The House of Mirth is my very favorite Edith Wharton novel and one of my most favorite books of all time. Having read her biography, I can see a lot of Wharton in Lily, the main character, and Wharton’s struggle against the role women played in early 20th century New York society. Although the story is of a certain time and offensive references to a Jewish man date the book, Lily’s battle as a woman who was “brought up to be ornamental” but wants to be so much more than her friends and peers will allow is a struggle that I think is still relatable.

I think I am the only person in the world who did not fall in love with this book. It certainly had some interesting parts, but I got really sick of the main character’s heavyhanded metaphors, cheeky parenthetical references and long, tangential rememberances of her blowhard father’s lectures during action scenes. This book could have been much better with a thorough editor slashing a good chunk of that academic babble with a big red Sharpie. I think there’s a good story in here but it’s hidden amongst all the extra, confusing filler and cutsey devices.

I want to party like it’s 1778.

Any boys out there read this? I’d be really interested to hear a male perspective, to see if the author got it right.

This movie was pretty hokey. Really hokey. It was amusing though and it made me grateful for certain, uh, qualities I possess. ;)

WOW! COFFEE AND COKEIN CONCERT SURE WAKES ME UP!
but the crash will suck.

This was my first Seattle International Film Festival film of the year and as is usual with SIFF films, it was a winner. A beautifully filmed, touching story.

I wish I could say this was WORTH CONSUMING!!!!!!! with extra exclamation marks. Everyone should see this movie and get motivated to change.

I’ll see YOU in the parent-teacher conference!

I’m just mad about animals! But racoons and cats get a little boring.