I liked the first half of the novel set in the Gulf Islands, as our heroine awakens, more than the final half where she explores her new self back in New Orleans- but both were good. I'd say a solid 3.5 stars. The writing is very good, at times excellent, and as every blurb on the novel states extremely bold for its time in the late 1800's. ( )

Chopin plays the English language like a concert pianist. Many lovely and poetic turns of phrase. What was shocking in 1899 wouldn't alarm an eight-year-old today, the book is still an engaging read, at times almost like Chopin is whispering it into your ear. ( )

A slow, short, but pretty amazing novel and I see why it's as influential as it is.

The plot focuses on a woman finding herself. Finding her individualism and rebelling against the conformative expectations of society. Infidelity is the plot vehicle this is done through, and I feel like people really get caught up on this, but ultimately, I don't think the crux of the book is about infidelity, rather marriage is just a symbol for conformity and female oppression. That being said, some moments of writing referring to the affair are beautifully written, Chopin really hits her stride when she was writing about their relationship.

Ending was powerful, but felt super rushed. Really wished it would have been expanded upon a bit.

Favorite Quote:

"She had tried to forget him, realizing the inutility of remembering. But the thought of him was like an obsession, ever pressing itself upon her. It was not that she dwelt upon details of their acquaintance, or recalled in any special or peculiar way his personality; it was his being, his existence, which dominated her thought, fading sometimes as if it would melt into the mist of the forgotten, reviving again with an intensity which filled her with an incomprehensible longing." ( )

The first half of this novel takes place on the seashore of the Gulf of Mexico, and Chopin vividly conveys the experience of spending leisure time on the coast in the summer: late-night dinners, midnight swims, watching the water for hours in the afternoon.

My other impressions of the novel pale in comparison to my pleasure at her understanding of the private beach scene, but I liked it. Edna awakens to become a self-absorbed, childish and alienated loner; the patriarchy proves resilient; fairy-tale endings are eschewed. ( )

There's a great chance this book could have been a five star read for me, but unfortunately my edition had a "prologue". It seemed like it was intended to be read prior to reading the book. It was in front of the first chapter. It was a very in depth analysis of the story, and within the first several pages of it, it immediately spoiled the ending.

Are you kidding me?

I immediately ceased reading the prologue and went right to the story, but the damage was done. I knew the ending, and I couldn't unknow it.

The story itself is of a woman who is constrained by the expectations of society. She's married with two small sons and living a traditional life. The Awakening tells the story of how she awakens and in some ways succumbs to her own yearnings to break free and follow her feelings toward another man, Robert. While I am sure at the time of its writing, this book was groundbreaking to some degree, I actually think the stress that Edna feels between duty and happiness, contraints and freedom, still hold true today. While this book is a piece of feminist literature, in reality, Edna's plight is just a human one. ( )