false 264 162 When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American, is brought to Europe by her wealthy Aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. She then finds herself irresistibly drawn to Gilbert Osmond, who, beneath his veneer of charm and cultivation, is cruelty itself. A story of intense poignancy, Isabel's tale of love and betrayal still resonates with modern audiences. 1434368 1880 The Portrait of a Lady total:5467|5:1494|4:1916|3:1409|2:489|1:159| 5467 20498 8326 528 5 7 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 10 13:27:39 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 10 19:10:24 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 8 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Oct 17 21:09:01 -0700 2007 Wed Oct 17 21:14:36 -0700 2007

If I could describe this book in one word it would be "Laborious."

If I were allowed more space, which apparently I am, I would go on to say that in addition to being deathly slow and horrifically boring it is also a little brilliant, a little impressive, ...more...]]> 4 4 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Wed Jul 11 21:55:12 -0700 2007 Fri May 02 17:37:40 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 3 false false Thu Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Sun Jun 01 21:30:01 -0700 2008 Sun Jun 01 21:30:30 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 4 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1995 Sat Mar 01 06:41:24 -0800 2008 Sat Mar 01 09:25:46 -0800 2008 The Portrait of a Lady has to be my favourite of the fifteen or so Henry James books I've read. The crowning achievement of James' middle period, when he had honed his powers of observation to perfection but had not yet slipped into the long-winded obscurity that makes his later novels so hard to re...more...]]> 3 3 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Jun 30 17:16:07 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 09 09:24:05 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 7 false false Fri May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 30 08:58:10 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 14 23:11:38 -0700 2009 Four Portraits of a Novel

An Interview with Sigmund Freud circa 1911

Vell, zis book by zis man--vhat vas his name? Henry James--vas very very interesting. He is obviously a deeply conflicted individual. Quite clearly an invert filled mit self-loathzing, desiring ze men und at z...more...]]> 0 3 false false Sun Aug 09 07:49:30 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 15:58:57 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 2 false false Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 01 17:57:07 -0700 2008 Fri May 02 20:45:55 -0700 2008
Maybe. This book is probably a classic because it is...more...]]> 2 3 false false Sat Jan 12 22:49:34 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 12 22:49:34 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Tue Jun 12 10:37:44 -0700 2007 Tue Jun 12 10:48:27 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 1 false false Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed May 07 20:15:01 -0700 2008 Wed May 07 20:20:46 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 21 16:06:27 -0700 2008 Thu Jun 04 14:17:55 -0700 2009
Goodreads asks what you learned from the book. Here are a few things I learned. (SPOILER ALERT):

1. I don't think marrying a guy who's poor counts as doing something "good" with your money.
2. If the guy you like demands ...more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Thu Mar 20 06:54:52 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 06:56:22 -0700 2008
In this book, I love the character of Isabel Archer. She is young, full of ideas, wants to travel and see the world and have experiences (...more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Sep 11 07:36:53 -0700 2007 Wed May 28 06:51:34 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false true Tue Jan 15 13:55:41 -0800 2008 Sat Sep 01 08:37:44 -0700 2007 Tue Jan 15 13:55:25 -0800 2008
One of the more interesting aspects was the issue faced by Isabel about wh...more...]]> 4 1 false false Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Fri Aug 17 14:39:57 -0700 2007 Fri Nov 09 20:50:38 -0800 2007 more...]]> 4 1 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 26 13:45:49 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 26 13:45:49 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Dec 31 06:11:07 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 31 06:21:58 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Dec 02 16:18:28 -0800 2007 Wed Jan 02 12:04:32 -0800 2008 more...]]>