezy here. Many of his novels analyze the difference between Americans and a Europeans. Quite fascinating. I highly recommend Washington Square. And The Europeans. I did not care for The Turn of the Screw. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10457899524458883582018-12-19T05:23:44.264-05:002018-12-19T05:23:44.264-05:00
Hi Laurie - It is interesting thaf you found that...<br />Hi Laurie - It is interesting thaf you found that James’s other works to be similar in these ways. I result want to read The Bosrinians, The Turn of the Screw as well as The Golden Bowl. I think being prepared for the glacial pace is the way to read James. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12596424038320607422018-12-18T17:20:05.244-05:002018-12-18T17:20:05.244-05:00"James’s book is a deep character study exemp..."James’s book is a deep character study exemplified by a unique prose style that is heavy on words but that often soars to great artistic heights." <br /><br />"James’s writing style is dense with description and analysis of his subjects."<br /><br />These two sentences totally sum my experience with The Bostonians and The Turn of the Screw. I sometimes found myself mentally editing.<br /><br />However, I know now to be prepared for the "glacial" pace of his narratives and find his work worthwhile to pursue, because I like the stories he tells. At least I can never say I don't understand a character or their motives :)<br /><br />Either this or The Ambassadors will be next for me. If you do read another James, I would love to get your take on The Bostonians.<br />Lauriehttps://relevantobscurity.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64732113536886908862018-12-18T16:12:58.023-05:002018-12-18T16:12:58.023-05:00Hi Jacqui - Thus Far this is the only James that I...Hi Jacqui - Thus Far this is the only James that I have read. I want to at least read The Golden Bowl and the Turn of the Screw. I also want to see the film version of this book. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44537908389716371422018-12-18T15:12:01.219-05:002018-12-18T15:12:01.219-05:00I'd like to read this at some point, partly be...I'd like to read this at some point, partly because I recall seeing the film adaptation several years ago. The only James I've read so far is The Turn of the Screw, probably required reading for every Halloween!JacquiWinenoreply@blogger.com