Daisy Miller

This is a character study like most of James' novels, and the heroine, Daisy, is a charming young American girl making the European tour with her unflappable mother and amoral brother. Daisy and her family are blissfully ignorant of the Draconian societal standards of the Europeans and behave as they would in small town America. Aside from the beautifully crafted scenes, James makes the point that the old ways of conduct, the pseudo-morality, must gave way to the more natural and refreshing interactions of the New World.

Daisy Miller was an interesting read. We learn about the Millers and their lives through Winterbourne’s eyes, a cultivated American who was staying in Europe. While the theme/symbolism of this novella is apparently about innocence and one woman’s rejection of what her society deems is proper for a young lady, what struck me the most about this story was the parenting. Mrs. Miller is a very passive, absent parent; she’s with them but not really–she scolds Randolph (but clearly not enough to discipline him from his mischief) and she seemed completely unaware of all of the bad talk that’s going on behind Daisy’s back. The Millers are the family in the train that you wouldn’t want to share compartments with or sit behind or in front in an airplane. Despite of my frustration over the family, I could not put this novel down, I thought Henry James' writing was quite accessible.

You could read my full review of the novel over at my blog: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/01/30/review-daisy-miller/ ( )

Daisy Miller is a nitwit with no brain-to-mouth filter, and Frederick Winterbourne is a waffling creep, and together they form a brick of idiocy that I longed to crash through my computer screen while I read Daisy Miller.

This was my (free via Kindle!) introduction to Henry James. I will try not to let it prejudice me to the point of never touching him again, since I've heard he's a big deal in the world of literature, and I should probably read more of his stuff. I mean, it was well written, but I couldn't stand the characters.

I think a big part of it is that, for some reason, I couldn't separate myself enough to just view the misogynistic stuff that was "normal" back then without having it grate. And I had the same problem I did with a few of Scott Fitzgerald's stories, where I was just SO IRRITATED with these wealthy jackasses who had nothing better to do than create crappy interpersonal drama -- WHILE LOUNGING ABOUT IN AWESOME PLACES -- that I couldn't get past my irritation and enjoy the reading.

Then there's that awesome double standard Winterbourne clings to for the last third of the novella, which made me read faster just so I could finish. It's too short of a story to just leave unfinished, or else I would have added it to the Not Gonna Happen pile. What a jerk!

Anyway, apparently there are two versions of Daisy Miller: the first one and then one that James revised for publication in a collection of his works. I think the one I read was the former, but I don't really care enough to find out.

I'm glad I read it -- for the sake of the notch on my headboard -- and at least the writing was okay, but I am more than happy to leave these characters behind and never look back.


(two-and-a-half stars) ( )

Yes, I picked the smallest, least intimidating James book. But I liked it! I wonder if Fitzgerald's Daisy was inspired by this one? ( )

Henry James is a very good writer, but this novella is rather odd. All of his books I have read leave me feeling unsettled, and this one is no exception. ( )