| Philip Carey becomes an orphan as a young teen and is sent to live with his clergyman uncle and aunt, a childless couple. He attends a prep school where life is made miserable by bullies teasing about his club foot. He defies the wishes of his uncle for him to become a clergyman after education at Oxford and instead lives for a year in Heidelberg. He does not "find himself" there and attempts to become an artist in Paris. He realizes he will never be great and decides to go into medicine as his father did.
It isn't until about half way through the long novel that he meets Mildred about whom he develops an obession. He realizes her many faults and weaknesses but cannot stay away from her. He gives in time and again to her unreasonable and selfish demands. When I first read this book many years ago, I found Philip's obession incomprehensible. Having just finished it again for a book club discussion, I may have a bit more understanding but still feel irritated by the main characters. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1900-1920's Romance/Romance Problems Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Lover is Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - a teen Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 () Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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