Of Henry James I've only read his The Turn of the Screw, but your review and the excerpts you've chosen to illustrate your point of view really made me feel for Isabel. Though the writing seems good, the plot sounds uncomfortable. And its sad that women from my mother's generation (born 1954) worked hard to live up to expectations of a wife that they had never agreed upon, but felt they had to live up to.
Hello Diana, thank you for your comment, apologies I didn't see it earlier. You are right when you say the plot is uncomfortable. I struggled to pick up another book after this one, it was quite a difficult read and stayed with me long after. It is interesting to see how wifely expectations have evolved, I think society still places unreasonable expectations on women in the home today, just in different ways.
Of Henry James I've only read his The Turn of the Screw, but your review and the excerpts you've chosen to illustrate your point of view really made me feel for Isabel. Though the writing seems good, the plot sounds uncomfortable. And its sad that women from my mother's generation (born 1954) worked hard to live up to expectations of a wife that they had never agreed upon, but felt they had to live up to.
Hello Diana, thank you for your comment, apologies I didn't see it earlier. You are right when you say the plot is uncomfortable. I struggled to pick up another book after this one, it was quite a difficult read and stayed with me long after. It is interesting to see how wifely expectations have evolved, I think society still places unreasonable expectations on women in the home today, just in different ways.
This, for me, is such a great weaving of soil, silk, and story. Lovely piece.
Thank you for those kind words John, apologies that I am only catching up on your comment just now. Your encouragement is very much appreciated.