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Liked It4 of 4 members found this review helpful “In The Age of Innocence Edith Wharton raises the ghost of genteel 1870s New York society and lays its hearts and minds open for us, by some mysterious sorcery transmitting authorial omniscience from writer to reader. It is an evocation of great vividness and clarity: we know exactly,...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“My first Edith Wharton book. Loved her wit. I wouldn't exactly call it a love story but a good story about New York society and a love affair in the late 19th century. She's an excellent writer and I'm very glad I read it.”
Nancy D wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I read this because I'd seen the movie years ago. It's also the first time I've read an Edith Wharton novel. It's a good book; sometimes it's hard to keep the characters straight. A tale of 1870's New York 'high society' and its mores and morals and hypocrosies. A love triangle develops among the three central characters, Newland Archer, his fiancee and wife, May Welland, and the Countess Ellen Olenska, May's cousin. Ellen returns to New York after leaving her husband the Count Olenski because of his philandering; it is soon revealed that she also had an affair with her husband's male secretary. She wants to divorce him so she can be 'free' but all her relatives and society frown on this. It's amazing to me how these people expected women to be so subservient; they were merely ornaments: not expected to have opinions or flout rules. Read the book to see what happens between the lovers Newland and Ellen.....”
Cathy M wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“So emotionally evocative--rich, bleak, suffocating, deep, resigned, ardent. ”
Dana G wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“hmmm.... I liked the characters much more in this than in House of Mirth. The society is of course frustrating and I knew May had more up her sleeve than he thought. I was glad with how she ended it--him seeing the weaknesses of that society and appreciating changes. Better than HoM but still a downer of a book despite the beautiful imagery and allusions she paints.”
kala_way wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Grand but tragic tale of Society life in NY at the turn of the century; excellent exploration of this time period and the characters are wonderful and easy to believe.”
Jennifer H wrote this review Saturday, October 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My all-time favorite. I hate the end, which is why I love it.”
Deb E. wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A wonderful read with forbidden love set in constricting Victorian times.”
Imahappynanna wrote this review Sunday, October 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I couldn't wait to see what happened to the characters in the later years. It was a good story and thought provoking.”
Vicki C wrote this review Thursday, October 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I had to read this for my AP Literature class. I will admit that the writting is excellent some of the best I have ever read and the themes are deep and meaningful, they make you think. The main character is possibly the most agravating person I have ever met though!! The ending made me so angry. I know she wrote three different ones but the one published with this book makes me so angry, is he insane does he have no sense. I am so angry at him!! Arghh!! Newland is soooooooo annoying and such a failure of man!!!!”
Rinn wrote this review Tuesday, September 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Beautiful”
Jennifer K wrote this review Friday, September 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
