Rating: 
Summary: Henry James 101
Review: One of his simpler books. Very easy to read for those who find his other works a bit more difficult to follow. A classic plot that makes for a very quick read: greed, control, jealousy, indifference. A good period piece that is written in a very simple style- especially for James.
Rating: 
Summary: Good prose, dull characters, not even worth finishing
Review: Perhaps this book has so many good reviews because the only people who have read it are fans of Henry James.As for myself, this was my first James book, and while I enjoy his writing style to an extent, I have to say that the characters, esp. the HEROINE Catherine, are all terribly dull and one-dimensional. I'm not sure how other reviewers came to the conclusion that this book has "in-depth character analyses." ANd even if it does, you as the reader will not care, because the characters are all so freakin boring. Trust
me on this. The only character I found remotely interesting was her cruel father, Dr. Sloper. I wish Henry James had written a novel instead about how Dr. Sloper met his wife. Anyways, I have not even finished this book, nor do I plan on finishing it. I already know how it ends, it's very predictable, and quite frankly, I don't believe a girl as dull and thick-headed as Catherine could ever exist. Henry James did not know a thing about women. I guess this is to be expected from a male writer who apparently did not get along with the ladies and never married. Boring, Boring, Boring. IF you want a book taking place in the same era/setting, that does a wonderful job analyzing deep characters that are INTERESTING and that you'll actually come to care deeply about, then I suggest you read *House of Mirth* by Edith Wharton. It's one of my favorite books, and Lily, so unlike Catherine, is a true tragic heroine deserving of our attention and love.
Rating:
Summary: Uncomplicated with cinematic appeal
Review: The introduction to this paperback edition, by Peter Conn, (I always read introductions after I finish a book)- places WS in the pantheon of American letters. Of itself, it does not belong. But by its birthright, it does. It was James' last American novel, a product of his distinguished NY childhood. James fled the states for Europe soon after its publication. NY, he explained had too little social conflict and diversity, (how's that for irony.) Pre Civil War New York was, at least to the middle classes who make up the characters, a tranquil, unhurried and well- mannered, society. The same manners, from a glamorous, if not tragic slant were drawn in The Age of Innocence and other (to me) more intoxicating tales by his friend Edith Wharton. Hawthorne, we are told, was one of James' masters, his influence is felt in W.S. On its own, the story is middling. As an evocation of another time, without any real connection to what New York was soon to become, it lures the reader into a forgotten past. Any American lit student or NY city buff will cherish it for its august parentage. The plot lacks surprises or unexpected twists. It centers on the maneuverings of a gold digging scoundrel in pursuit of a plain and unsophisticated heiress. Her father, a self-made, well-off physician, adamantly and sadistically condemns the match- he is right about the man's motives, but his methods are cruel. The comic and sometimes despicable aunt, Lavinia, living completely on her brother's charity, is turned into a divisive fool, so enamored of Townsend, the fox, that she allows herself to be manipulated against her niece and brother. During a trip abroad, where father and daughter hoped to resolve the division, Lavinia opened the door to the doctor's own office, drinking the doc's finest wine and puffing his cigars, we see the true soul of the pretender as though looking into the future.
Of the main characters, only Catherine, the heiress is sympathetic, and more so as she displays her resolve and honor. The others are ensconced in their own past beliefs and devious plottings, reducing Catherine to a symbol, without life. Her father's position and the strength of his objections, after all, are based less on feelings for his daughter than his mortification that Morris Townsend, a rogue and layabout would live off his estate.
The story has appealed to stage writers and filmmakers since it was written 120 years ago. Catherine was played by Olivia de Haviland to Montgomery Clift's Townsend; directed by William Wyler in 1949. In 1997, it was made into a film again starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Albert Finney as the doctor, Maggie Smith as Lavinia. With the strength of those players and the cinematographers to vivify the otherwise pale story, I can imagine the results would bear watching. NY, before the great migrations seems closer to the antebellum south than what it has so magnificently and tragically come to represent.
Rating:
Summary: Quite Complex for a Novella
Review: This book by Henry James is as different as can be from his longer works, but it has its own charm. The charactization is quite complex for a novella. It's just unfortunate that Catherine is so unredeemably staid. I realize that quite a few women chose to live a life alone in those days, but she seemed quite plodding to me. She does develop into a spinster that seems to enjoy that state. And Morris is quite the cad, but we the readers are never in any doubt as to that. The doctor father is another story, He's so right-minded that it's difficult to imagine anyone could be that stubborn. And the widowed aunt is a treasure - silly, manipulative and oh so romantic. This novella is written like a play since there are only four main characters, and most of the action takes place in the house on Washington Square. I really think this book looks deceptively simple, but it is not as simple as it appears. I enjoyed the story.
