Rating: 
Summary: a classic romantic fantasy
Review: "Portrait of Jennie" is the classic romantic fantasy about a struggling painter, Eben, and a strange little girl, Jennie, who becomes the artist's muse and his passion. In the months following their first encounter in New York City's Central Park, the enigmatic Jennie mysteriously vanishes and reappears. With each visit, she defies time, magically growing into young womanhood before Eben's bewildered but appreciative eyes. Jennie's beauty and supportive devotion to Eben inspires him to create his masterpiece. Written by Robert Nathan, also the author of many prose and poetry works including "The Bishop's Wife," "Portrait of Jennie" was made into the 1948 movie starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Possibly a bit leisurely and introspective for those with fast-paced, action-oriented tastes, "Portrait of Jennie" nevertheless is a haunting and heartwarming tale of timeless trust, patience, and affection.
Rating:
Summary: a classic romantic fantasy
Review: "Portrait of Jennie" is the classic romantic fantasyabout a struggling painter, Eben, and a strange little girl, Jennie,who becomes the artist's muse and his passion. In the months following their first encounter in New York City's Central Park, the enigmatic Jennie mysteriously vanishes and reappears. With each visit, she defies time, magically growing into young womanhood before Eben's bewildered but appreciative eyes. Jennie's beauty and supportive devotion to Eben inspires him to create his masterpiece. Written by Robert Nathan, also the author of many prose and poetry works including "The Bishop's Wife," "Portrait of Jennie" was made into the 1948 movie starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Possibly a bit leisurely and introspective for those with fast-paced, action-oriented tastes, "Portrait of Jennie" nevertheless is a haunting and heartwarming tale of timeless trust, patience, and affection.
Rating:
Summary: a classic romantic fantasy
Review: "Portrait of Jennie" is the classic romantic fantasyabout a struggling painter, Eben, and a strange little girl, Jennie,who becomes the artist's muse and his passion. In the months following their first encounter in New York City's Central Park, the enigmatic Jennie mysteriously vanishes and reappears. With each visit, she defies time, magically growing into young womanhood before Eben's bewildered but appreciative eyes. Jennie's beauty and supportive devotion to Eben inspires him to create his masterpiece. Written by Robert Nathan, also the author of many prose and poetry works including "The Bishop's Wife," "Portrait of Jennie" was made into the 1948 movie starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Possibly a bit leisurely and introspective for those with fast-paced, action-oriented tastes, "Portrait of Jennie" nevertheless is a haunting and heartwarming tale of timeless trust, patience, and affection.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: Hey, I admit -- I'm a guy, and this made me turn red-faced and cry like a schoolgirl. The stuff in here is powerful... it's simplicity is remarkable; it portrays what love is in a very beautiful way.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book -- forget the film!
Review: I first came across Portrait of Jennie in a BBC "Boy Meets Girl" play in about 1969, with the utterly wonderful Anna Calder-Marshall playing Jennie, and fell in love with both her and the story on the spot. (I found out later from the BBC that "the recording of this play is no longer in existence" -- vandals!) I found a second-hand copy of the book in 1970. I foolishly lent it (complete with pasted-in treasured press pix of Anna Calder-Marshall as Jennie) to someone a year or two later, and didn't find a replacement till twelve years later. NO ONE borrows that. The author Robert Nathan (1894-1985) normally churned out (I'm told) undistinguished romantic novels; Portrait of Jennie (published 1940) was a one-off in its strangeness, wonder and beauty. ... Do yourself a favour: read the book, and be haunted for the rest of your life.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting and Magic!
Review: I read this book only once, when I was a teenager, and I am in my fifties now. All these years I have remembered four lines from that book...: "Where I come from nobody knows/Where I'm going everything goes/The wind that blows, the sea that flows/And nobody knows." I loved being in that story; it stayed with me 40 years!
Rating:
Summary: read the book ..... watch the movie
Review: I watched the movie several times. Even bought the video. Then I read the book. I suggest that you do it the other way around. Both have their strong points. The feel is the same. However the book allowed other people to see and interact with Jennie. In the movie only Eben sees Jennie. The portrait in the bar is different; it is probably some adjustment for the time of the movie. And the ending is different. I am not sure which ending I like best. One interesting notation on the movie, it was shot with a filter that made the movie look like a portrait. Any way I do not want to describe the plot. So I will tell you that it was nicer to get the Hardcover Buccaneer book, than some old yellowing thing from a secondhand store that costs just as much. I have it next to the video and still re-read it periodically.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable; A love story that challenges time itself
Review: It was around 1972 when I first read the paperback version of this book that was given to me by one of my father's co-workers when I was going through some difficult life experiences. After 25 years it still stays in my memory and reminds me that true love is timeless and can overcome anything. It's a wonderful book for teen and elderly alike... if you can catch the old black and white movie version of it someday it too will entrall the romantic dreamer in you. I just wish they'd republish it in paperback... I'd give it to all my female relatives and perhaps even a few male ones. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classic!!
Review: This is one of the most wonderful love stories ever written. I first read this in 7th grade, and since then Robert Nathan has become my most favorite writer and "Portrait of Jennie" has become my most beloved book of all time. This is a timeless classic novelette. I am usually able to read this in one sitting, because the haunting story keeps me so hooked. The climatic, yet tearful ending only proves that love endures all things. If you ever feel depressed or hopeless, read "Portait of Jennie" and let it be your muse for inspiration as Jennie Appleton was Eben's muse during his time of hopelessness.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classic!!
Review: This is one of the most wonderful love stories ever written. I first read this in 7th grade, and since then Robert Nathan has become my most favorite writer and "Portrait of Jennie" has become my most beloved book of all time. This is a timeless classic novelette. I am usually able to read this in one sitting, because the haunting story keeps me so hooked. The climatic, yet tearful ending only proves that love endures all things. If you ever feel depressed or hopeless, read "Portait of Jennie" and let it be your muse for inspiration as Jennie Appleton was Eben's muse during his time of hopelessness.
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