The Portrait of a Lady, Volume I Audiobook (Unabridged)

" A friend recommended this. Loved it! Want to read it again. "

" I liked this book, chronicling the life of a lady in England in a previous era. "

" I enjoyed this book a great deal. This was the first book that I read by Henry James and I found it intriguing. I didn't expect to be so enthralled by the story itself. I wanted to know what the main character, Isabel, was going to do next. I became attached to the characters in the book. I always love to see the customs, traditions and society in earlier times and this is like a snapshot. I would definitely pick up another book by this author. "

" This is the kind of book to reread and never get tired of. I read it the first time when I was young and was saddened by it. I read it recently and realized how true it is. "

" I don't think I'll pick up Henry James again. The story I've enjoyed, but his style leaves a lot to be desired. I love the classics, but this has been work to try and get through. "

" A classic text, but stifling in its portrayal of women in the era of limited freedom. "

" I was emotionally caught in this book. "

" Classic James. Brilliant. Subtle, psychological, with such graceful writing. "

" It was tedious to read, so I skimmed over a lot of the book, hoping it would get better, but it didn't ! "

" Magnificent novel, emotionally and psychologically penetrating, infinitely nuanced, and beautifully expressed. "

" one of my very favorites. "

" I can't read this. I've tried but I just can't read this. I don't give a shit about the inner life of ladies of leisure from days gone by, even the unconventional ones. Pendulous thick writing style makes this a real slog. The PREFACE alone was longer than some books I've read "

" Superb. One of the more readable of James' masterpieces. Serves as a nice preliminary to whet the appetite of any reader interested in making a first foray into his work. I would also recommend The Princess Casamassima. "

" I read this book based on an interview of the author, Jeffrey Eugenides. I slogged through it and I am relieved for it to be over. "

" Great when I read it in my 20s. Great 20 years later. "

" Fine. Sometimes the writing is so terribly subtle that I found myself unable to figure out exactly why characters hated each other or were bad people. Oh to be rich, but not dead! "

" This is a fantastic book. If you haven't already read it, make it your next book. If you've read it, reread it. "

" I find the definition that James gives as to what he expects a lady to be quite fascinating. "

" I am loving this book! "

" I read this in my 20s while in Paris. My boyfriend and I only had the one copy between us, so I would read a page, then tear it out and give it to him. "

" I'm not a writer, just a reader and I loved this book. "

" if it weren't for the last third of this book, it'd be a five. "

" Sadly beautiful and well worth the time. "

" At points this was difficult to read and felt a little dull. I'm certain others could read this book with pleasure, I didnt. But I would like to read it again with an eye for gender studies. "

" My other all time favorite! A classic. I love the way Henry James writes and I could read this book over and over again. The characters are wonderful and Mr. James uses language so wonderfully! "

" The story was beautifully told. All the characters had unique voices and points of view.I thought the Osmond character was a bit too mustache-twirling.Isabel had a feel of a horror film last girl. "

" Thoroughly enjoyed it. Psychological character descriptions are layers and layers deep. Will remember many of the main characters, they are so intriguing. "

" I really had a hard time reading this, as James writes with such a full use of the language. The characters are a bit stereotypical, but the story has enough plot twists to make it interesting. "

" Classic, however the fact that he spent a whole page on describing a tea pot will never leave my memory of this book! "