Rating:
Summary: One of those sad, but she triumphs type of books
Review: This book is one of my favorite Henry James book. Although, I kind of wanted a happier ending for our heroine. She nevertheless perseveres and achieves her own happines. The characters are rich and reading about this time period is always interesting.
Rating:
Summary: The Boring, The Bad and The Ugly.
Review: This book, at first glance, has the makings of a satisfactory piece of literature. However, by the end of the first chapter, one comes to realize that this is far from the case. My biggest problem with the book is the fact that James doesn't give a hoot about any of the characters, or at least that's how his writing comes across. Subsequently, the reader could put the book down at anytime and feel no urge to return. All the characters fit the stereotype molded for them, and do not waver for an instant, giving them a terribly unrealistic quality. Another big problem is the fact that Catherine can not get it through her thick skull that her father never has loved her, and never will love her. She bends over backwards, pushing away all happiness in a futile attempt to please this man who would probably welcome her untimely demise. Contrary to James' clear indifference to his heroine, reffering to her as talentless, beautyless failure, she really has a lot of things working for her. She is kind, respectful, intuitive and very deep feeling. This is a perfect example of how none of the characters come into their own. Catherine could have easily left her home and become her own person at anytime, but because she started out as a submissive, terrified unloved little girl, she can never be anything else. Lastly, the so called 'love story' was a complete bore. If her father really did hate Catherine, what right did he have to care about whom she married? Again, this element of the novella was told with no feeling at all, and I couldn't have cared less whether Catherine and Morris married or fell off a cliff. All in all, this book was a complete waste of valuable time, a definite do-not-read.
Rating: 
Summary: Truth Behind Washington Square
Review: This novel is a intellectualized version of an ill fated love story which may seem dull and actionless to many due to the absence of love triangles, lusty love sences, violence, drugs, or some kind of ultimately pointless drama that we crave today, but to others this is a true masterpiece which explores the psychological aspects of every single character and shamelessly unveils their disfunctions, rarely done in modern literature and films. Dr. Sloper is the father of a young woman, catherine, he is a medical doctor and his views are very technical he knows someone just by their exterior as a doctor in that time had to diagnose illnesses by examining the anatomy so therefore when Moriss townsend enters the picture to sweep catherine off her feet with his charmingly handsom good looks Dr. Sloper immediately rejects moriss' confession of loce for Catherine, because he looks very handsom on the outside, moriss really has no career no money and catherine is a daughter of a very wealthy Doctor and deceased mother. He immediately accuses moriss of being mercenary. Since catherine is afraid of her father and she is very timid and shy of the real world she can not break free into her own identity and is supressed by her father, and recoils her love and passion for moriss for 30 years. All meanwhile Mrs aunt penniman is Dr slopers meddling sister who is one of those couchpotato old hags that sit around all day and watch soap operas accept here her soap opera is catherines affairs with moriss and she enjoys taking the position of "messenger" between them without ever being instructed or hinted towards. As my own diagnosis: It seems to be that Dr. Sloper loves Catherine even though his true love is for his dead wife and lost son, he loves her enough to take advantage of her fear of him and gradually force her to reject moriss, because the doctor within himself knows the ultimate truth behind this handsome man who is sly with his choice of words, and he knows that all his earnings will be left to poor, innocent, shy, and naive Catherine and Moriss will know exactly how to spend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to the writing of Henry James
Review: This relatively short novel is a wonderful way to become acquainted with the writing style of Henry James.Washington Square is much more accessable than some of his other works.
The plot revolves around a young woman who is living in Washington Square with her widowed physician father and his sister. The daughter Catherine is not considered particularly attractive by her father so that when a handsome young man begins to court her the father is imediately suspicious of his motives since Catherine is his only heir.
The tension between the father and his daughter is offset by the bond that the Aunt develops with the young man . James allows us to perceive the motivations of each of these primary characters and we come to recognise that Catherine is in fact in danger of being deceived. The father who is not a very sympathetic character is insightful enough to do what is necessary in his view to prevent this. The characters are all well concieved and remain true to type throughout the story. A bonus is the setting of old New York and the scenes of a growing city are vividly drawn. Imagine a time when moving "uptown" meant moving to what is now the Village. Overall I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it
Rating:
Summary: Sad Story
Review: This was a sad story of a women torn between the two men that she loved. Her controlling father did not like the man that she wished to marry. He felt that he was only after her money and tried to keep them apart. The poor women suffered dearly trying to do the right thing. It was very disheartening.
Rating:
Summary: A complex novel- dark, gloomy, hyper-real
Review: This was my first Henry James Novel. I found his style to be quite artistic and observent as an omniscient narrator. The complex father-daughter relationship (is there a Freudian influence?), the fortune hunter Morris, and the meddling aunt are expertly portrayed. The ending could have been better though. Catherine should have been stronger. Certainly a stereo type for those times.
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