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andrepinza's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mi sono immersa in questo romanzo senza sapere nulla della trama, dello stile e di Henry James in generale, e mi sono sentita subito affascinata dalla sua scrittura. Ritratto di Signora si caratterizza di una trama molto semplice e poco strutturata, ma di personaggi complessi e stratificati. L'abilità di James nel descrivere i personaggi e la loro psicologia, dandogli spessore e tridimensionalità, è eccelsa. Isabel Archer è una donna comune, difficile, incoerente e imperfetta, e sono proprio queste caratteristiche che la rendono umana. Tutti i personaggi che le ruotano attorno sono simpatici, stravraganti e anche odiosi all'inverosimile, e sono il vero motore d'azione della storia. Ho apprezzato anche il finale aperto che lascia spazio ad ogni sorta di interpretazione, positiva o negativa che sia, portando il lettore a riflettere sulle numerose tematiche che l'autore ha portato su carta, costruito e distrutto per più di 500 pagine.
mchl_btt's review against another edition
3.0
quante uomini possono innamorarsi della stessa ragazza? e perché lei sceglierà sempre il malessere tra lo stuolo di pretendenti?
bellinam's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
ele1982's review against another edition
2.0
Purtroppo per quanto sia un classico con una scrittura eccezionale non mi sono proprio affezionata alla protagonista, né a nessuno dei personaggi, dei quali salvo solo i personaggi di Henrietta e Rolph, quest'ultimo è un personaggio stupendo.
ajza's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
chiara_calime's review
trovo la prosa di questo libro insopportabile quasi quanto i dialoghi che vorrebbero essere acuti ma a me sembrano solo scemi. Io normalmente amo i classici, e riesco a trovarci qualcosa di interessante anche quando non mi piacciono ma in questo caso faccio proprio fatica a non farmi calare la palpebra ogni volta che lo prendo in mano. Basta, la vita è troppo breve, passo ad altro.
readmetwotimes's review against another edition
5.0
http://nonsempreiosonodelmiostessoparere.blogspot.it/2015/05/ritratto-di-signora-di-henry-james.html
ssofia_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Isabel Archer, a young, American, book-smart girl with a need to feel free and independent travels to England to stay with her aunt and receives one marriage proposal after another. This book focuses on describing her character, attitudes and thoughts through her twenties, in a changing life situation. You also get fascinating snapshots of the supporting characters and insight into their attitudes. A major focus is on the role of a woman in American and European societies and the conflict between independence and social rigidity.
James' prose is not a light read. He is known for long, winding sentences which don't always say much, and for me this book could have been shorter. It started off slow, picked up pace in the middle, slowed down again and raced to the end. James chooses to focus his narrative on not necessarily what one would consider the biggest events of Isabel's life, but the ones which illustrate conflict and her independent thought.
The Portrait of a Lady is widely considered to be James' finest work. I can see why. I think the premise and the character portrayals are a notable contribution to literature. The things James doesn't tell you, and the depth of the characters lend themselves to conversation and deep analysis and speculation. Although it took me a while to get through the book, I found myself invested in the characters throughout and the first thing I wanted to do when I finished was exchange thoughts with someone else who had read it. However, a lot of the appreciation I feel only surfaced once I was at the end, and the act of reading itself felt like work rather than leisure.
James' prose is not a light read. He is known for long, winding sentences which don't always say much, and for me this book could have been shorter. It started off slow, picked up pace in the middle, slowed down again and raced to the end. James chooses to focus his narrative on not necessarily what one would consider the biggest events of Isabel's life, but the ones which illustrate conflict and her independent thought.
The Portrait of a Lady is widely considered to be James' finest work. I can see why. I think the premise and the character portrayals are a notable contribution to literature. The things James doesn't tell you, and the depth of the characters lend themselves to conversation and deep analysis and speculation. Although it took me a while to get through the book, I found myself invested in the characters throughout and the first thing I wanted to do when I finished was exchange thoughts with someone else who had read it. However, a lot of the appreciation I feel only surfaced once I was at the end, and the act of reading itself felt like work rather than leisure.
kingfan30's review against another edition
3.0
Boy did this book take me long time to read! It was wordy and at times I felt like throwing in the towel, and then just as that feeling was getting to me something interesting would happen. Based mainly in the uk and Italy I was surprised at how much they all travelled. I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters which maybe didn't help when my attentions were struggling. I find these classics a bit hit and miss, it was better than some I've read (sorry not a pride & prejudice fan at all) but I have enjoyed others more, at lease it's another ticked off the list.
blueyorkie's review against another edition
4.0
Were the writers of the 19th century all psychologists before their time and specialists in the feeling of love to top it off? Like Jane Austen's books, Portrait of a Lady struck me with the accuracy of the many characters' slightest source of in-depth psychological analysis.
It is a real feat that aroused my amused admiration and the impression of a better understanding of our functioning but very few emotions. In short, a piece of the bravery of 600 pages, which sometimes makes one think a little of Machiavelli or Dangerous Liaisons and, in my eyes, has not aged a bit, except perhaps for the sometimes very convoluted style and requires great concentration.
The novel portrays Isabel Archer, a free, intelligent, and beautiful young American who dreams of discovering Europe and life more ambitiously. Around such a heroine, there is no lack of suitors, schemers, and faithful. Isabel sometimes knows how to recognize them and make the right choices. But not always. Occasionally, she goes straight into the trap, especially as she wants to be independent in the face of her friends who have warned her. Moreover, his bad choices, stubbornness, and difficulties are the most exciting and realistic, making the book much more than a learning novel, a little cutesy and complicated.
Ironic and disillusioned but also courageous and generous, this portrait of a woman (which could moreover be in the plural as Mme Merle, Henrietta, Mrs. Touchet, and Pansy are present) deserves its place in the museum or your library.
It is a real feat that aroused my amused admiration and the impression of a better understanding of our functioning but very few emotions. In short, a piece of the bravery of 600 pages, which sometimes makes one think a little of Machiavelli or Dangerous Liaisons and, in my eyes, has not aged a bit, except perhaps for the sometimes very convoluted style and requires great concentration.
The novel portrays Isabel Archer, a free, intelligent, and beautiful young American who dreams of discovering Europe and life more ambitiously. Around such a heroine, there is no lack of suitors, schemers, and faithful. Isabel sometimes knows how to recognize them and make the right choices. But not always. Occasionally, she goes straight into the trap, especially as she wants to be independent in the face of her friends who have warned her. Moreover, his bad choices, stubbornness, and difficulties are the most exciting and realistic, making the book much more than a learning novel, a little cutesy and complicated.
Ironic and disillusioned but also courageous and generous, this portrait of a woman (which could moreover be in the plural as Mme Merle, Henrietta, Mrs. Touchet, and Pansy are present) deserves its place in the museum or your library.