Cristina's review
Washington Square
by Henry James
Cristina's review
Washington Square by Henry James
Cristina's review
rating:
I used to hate Henry James. I really did. I tried to read The Aspern Papers when I was deep into my thesis on Byron and couldn't get through it. I tried to read Portrait of a Lady and found Isabel Archer annoying at best, although I couldn't quite describe why she irritated me so much. I abandoned James for a long time. Last month I decided to start on his shorter novels and see if I could build up a tolerance for him. Lo, I seem to have done it.
I can't say that this book was brilliant by any definition of the term, but the characters! Gah, James can describe some despicable people. A monster of a paterfamilias is Dr. Sloper. I was so happy when Catherine defied him in her quiet way, all the more perplexing for him because he refused to understand his own daughter. Willful, brutal refusal at that, too. Morris Townsend is such a devious little bore. Aunt Lavinia is that silly, rather stupid, but extremely dangerous relative you don't want on your side but...more
I can't say that this book was brilliant by any definition of the term, but the characters! Gah, James can describe some despicable people. A monster of a paterfamilias is Dr. Sloper. I was so happy when Catherine defied him in her quiet way, all the more perplexing for him because he refused to understand his own daughter. Willful, brutal refusal at that, too. Morris Townsend is such a devious little bore. Aunt Lavinia is that silly, rather stupid, but extremely dangerous relative you don't want on your side but...more