I used to be a reader of books, often two a week in my heyday. But I got busy and these last few years even the magazines, that never stop arriving, seem overwhelming. Too many words, too little time. I’m glad I read all those classic books when I had the time and focus for it but I miss being a reader. And you can’t draw from the well forever without putting something back in!
Trying to keep up with my periodicals one morning I came upon this little blurb in “TIME.” 
I read this little piece because Christine Baranski is one of my favorite character actors AND she’s a native of Buffalo, New York. (I lived in Buffalo for a time and have great affection for the city and the people.) I’m big on rereading books so it occurred to me that if Christine can reread “The Portrait Of A Lady” maybe I can too. I’d read it once in high school as an assignment from my favorite teacher. Oh, but I was the worst kind of procrastinator back then and my experience with this novel still makes me feel queasy. The 500 word paper was due on Monday and I began reading James on Saturday morning. By Sunday afternoon I felt as if I’d taken too much cold medication; my brain was fuzzy and I barely had the energy to hold the 545 page tome. I finished the book like you would swallow a 545 pound pill and moved on to write the paper. I wish I could tell you that I learned my lesson and never put things off again but that’s not the case; it took years for me to learn that life was easier if you simply did what needed to be done and moved on.
I owe Christine a big thanks; I’m more than half way through and I’m in love with Isabel Archer and Ralph and Henrietta Stackpole. [And Lord Warburton too, I'm rooting for him but we shall see...] I do remember a few bits of plot and I’m surprised that anything stuck in my 16 year old memory . But this is not a book for a 16 year old; it’s much more satisfying to be able to look back on youth and understand.
And here’s the best part for me personally: Henry James writes deliciously loooong sentences! I’ve been spending the last few years writing the shortest sentences possible.
See what I mean?
James’ long, meandering sentences are a joy to follow(often down the garden path. ) After this I’m thinking “The Golden Bowl” one more time!
January 21st, 2010 at 6:47 am
Margaret,
One Henry James book I’m very fond of is “Watch and Ward”. I even read it aloud to Nico when she was little. In looking online just now, apparently Henry disowned this book as being too melodramatic…but hey, can we ever really get enough melodrama???
Steph
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:13 am
Dear Margaret, I loved your description of what it feels like to cram a book in high school. There are definitely some like that in my past that I should probably re-read ( haven’t gotten around to “Portrait of a Lady” though). Recently read the thriller “Girl With the Dragon Tatoo” by Steig Larsson, and the Oprah book about kids in Africa called “Say You’re One of Them” by Uwem Akpan. Both were very good, and very frightening, although in different ways.
January 24th, 2010 at 6:12 am
Thanks, Steph and Isy.
I don’t recall “Watch and Ward” but it may be in my James volume of short stories? I’ll check. In a way I’m glad I had my memorable misadventure with “The Portrait Of A Lady;” without that vivid memory I may not have felt the need to return to the book and,boy,am I glad I have. Only 30 pages left and I’ll finish it as soon as I log out. I’m going to miss Isabel!