Reviews

The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton

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oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition

3.0

It's impossible to imagine this story in a modern setting, the lack of communication between Nick and Susy drives everything forward and this novel unfolds like an essay on assumptions. Everything is internalized and the readers are given a ring side seat to Susy's moral and principled development. At times I wanted to knock them both upside the head because they behave like such asses. Particularly Nick because despite his stricter principles he expresses his displeasure in such an overblown way he seems like more of a child than a man.
But Wharton's analysis of a look or a pause or all the hidden meanings and motives in people's interactions are wonderful. First book I've read of hers and perhaps it was about time.

orlagal's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

kismazsola's review against another edition

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4.0

Kicsit könnyedebbnek éreztem, mint a legtöbb korábbi Wharton-alkotást.

Spoiler

Ehhez valószínűleg hozzájárul a teljes happy end.

Suzy és Nick házassága leginkább egy kellemes legkört is magával hozó üzleti egyezmény, komoly/mély érzelmek nélkül.

Spoiler

Bár azért érezhetően ott van a magja szerintem.

Megegyeznek, hogy amint bármelyiküknek gondja van a másikkal, megbeszélik és elengedik egymást. Elég sokáig gondolkodtam, hogy honnan ismerős ez a bilincs nélküli együttélés a közelmúltból, mire rájöttem, hogy Wharton egyik novellája, a ’The Reckoning’ is ezzel foglalkozik – csak nagyon máshova vezet.
A kifutása az egésznek, hogy

Spoiler

rájönnek, igazán szeretik egymást, és ami végül a válásukat okozta egy időre, áthidalható nehézség.

Ennél persze kalandosabb az egész, ez csak a nagyon lecsupaszított váz.
Természetesen itt is megjelenik a válás, Wharton egyik kedvelt témája, Európába is utaznak. De összességében itt most kevesebb társadalmi kommentárt véltem felfedezni, mint az eddigi művekben.

Spoiler

Bár ez a gazdag barátokon élősködés egy nagyon érdekes, és hát minden bizonnyal létező jelenség.

Ami egyáltalán nem baj. Csak emiatt érzem szórakoztatóbbnak-könnyedebbnek.

bupdaddy's review

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5.0

You see where this is going from chapter one, but it's still great. Two young, cashless wannabe socialites marry each other as a convenient way to keep their hangers-on lifestyles going. Then feelings get in the way.

But you know what? Edith Wharton can handle it so it doesn't feel cookie-cutter. Elizabeth Klett's reading is fantastic, too - American and guileless, it's pitch-perfect for these two Yankees that get in over their heads with emotions and situations than they ever dreamed possible.

(Sorry, Kate Fleming, but the audio version I listened to is the librivox version. Someday I'll listen to your version just to hear your voice again.)

eric_conrad's review against another edition

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4.0

An enjoyable exploration of what love means between two people amidst of world full of people with limited attention spans and always wanting more. This could easily be a play and is clearly divided into three acts.

maplessence's review against another edition

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4.0

Not one of her best, but reading a Wharton novel has never been a waste of time for me. I love her way with words and the world of the idle rich - a world that feckless couple Nick and Susy Lansing hang on to by their fingernails - is well realised. Beautiful evocative descriptions of some of my favourite places in Europe, Como, Venice, Paris...

I did have to re-calibrate my imagination part way through as this book is set in the 1920s.

I had problems with two things.

This is a romance based on The Big (or in this case Almost Endless) Misunderstanding I'm pretty much over this trope, even in the hands of a literary genius.

The other is the character (although that seems too strong a word) of Nick. Nick seems happy to be a human sponge, yet cavils at the way Susy "manages." Apparently the whole of High Society should be glad to support the two of them for the pleasure of their company!

As ridiculous as Nick's views are, they are sincere. When he

Spoiler

leaves Susy

is when the book starts to go down hill and I finished it with some impatience. A judicious pruning could have turned it into an excellent novella.