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Summary: THIS book was scandalous?!?
Review: Pretty tame to read in this day and age. Though I had great difficulty understanding what was going on. Short on length, but strong on brain power. People who aren't advanced readers won't be able to grasp the meaning, and will find this book a bore. For those high powered readers out there, this is the most challenging novel you will ever come across.
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Summary: Excellent, Intriguing...you will not be able to put it down.
Review: A must read for every female especially those interested in literary content. This book is the best if you read deeply into each page. If you do so you will not be disappointed....
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Summary: What a dangerous book to read
Review: I read this book several years ago in college, and have to say that being a person of average intelligence, a classroom experience really adds to the enjoyment of it all. Certain types of literature you just need to discuss and have clarification on.. I was surprised at the amount of negative reviews - I was barely 23 when I read it the first time, and loved it so much; how Chopin could pack so much into such a short story. I think it's important to remember that her career was nearly destroyed by this book, and the period of time then (1899) was VERY different than now. You were basically in one of two categories, upper or working class - if I remember correctly, there was no in between. For a woman like Edna, there weren't many options if you didn't see yourself falling into the "mother role", like her close friend in the book who gave birth towards the end. You couldn't stay in school, get divorced, climb the corporate ladder, or have kids "eventually..." If you had a lot of money, that made things easier, you could ship the kids off for a period of time. It wasn't like how it is now, that you could leave your husband, your kids, and get your own place. I thought all of the imagery was so wonderful - Louisiana and Grand Isle are portrayed as lush, warm paradises where she suffocates... her suicide can be seen as both a defeat, and victory. Her fear of the water isn't the only thing she overcomes.
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Summary: A Short but complex novel
Review: A woman with a perfect little life, becomes bored, and goes out searching for men to satisfy her hunger of life. But in the end, she still does not find anything to satisfy and fulfill her, an awakening that ruins her life, and her children's lives. I just love the stark clarity of the words which lead on to a poignant understanding of why this just has to be one of the best books in the world, one that will never become outdated.
Rating: 
Summary: Not well done, but worth the read
Review: The narrative style of this novel is quite astonishingly clumsy, and the novel's principal merits lie in what is portrayed, not the manner of portrayal. Chopin's characterization, symbolism, and themes are all a little too obvious to be effective. However, the imagery in the book is beautiful. The colours, especially, are very compelling, as are the tactile images-- when the heroine swims, the sea (which is a major and obvious symbol) "enfolds" her in an embrace which is almost sexual. All in all, a good read, although certainly not one of my favourite books.
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Summary: Emma is a Flirt
Review: I found THE AWAKENING to be a very unique classic. The writing is very sensual and deep, you can feel the carvings of the words. The plot of a woman cheating on her husband may not be original now days, but it sure did cause a contraversy in those days. So maybe there isn't as much lust and ripping clothes as books now, but I found the personal and social issues to be better and more-over harder and complex. This was a very difficult book, took me 3 reads to understand. Never-the-less, I'm attempting to read this again.
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Summary: Landmark Novel
Review: Okay, so it seems that many people don't like Chopin's plain blunt writing style, but that's what makes this book so much more meaningful. You have to look deeper into the words on the page, there is more meaning in this novel than others see. Not only is this the 1st feminist novel, but it was neglected by ignorant and lazy readers who don't think while reading a novel, you just read...but with THE AWAKENING, you have to wake up and use your brain to figure things out..especially the emotional tension that the leading lady, Edna, feels. Anyways, this is a true classic, that will never become outdated because females are still not equivalent to males, and in the future if equality is established, then this novel will be a pioneering landmark to read.
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Summary: This is a great start for a journey into women's literature.
Review: I read this book, and I believe it is one of the most insightful works of feminine literature out there. Although this work is based during the turn of the century, I feel that it addresses some pertinent contemporary women's issues. I think it is a book of self-realization as far as your place in the world, and I believe it is a good start to reading other great women writers. A book that I could compare it to would be One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. (This connection may or may not be just a figment of my warped mind!) At any rate, it is a great read and something I am sure all women can identify with. Men can also benefit from this novel by the insight it might give to the interworkings of the female mind....(And men- it's easier to hide than Cosmopolitan when your girlfriends come over!) Don't take my word for it, just spend the four bucks.....
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Summary: Edna's got attitude
Review: Wow. This female character is full of twists and turns, too bad there were no succeptable psychologists in those days. The lead woman is what I would call a little crazy in the head, but moreover, she's got some serious problems and fanatic flightly ideas in her brain that's malfunctioning. I liked the plain text, it was different in a positive sense. Well, all there's left to say is that this book was scary, creepy, yet beautiful at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Grab a cup of coffee, bunny slippers, & pull up a comforter
Review: A beautful captive novel, I felt like a string was mechanically pulling my fingers to turn every page, all I could think about was what was going to happen, when, why, how, then, "OH NO!!!!" I love this book.
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