#Classic The Bostonians
by 
Henry James
Finished: December 2022
Genre: fiction
Rating: F
Bad news: HJ pummels the reader with a firehose of words!
Really, while reading for hours I realised I could underline
4 sentences that summed up each page!
Bad news: PACE: The slow start always affects my overall opinion of a book. Don’t get me wrong — not all books will start with some big action sequence and that’s not what I’m asking either. But after book 1 (pg 35—190) I’m seriously considering DNF status.
Bad news: Where are the interesting characters and beautiful writing?
Good news: Theme is the classic “love triangle“ with a twist!
Verena (our ingénue) has many male suitors (Mr Burrage, Mr Ransom) and they are all competing with Verena’s ‘close relationship’ with Miss Olive Chancellor (one of Boston’s society). Olive succeeds in weaving a fine web of authority and dependence around Verena. The only thing that kept me reading was to see if Verena can escape Olive’s tentacles!
Personal: When I gritted my teeth every time I picked up this book
is all the proof I needed to give The Bostonians a low score.
Don’t waste your time reading this book.
I must note…the introduction to this Penguin edition was MORE interesting than the entire story!
There is little dialogue and too much detail wrapped in convoluted sentences. It may sound cliché but true: men who don’t really understand women should not write books about them.
Read Edith Wharton (House of Mirth and Age of Innocence)…now those are unforgettable classics!
NancyElin.blog 
I read a couple of HJ in my twenties and found them verbose to be sure! His portrayal of women is problematic, or perhaps just Victorian?
The movies and BBC dramas are often a better way to go.
Best advice…I agree…watch the BBC dramas, enjoy the acting, costumes and that saves one having to endure a firehouse of
‘Blah, blah, blah’…by HJ.
Dire, I was so disappointed the first time I read a Henry James novel, especially as it came just after reading the wonderful novel Author, Author by David Lodge about his life. Edith Wharton, Yes!
I think1I have finally cleared my bookshelf of Henry James. ‘Bostonians’ was an impulse read to reduce my TBR. “ Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Yes, sometimes we must draw the line and believe in our own interpretation of what makes a classic, HJ will never be on my list. 🤔
Hmm…I see it described as a “satire” which makes me automatically think “No thank you.” LOL
I have not yet read any Henry James. Are there any good ones by Mr. Famous?
Watch movie Portrait of a Woman with Nicole Kidman…was very good, great costumes. If you still want to try “Mr Famous” read the book with the same title. I prefer Edith Wharton…10x better than HJ.
Thanks for the tips!