Welcome to Litsy!

When an author provides just enough details but still leaves space for interpretation, I cannot stop thinking about the characters for days after I finish reading. This was my first time reading a book by Henry James, but I enjoyed the pace and how he brought his characters to life. The very last scene still replays in my mind.

Sad, sad book. Nobody is either good or bad; everyone is both. Fathers harm daughters in their so called good intentions gone awry. Yet Dr. Sloper is right, Morris is a fraud. Not evil, just mercenary and a fraud. Life sucks. Women are not free. Men are either noble or slackers. This is what people think but James manages to transcend and finds humanity in all.

#3Books #SetInNewYorkCity If you have been hesitant to try Henry James this shorter novel might have some appeal.Not as long winded and set in the part of New York he grew up in Washington Square, Greenwich Village , NYC.The part of New York that I love the best.❤️❤️❤️

Started this for Sept BOTM.. better late than never!

A #black #book from Henry James. (With a nicer cover than yesterday‘s James!) #blackcatchallenge #octoberputaspellonyou @Clwojick @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

Today‘s charity shop book haul, for the grand total of Qc! Two for my husband, three classics that I don‘t have on my shelves and the rest just looked interesting...!

A/K/A “A Portrait of a Plain Lady”. This diverts from the pretty, socially mannered, young girl looking for a mate story and does a great job of showing what a “quiet” female life looks like from the inside, where no one has love for you or faith in you & your dance card isn‘t full. As often happens, this author‘s “lesser” novel is still a gem. Also a good read if in this era of “show don‘t tell” you‘ve forgotten what a good narrator sounds like.

A/K/A A Portrait of a Plain Lady. This diverts from the pretty socially mannered young girl looking for a mate story and does a great job of showing what a “quiet” female life looks like from the inside, where no one has love for you or faith in you & your dance card isn‘t full. As often happens, this author‘s “lesser” novel is still a gem. Also a good read if in this era of “show don‘t tell” you‘ve forgotten what a good narrator sounds like.

Despite having seen this as a play, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. The longer the story goes, the less it is about a fortune hunter and the more it is about a standoff between an arrogant father and his underestimated daughter. It's fairly interesting and witty, even if it's hard to tell whether the end is a triumph or a tragedy. Worth a ponder.

HALFWAY REPORT. My does Mr James use quite a few words, but the picture he paints with them has the light and depth of a Vermeer painting. #litsyclassics

I love the movie, time to read the book.

"She had a vision of the ceremony being performed in some subterranean chapel - subterranean chapels in New York were not frequent, but Mrs. Penniman's imagination was not chilled by trifles..."

Definitely not a happy story so far, but interesting and witty at times!

I found this #richgirl-problems novel heartbreaking. Maybe up there with Wharton's The House of Mirth. I just can't get over how mean the father is to his own daughter because she's essentially good and plain and doesn't live up to his expectations. This doesn't seem to be a favourite among Henry James fans, even, but I love it (and the 1997 movie). #AugustGrrrl @Cinfhen

I saw the play based on this story with my cousin a few years ago when Dan Stevens and Jessica Chastain were in it. I've been dying to read the book ever since. Now I've got it on Kindle for a rainy day! #ashapeinthetitle #JuneBookBugs @RealLifeReading

She is like a revolving lighthouse; pitch darkness alternating with a dazzling brilliancy!

#Greencovers and greenish ones from the TBR on my Kindle in a delayed St. Paddy's Day post. #MarchintoReading

A quick and easy read, James takes readers through the home of a wealthy single father and his loving daughter. It's a witty, frustrating tale of heartbreak and gossip and by the end, I grew to love and sympathize with Catherine, the heroine.

I really enjoyed Daisy Miller so I was eager to read more Henry James, but this was so disappointing. There wasn't a single character in this book that I liked or was worth getting behind; the way that Catherine was treated by Morris and her family was despicable; and the severe lack of agency in Catherine bothered me so much.

Is Henry James worth carrying on with? Or does he treat all his female characters like that?

Started this last night because my book club is reading it. I'm pretty sure I've read this; in any case I can see tragedy coming. NOT FEELING IT. Someone tell me why I ought to get excited about this book. 😕

Made a little trip to my favourite bookshop in the capital today!

"Has she made a scene?"

"She is not scenic."

This is the only book I had to use Cliff's Notes for in high school. I was so throughly bored that I cheated! Never had the courage to try another Henry James novel after this.