I really liked this book. I already knew the story because I had seen the movie (which I had forgotten until I got finished with the first couple of chapters) but the way Edith Wharton writes is quite nice. She does overuse a few words here and there but I got passed it.
So anyway the story is about a girl (Lily Bart) in her late twenties who lives off of her rich relations and friends and has the life goal of finding a rich husband to keep in her the life to which she has become accustomed. She has many opportunities but she tends to flake out and then she puts herself into compromising positions. The main reason for her diverting her attention from her goal is for the opinion of one man who sees who gold digging ways as a terrible thing and he tells her so. But she lives in a world where that is the life that is laid out for her.
Then she puts herself foolishly into a bad position where she owes money to a married man (who fell in love with here and wanted to paid back in other than money) She runs of course. Then she is crossed by her friend who is notorious for having affairs and only has Lily around in order to distract her husband. Lies are told and she is forced into poverty and only has a coupld of friends. In this she finds how unfullfilling her desires were but she is unable to let it go. She just goes into a downward spiral of depression. It is quite a sad book but beautifully told. It makes you wonder at a woman's position back in those days. Completely dependant on men and money.
Here is a quote that I think is a much true to today as it was back then for men and women:
"If I were shabby no one would have me: a woman is aked out as much for her clothes as for herself. The clothes are the background, the frame, if you like: they don't make success, but they are a part of it. Who wants a dingy woman? We are expected to be pretty and well-dressed till we drop-and if we can't keep it up alone, we have to go into partnership."
I like this quote too but because one of the reasons that Lily Bart can't pull herself up out of her depression is because the man she loves lost his faith in her and if he hadn't then maybe she could have been a better person.
"It is so easy for a woman to become what the man she loves believes her to be!"
This wasn't a very good review of the book but I did really like it. If you don't feel inclined to read it then rent the movie because it was pretty good too.
4 comments:
I've read this book!!! I had forgotten it. I liked it too even though I thought it was a silly life style. Still , that's what all she knew to be acceptable in that day and age. It was a sad book and I wanted to beat the two-faced friend.
I thought it was a good review. And I really liked the sweet poem on the sidebar. Perfect tribute to your mom.
I read this book last summer and really enjoyed it. I really like her writing style. Wharton's life seems like it would make a good movie or novel. I've read two other books by her, but this one was my favorite.
Julie, what was the other book you read by her. I definitely liked this one better than Ethan Frome.
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