The House of Mirth (Abridged) Audiobook

" The story of Lily Bart is a story about how a young woman slips through the cracks of society and finds herself on the outside due to the poor choices she makes. There is also an excellent movie with Gillian Anderson as Lily. Edith Wharton is one of my favourite novelists. Wharton was considered a masterful novelist. Even her second novel shows her true talent. She is an inspiration to me as a writer. This was the second time I have read this book. "

" One of my all time favorites "

" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Had never read anything by Wharton (okay, maybe a short story in lit class in high school or college). She is quite a writer, creating full characters that are complex, not easy to love OR hate, but must be loved AND disliked. It's a quick read. "

" I first came across Edith Wharton because of Ethan Frome and, while I think that Ethan Frome is better in terms of plot, I think the writing style is still as lovely. Lily got on my nerves at the beginning but as her situation worsened she slowly became more sympathetic to me as a character. "

" Apart from the fact that I liked it and, once fairly into it, couldn't put it down, House of Mirth broadened my understanding of what a novel of manners could scope. Previously, an unhappy marriage was the worst fate I thought could befall I protagonist in a novel of manners. Ms. Wharton showed me otherwise. In addition, it showed me further just how human and faulty a protagonist can be portrayed and still elicit sympathy and empathy from the reader. I identified with Lily Barton in more ways than I wanted to admit. Her age (nearly thirty) also grabbed my attention and helped acclimate my writer's senses to admitting older heroines into my protagonist age-range possibilities. "

" I like Wharton's writing and think I would have enjoyed this one more except for the current times. The story is about the endeavors of a beautiful young woman to stay in the social circles her birth entitles her to, but her increasing impoverishment makes more and more difficult. I admired the heroine Lily Bart in her efforts to "keep up" while sabotaging her marriage prospects out of a personal sense of honor and secret abhorrence for her useless life. However, I had little sympathy for her or her troubles or her friends. The troubles of the idle rich seem trite and boring...which I think was Wharton's point, but didn't make for compelling reading. "

" Who recommended this to me? Thank you!! It is brilliant. Her descriptions of social code and etiquette are searing, what a master of psychology. Damn, woman, you slay me!! "

" After reading Eugenides new 'The Marriage Plot' I had this craving for Victorian novels. If they have unhappy endings, even better. "

" I just love this author! "

" Bored me to tears! I really wanted to like it... "

" What a jewel of a book! The writing is exquisite. It's Charles Dickens meets Jane Austen. I am definitely going to read it again, soon. "

" Time is running out for 29 year-old Lily to find a husband. It's easy to see why this became a classic. "

" Wharton, as a woman, couldn't present the world as Norris could in McTeague, but her understanding and representation of society is no less scathing. "

" A classic must read, great writing "

" one of the first books i really loved that didn't have a happy ending. "

" The story is kind of old but the writing is wonderful. I love how Edith's choices of words. "

" I LOVED this book. Lily's tragic story is moving and thought provoking. A really interesting insight into life for 19th century American women. "

" There is nothing more to say about Wharton's work that hasn't already been said. I love, love, love it!! "

" Re-read this again - I really enjoyed it. "

" I thought this book was okay. The main character was so wishy washy that I was constantly yelling at her in my head throughout this book. "

" Who doesn't love a book about the lives of the upper class? "

" Holy crap, what a story. And a vocab lesson, in the best possible way. Edith Wharton is one of those authors I categorized in college as being too second wave, but I was wrong, she was her own wave, and Ms. Bart brings it home in a stunning way. "

" it was boring long and the end was throughly disapointing. "

" MY. FAVORITE. BOOK. EVER. So complicated, yet so simple. I have read this book more than ten times and loved it more each time. Still extremely relevant, as Lily Bart struggles against the limitations on women's choices and refuses to accept compromises until it is too late. Triumphant. "

" Loved it! I can't believe it took me until age 32 to read Edith Wharton...Poor Lily. "

" Wharton is just brilliant. I love her individual sentences. This particular story has a dark bite, but I adored reading it. Although I knew the premise of the story, the way she brings everything about wasn't expected, though felt natural. "

" Beautifully written but what a depressing read. Unfortunately, there was little redeeming about the protagonist, Lily Bart. I much preferred "Age of Innocence." "

" For me, this is one of those books that can only be appreciated after reflection. While reading it - I hated it. "

" Loved it. I think Lily purposely took her life. Life was just too dismal and she didn't see in hope. "

" I loved this story. "