It was the audio version I "read" and at times found it a little hard to follow but that was due to the format. I have to agree the book was depressing. I kept hoping for a happy ending but that was not to be. However, it was well written and worth reading even if over a century old. ( )

This was one of the most depressing books I have ever read. There was no bright moment in sight. Nowhere to 'rest your eyes' so to speak, from deep darkness.

Lily Bart is one of the most tragic heroines in literature. There was absolutely no way of a happy ending for her. She was doomed from the start. She wanted a life that never really belonged to her. She couldn't stand the thought of 'lowering' herself to anything less than the upper class, and that led to her downfall. Bart was naive and vein and sometimes just downright stupid. She sacrificed everything instead of taking that one happy opportunity that was right in front of her face.

The House of Mirth shows the cruelty of the upper class New York society at the beginning of the 20th century better than any non-fiction book could. Wharton crafted a beautifully tragic story showing that the upper class isn't what it's cracked up be. She tore off the blinds and shows us the vile and ugliness. ( )

The House of Mirth is about Lily Bart, a socialite in early 20th century New York, that lives richly when she is in fact poor. By the time the book starts, she has been on the marriage market for ten years, not having yet landed the husband that will allow her have the luxuries she requires. However, in spite of her famous beauty, Lily always seems unable to close the deal. Struggling between the values and skills she was raised to have and what she really wants, Lily can't commit to any one life, which makes it difficult for her to accomplish anything that makes her happy.

The House of Mirth is a very good book. It suffers from the usual flaws reading Wharton a century after it was written: it's melodramatic in places and it's hard at times to understand and identify with the bizarre social rules her characters live by. Having said that, the story and characters Wharton creates are timeless, insightful, and engaging. The point the author makes about Lily's sad life is interesting and says something about both the lot of women in Edwardian society and how one's upbringing can be at odds with one's real wishes. The House of Mirth only received four stars from me rather than five as Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence did merely for its length: at 400 or so pages the novel isn't inordinately long, but Wharton could have wrapped things up a little more quickly and made a bigger impact. ( )

Seeing this title as a Playaway audio book at my library finally convinced me to read(?) it. I also downloaded a print(?) version from Gutenburg.org for "backup." I kept getting frustrated with Lilly but finally realized my vexation was because she wouldn't do things my modern, middle class, socially liberated way. Then I got frustated with Edith Wharton for the "I can see it coming" cop-out ending, then realized it might have been quite stunning for her era, class, and upbringing. She further redeemed herself by making me wonder what the mystery "word" was.Angie: Ethan Fromme, Age of Innocence, and House of Mirth! ( )

Seeing this title as a Playaway audio book at my library finally convinced me to read(?) it. I also downloaded a print(?) version from Gutenburg.org for "backup." I kept getting frustrated with Lilly but finally realized my vexation was because she wouldn't do things my modern, middle class, socially liberated way. Then I got frustated with Edith Wharton for the "I can see it coming" cop-out ending, then realized it might have been quite stunning for her era, class, and upbringing. She further redeemed herself by making me wonder what the mystery "word" was.Angie: Ethan Fromme, Age of Innocence, and House of Mirth! ( )