The Portrait of a Lady

Wow, folks. I never thought it would happen. I never thought I would actually finish this book. I probably started this novel way back in 2007. And then put it down for a few months. Eventually, I would pick it up, read for a while, and put it down again for another four or five months. But after officially placing it on my 2010 Reading List, I was determined to finish it before the year's end.

The Portrait of a Lady follows the story of Isabel Archer as she travels from America to Europe, courtesy of her eccentric aunt who wishes Isabel to fulfill her potential. During her time abroad, she captures the heart of her invalid cousin Ralph, as well as a brash American and a British aristocrat. But it is Isabel's innocence and vulnerability that lead her not to love, but to an entrapment of deception and betrayal.

In all honesty, it was not my favorite Henry James book. The plot sounds exciting and adventuresome, but the dialogue reads rather slowly in many parts. I could never quite make out Isabel's character either. However, James does achieve a rather significant goal in that the reader is able to identify with the characters and often finds herself "rooting" for her certain suitors while scolding Isabel for her choices. One of my friends saw I was reading the book a while back and commented, "Ugh, that girl was so stupid. I was actually yelling at the book and telling her not to be an idiot and to choose a different man than the jerk she was falling for. I mean, really how unrealistic can you be?" But in reality, James portrays a very real storyline in that his characters are not charming and perfect on all levels; they are real beings. They each have perfectly amiable qualities, but each suffers from their own particular imperfections...how more true to life can an author be?

I am glad I read the novel, and it did seem to pick up a good deal toward the latter half, but I much prefer Daisy Miller or Washington Square to Isabel's story.