Book # 68 The Portrait Of A Lady by Henry James

Progress Book # 25 of 100

This book went on and on and on and on. A lot happens, but it doesn’t happen quickly.  Everything takes time.  It follows the story of young American woman Isabel Archer.   She is adopted by an Aunt and leaves her life in New York to go and tour Europe.  While there she is loved by all.  She quickly gets a marriage proposal from Lord Warbourton, and although she likes Lord Warbourton, Isabel is not ready to get married.  She wants to be an independent woman and marriage isn't in her future, at least that is what she thinks.  Her cousin in charmed by Isabel.  He likes her attitude and wants for her to be happy and live unmarried if she chooses.  He convinces his father to leave Isabel half of their family fortune.  So Isabel becomes a rich heiress.

Just as Bleak House had Mr. Skimpole, this novel had Madame Merle.  She is  friend of Isabel's aunt that has no money and seems to depend on her friends for support.  Madame Merle sees Isabel as a wife for Mr. Gilbert Osmond.  Once this is decided Isabel's future is decided.  She marries Mr. Osmond, devastating her cousin and Lord Warbourton.  She falls into a trap and doesn't realize until it's too late.  I wanted a happier Jane Austen type of story, but didn't really get it here.  That with the fact that the story goes on and on and on just didn't make this the best novel.

I'll give it 84% a B

 

With this review, I’ve completed 25% of the novels, only 75 titles to go!  I’m definitely enjoying this little project, but sometimes find writing these blogs a little challenging.  If I wasn’t doing this with Daniel I’m not sure I would be able to finish everything.  I know for sure I wouldn’t be reading them as fast as I am.  I think we are pushing each other to keep up the pace.   As for the blogs,   I’m usually at least two blogs behind the current book I’m reading.  In the next 25 I’ll tackle a few that I’m not looking forward to reading (Tolstoy and maybe another Faulkner and/or Woolf).    

Ok, so I wrote the above note 3 months ago and never actually posted this.  Right now I am 7 reviews behind, 5 books from the list and 2 fun ones.  I'll try and get them up soon so I can be caught up.