From the Bookshelf of Reading the Classics…

An American Tragedy

Theodore Dreiser

Start date: October 10, 2020

Finish date: December 20, 2020

Why we're reading this: Chosen as our Doorstopper Read for January-March 2021
[close] Chosen as our Doorstopper Read for January-March 2021

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Jan 18, 2014 Susan from MD rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first two "books" of this story really dragged for me. I think part of that was because they in some respect were character studies, but the characters were just not that interesting, though they could have been. The plot sort of lurched from one life-changing event to the next. I found the writing to be very repetitive - the concepts were not that difficult, but seemed to be reiterated numerous times and yet were only explored on a superficial level. Book 3 was great - moved along and addre The first two "books" of this story really dragged for me. I think part of that was because they in some respect were character studies, but the characters were just not that interesting, though they could have been. The plot sort of lurched from one life-changing event to the next. I found the writing to be very repetitive - the concepts were not that difficult, but seemed to be reiterated numerous times and yet were only explored on a superficial level. Book 3 was great - moved along and addressed a wide range of issues.

This book focused on a young man who valued money and society and all their trappings above everything else, even above another person's life. Clyde grew up in an odd and poor environment, with little education and few opportunities. He had drive and ambition - the former in a good way, as he worked hard and wanted to become better at whatever he was doing; the latter in a bad way in that he valued stuff and position in society over everything else.

Clyde had an obsessive personality when it came to women. He was attracted, then obsessively attentive and emotional, then disengaging and finally dismissive (or worse). Hortense and Roberta were very different women. Hortense was sort of brassy and didn't really like Clyde, but he had money so she used him because she liked stuff. Roberta was lonely and kind and loved Clyde with all her heart but she was poor. A third young woman, Sondra, was rich and fell in love with Clyde and he with her - Clyde's disengagement was forced as he went to prison for killing Roberta and Sondra dropped out of his life. So, what was it about these women that drew him? Hortense shared his love of stuff; Roberta shared his intellect and quietness and desire to achieve something more/leave her past; and Sondra had money and the good life and she was beautiful and sweet. He was really rather scary with all of them.

The inclusion of religion in the first and last part of the story was interesting, with Clyde trying to figure out what he feels and who he is. His family is strict in their religious beliefs, which pushes him away. In the last part of the story, as Clyde faces the death penalty, he revisits religion and begins to find peace with himself. The last section of the book is nuanced and lovely - he seeks to understand truth and forgiveness and responsibility.

This book, like several long books I've read lately really could have used an editor! Books 1 and 2 would have been better had they lost some of the repetition. I give Books 1 and 2 a 3/5 rating; Book 3 gets a 5/5 rating. So, overall I give the book 3.5/5. ...more

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