I have finally finished reading the book and I'm so proud of myself. I feel accomplished, or ... so I did until reading the back of the book which stated that it was a book about sex and suicide.
I was so confused because I had managed to finish the whole book without ever reading a part that I thought was so illicit and so clearly about sex and passion, so those moment went straight over my head.
I have to admit though that there were parts where I thought ... hmm does that mean what I think it means? But I wasn't sure that it was about sex until reading the back. Now I realize how shocking the book must have been in Chopin's time, since Edna clearly (only to some it seems) had sex with Arobin.
But I don't think those part were as sensual as others have described it. I read a timeline of events on the book after realizing that I missed all the steamy sex parts, only to discover that it was hinted at but never clear.
So if you're reading the book for that don't bother haha. The real genius comes from the way the story was written, the development of Edna into a defined being with autonomy and the descriptive writing. I could easily imagine every seen and understand Edna and her feelings through it all. That is what is worth your time.
I also think Mademoiselle Reisz was so sane and intelligent and I would have liked to read a book focused on just her.
I think this book is a great read for anyone because it is centered around the idea of freedom, independence and identity in a relationship. These topics are addressed in an edifying way.
I rate this book a 4 out of 5 because though the story is so simple, it was beautifully written. I've read a lot of books that were so memorable that they had a lasting impact and I think this book will definitely stay with me. But I do have one question, why did Edna do what she did at the end?
If you've read the book and you know what I'm talking about, tell me your interpretation. I would really appreciate it. Don't be stingy with your thoughts!
