Daisy MillerBy: Henry James
I read this book years ago, but didn't remember much about it beyond liking it. Well, I have now re-read it and can't quite figure out why I liked it before. Some classics are considered classics for obvious reasons. Not so with Daisy Miller.
The story is about Daisy Miller's first trip to Europe. There she spends most of her time with 2 men: Mr. Winterbourne and Mr. Giovanni. She has no qualms of going on walks with either of them (sometimes both), or on trips with them. When people begin talking about her and giving her the cold shoulder due to her behaviour she can't see what the big deal is. Well, she meets her doom during a trip with Mr. Giovanni to the Roman Coliseum at midnight. She gets sick and dies.
For being only 62 pages long (the B&N version), it wasn't so bad. However, I still think it's a story that had no obvious plot or point. Sadly, I think my copy of the book will get donated once I read Washington Square. Though, I have to say, it was fun to see my birthplace (Scnectady, NY) in a book!
2 comments:
I have only read "The Golden Bowl" by James, but yes, his stories usually have no obvious plot or purpose. With him, it was all about juxtaposing Americans and Europeans, and about psychological realism. I guess he's not that fun to read, then.;) But, you can say you read a Henry James novel, hehe.
Good review, very to the point.
Thank you! Yeah, I was gonna read Wasington Square right after, but felt I needed a break from Henry. Some if his work is good, this was not one of them.
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