Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful and heart-rending
Review: This book is to be recommended not only to the lesbian or "invert," but to all sensitive souls who have felt themselves "outcast from life's feast," to borrow from Joyce. The prose itself is rich and beautiful as few books are today, and if this style is long winded as one reviwer has dubbed it, then modern literary culture needs to open its doors to let in some fresh air, regardless of the season. This style of this book, oddly, resembles more than anything that of the contemporary "straight" Bildungsroman by Thomas Wolfe-Look Homeward, Angel. But Hall is more effective at bringing home "the pain of all beauty" and I found myself laying the book down several times to wipe the salty blur from my eyes, such is its poignancy. The storyline and character, oddly again, of Hall's book and of her protagonist Stephen Gordon remind me of nothing so much as Rousseau in his Confessions. Yet, these similarities should not be surprising after all. All three were sensitive geniuses who suffered much through their own spiritual tenderness.-This book is for all who have felt, like Hall and Stephen, "...like a soul that wakes up to find itself wandering, unwanted, between the spheres."-Or as Shelley would have it in his fragment "To The Moon," "Art thou pale for weariness of climbing heaven and gazing on Earth, wandering companionless?"-It will ease your struggle and perhaps bring you rest.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and heart-rending
Review: This book is to be recommended not only to the lesbian or "invert," but to all sensitive souls who have felt themselves "outcast from life's feast," to borrow from Joyce. The prose itself is rich and beautiful as few books are today, and if this style is long winded as one reviwer has dubbed it, then modern literary culture needs to open its doors to let in some fresh air, regardless of the season. This style of this book, oddly, resembles more than anything that of the contemporary "straight" Bildungsroman by Thomas Wolfe-Look Homeward, Angel. But Hall is more effective at bringing home "the pain of all beauty" and I found myself laying the book down several times to wipe the salty blur from my eyes, such is its poignancy. The storyline and character, oddly again, of Hall's book and of her protagonist Stephen Gordon remind me of nothing so much as Rousseau in his Confessions. Yet, these similarities should not be surprising after all. All three were sensitive geniuses who suffered much through their own spiritual tenderness.-This book is for all who have felt, like Hall and Stephen, "...like a soul that wakes up to find itself wandering, unwanted, between the spheres."-Or as Shelley would have it in his fragment "To The Moon," "Art thou pale for weariness of climbing heaven and gazing on Earth, wandering companionless?"-It will ease your struggle and perhaps bring you rest.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and heart-rending
Review: This novel in to be recommnded not only to lesbians and "inverts." It is to be recommended to all sensitive souls and lovers of beauty and artists and all who feel themselves terribly rejected by mainstream culture. The prose in itself is beautifully written in a manner that few books of any sort are today. If this lovely style is "long-winded," as one reviewer dubbed it, then today's literary culture would do well to open the door and let some air in, regardless of the season! The book that comes closest, oddly, to the style of Hall's masterpiece is the contemporary "straight" Bildungsroman of Thomas Wolfe-Look Homeward, Angel. Hall is more effective, though, in bringing home "the pain of all beauty," and I found myself having to put the bok down several times to clear the salty blur from my eyes, such is its poignancy. Oddly again, the storyline of Hall's book and the plight of Stephen Gordon remind me of nothing so much as Rousseau in his Confessions.-Then again, none of this should really be surprising. All three were sensitiive geniuses who suffered through much of their lives. This book will strike a chord of love in you, if you, like Hall and her protagonist, have ever felt "...like a soul that wakes up to find itself wandering, unwanted, between the spheres."
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and heart-rending
Review: This novel in to be recommnded not only to lesbians and "inverts." It is to be recommended to all sensitive souls and lovers of beauty and artists and all who feel themselves terribly rejected by mainstream culture. The prose in itself is beautifully written in a manner that few books of any sort are today. If this lovely style is "long-winded," as one reviewer dubbed it, then today's literary culture would do well to open the door and let some air in, regardless of the season! The book that comes closest, oddly, to the style of Hall's masterpiece is the contemporary "straight" Bildungsroman of Thomas Wolfe-Look Homeward, Angel. Hall is more effective, though, in bringing home "the pain of all beauty," and I found myself having to put the bok down several times to clear the salty blur from my eyes, such is its poignancy. Oddly again, the storyline of Hall's book and the plight of Stephen Gordon remind me of nothing so much as Rousseau in his Confessions.-Then again, none of this should really be surprising. All three were sensitiive geniuses who suffered through much of their lives. This book will strike a chord of love in you, if you, like Hall and her protagonist, have ever felt "...like a soul that wakes up to find itself wandering, unwanted, between the spheres."
Rating:
Summary: The only book that's ever made me cry
Review: What a sad book. Unlike the other reviewers on this site I think it's very well written. After reading this book I couldn't help but think what it would have been like to live in a world as conservative as it was then - actually the world even 50 years ago. It really makes you think that life is pretty short and there's not enough time to waste on hate - especially for something that's such a non-issue as sexual preference.
Rating:
Summary: Stumbled over this work in a used book shop..
Review: When I picked up this book, it was simply because it was from 1928 (yes, I got a 1st edition!) and was sitting the in gay/lesbian literature section of the local used book store. I've been looking into late 1800 and early 1900 lesbain literature for a while because it seems to be generally more well-written then the more recent novels.Earlier in the month I had read "Wild Heart: A Life" by Suzanne Rodriguez which is about Natalie Barney and her adventures in the early 1900s. Imagine my surprise when the main character, Stephen Gordon, began resembling Natalie! I was entralled in this novel. You can put it down or pick it up, but no matter what it has withstood the test of time, and it depicted a very real life for lesbians in the early 1900s. I would reccommed this book along with "Wild Heart: A Life" to anyone interested in the experiences of homosexuals in the past.
Rating:
Summary: Stumbled over this work in a used book shop..
Review: When I picked up this book, it was simply because it was from 1928 (yes, I got a 1st edition!) and was sitting the in gay/lesbian literature section of the local used book store. I've been looking into late 1800 and early 1900 lesbain literature for a while because it seems to be generally more well-written then the more recent novels. Earlier in the month I had read "Wild Heart: A Life" by Suzanne Rodriguez which is about Natalie Barney and her adventures in the early 1900s. Imagine my surprise when the main character, Stephen Gordon, began resembling Natalie! I was entralled in this novel. You can put it down or pick it up, but no matter what it has withstood the test of time, and it depicted a very real life for lesbians in the early 1900s. I would reccommed this book along with "Wild Heart: A Life" to anyone interested in the experiences of homosexuals in the past.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites
Review: When I was first coming out, I happened to stumble across this book. It was wonderful to identify with the main character and feel not so alone, like someone else had felt the same way I did. I also became more grateful for the differences in society today.
Rating: 
Summary: Hall strikes a nerve
Review: While I find Hall's prose less than perfect, her take on lesbian life from childhood to adolescence to adulthood is realistic emotionally. It's very easy to relate to Stephen, the main character who must pass all the trials of lesbianhood, including unrequited love and rejection by her mother. I recommend it to anyone who has some time on their hands who wants an inside view into the mind of a lesbian.
Rating: 
Summary: not so great
Review: While this book has merit as a "literary classic," it's value doesn't go much beyond that. For the most part, the story was interesting, though it certainly had its slow parts. But Hall's language and writing style is unrefined and leaves much to be desired. If you read it outloud, you realize just how cheesy and unrealistic some of the conversations and narrative really are. By the end of the book, I was glad to be done with it.
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