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Starting to read from a list of top 25 feminist novels - I have already read about 10 and this was an interesting start. Written in 1899 , today it seems very reasonable and ordinary and nicely written. It is interesting to think it was considered scandalous when it was first published, when really it seems as if Edna just wanted control over her own life. I enjoyed the writing style and for the most part enjoyed the character of Edna and her evolution.
The story of Edna Pontellier awakening and deciding she wants to be more than a wife and mother. Edna is spending the summer with her family in Grand Isle, Louisiana and as the summer progresses and she becomes infatuated with a resident there, Edna becomes dissatisfied in her marriage. I can see why at the time it was published this story was shocking. I found the story kind of dragged, even though it was short, and that not much really happened.
Nov 18, 2008
Jessica
added it
I appreciate that this book is an underappreciated feminist text, but I did a little internal cheer when Edna drowned herself at the end. Isn't that awful? An unintentionally defiant response to being overwhelmed with FEMinism. I hate FEMinism, because it's just as bad as MANism. It's not at all that I reject what feminism stands for (mostly), but that one side pushing too hard will just tip the scale in the other direction, rather than balancing it.
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In those days, women really didn't have so many options as today. The process of her awakening and not wanting to be controlled is understandable and to a degree, so are the lack of options she had to take personal control of her destiny.
I didn't like reading this as a book, but found it more doable as an audiobook. ...more
I didn't like reading this as a book, but found it more doable as an audiobook. ...more
Fantastic book about women and their limited choices
Apr 03, 2012
Jimmie
added it
Jan 31, 2013
Kim DeCina
marked it as to-read
Jul 22, 2013
Aline Ohanesian
marked it as to-read
Dec 26, 2015
Laura
added it
Jan 07, 2016
Stefanie
rated it
really liked it
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Shelves:
1-language-english,
usa
