Last night, I finished Washington Square, after picking it up six months ago on the other side of the ocean. I kept on finding it in unusual places, reading a few pages, and walking away. Until two weeks ago, when I found it (and bought it) at a Houston chain called Half Price Books.
I shop there a lot.
Anyway, the book was great, in my opinion a real gem. On the heels of finishing it, I spoke with a friend who's taking Developmental Psychology with Dr. Rulon and who recently sat through a lecture or two on gender. There's a lot that can be said about domineering men and the women who align themselves to them, in the world of Washington Square. Interestingly enough, the heroine of his book responds to this domination/alignment grid in unconventional ways. The combination of these thoughts sparked a little wildfire in my head. "Didn't James also write Daisy Miller? And The Portrait of a Lady? *gasp* I bet James uses female protagonists a LOT. And I bet there are things to be thought about it."
Almost three clicks later, I stumbled upon the Henry James section of the Literature Network. Turns out there are quite a few novels and plays he's written in which women make important and surprising decisions. I think this is going to be a part of my next big reading project.
(And what else do you think I found on this site? Wonder of wonders! Say it with me, people, the thing we've all been secretly hoping for without ever knowing it: FULLY SEARCHABLE BIBLIOGRAPHIES. Anything by a participating author, at my fingertips! So much for such desultory activities as finding a job, applying to grad schools, talking to people, eating and sleeping. I'm bound for literary overexposure. Hurrah! Say good-bye to my eyeballs!)
Posted by nickles at November 1, 2007 02:49 PM | TrackBackHave you read the American? There's quite a lot about gender in there, although more along the lines of negative example. You'd probably enjoy the whole expat angle too, I would think.
Posted by: rich at November 2, 2007 11:13 AMhey, rich! yeah, i've pretty much decided the American will be my next victim, er... target.
(you know, if i can poorly critique enough significant pieces of literature outside of academic feedback, i'll be able to turn myself into prime material for a job at a religious publishing house. won't that be fun?)
that was my conscience, telling me to slow down and read thoughtfully. or else. hmmm... maybe i should read it in concert with others. what do you say, others?
i'll post anew when i find a copy of the book in question.
Posted by: bob at November 5, 2007 05:14 PM(yes, i could always read it online. but the point is that i'll just end up skimming and thinking i know something about it. i may need physical pages, after all.)
Posted by: bob again at November 5, 2007 05:15 PM