The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Genre: Classics
Blurb (on back of book): First published in 1905, The House of Mirth shocked the New York society it so deftly chronicles, portraying the moral, social and economic restraints on a woman who dared to claim the privileges of marriage without assuming the responsibilities.
Lily Bart, beautiful, witty and sophisticated, is accepted by 'old money' and courted by the growing tribe of nouveaux riches. But as she nears thirty, her foothold becomes precarious; a poor girl with expensive tastes, she needs a husband to preserve her social standing, and to maintain her in the luxury she has come to expect. Whilst many have sought her, something - fastidiousness or integrity- prevents her from making a 'suitable' match.
MY OPINION: ****
*short review*
I listened to this one on audiobook after it was recommended to me by my high school librarian on my annual little visit. She described it as a classic with a "Kardashian-drama vibe" and I wholeheartedly agree. If the Kardashians were from a couple centuries ago, this is totally what their show would have been like.
I enjoyed this book. It had a lot of fun characters and storylines and it was a lot more developed than the only other Wharton I've read,
Ethan Frome. You can tell it was a more fleshed-out novel from her and I enjoyed seeing what her writing was like when she actually met her full potential.
While I wouldn't necessarily say that this was a "feminist" novel, per say, it definitely focused on a lot of women's issues of the time in a way that was probably shocking to many of its audiences. Lily Bart, our MC, spends the entirety of the novel thinking about how she should be married and worrying about her marital prospects but throughout it all, she is exhibiting the tendencies of the strong feminist woman.
I loved her. She knows that she wants to marry a man just because that is what is expected for her as a "rich" socialite in the public eye but for the entirety of the book, you realize that she does not actually want to play into that conjugal structure at all. I really enjoyed seeing that character development and see how underneath it all, she does not want to conform to these expectations that are placed on her solely because of her gender.
I liked how the book used the theme of gambling to highlight class differences and how quickly the illusion of wealth can be broken with just a snap of the fingers and one wrong turn. The contrast between old money, new money, wealth, and poverty were all very interesting and showcased very well and nuanced in this book. I wasn't expecting to see such serious topics highlighted in a book with such a happy title but here we are.
Overall, this was a very satisfying, fulfilling read. While there were times where I was a little bored and ready for it to pick up, it was a very entertaining read overall. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a really interesting and well-written classic novel.
Main Character: Lily
Sidekick(s): (Good) men, friends, etc
Villain(s): Marriage, gambling, (bad) men, etc
Classics Elements: This book was a classic women's literature novel.
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