The Figure in the Carpet

I didn’t really like this and I think it is mainly due to the fact I disagree with what it proposes. It features a writer who cannot enjoy all the positive reviews for his latest work since he feels that all reviewers are missing the most important point he is trying to make. When one…

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Rating: 2 out of 5.

I didn’t really like this and I think it is mainly due to the fact I disagree with what it proposes. It features a writer who cannot enjoy all the positive reviews for his latest work since he feels that all reviewers are missing the most important point he is trying to make. When one such reviewer is alerted to his error, he tries to find the missing, overarching point.

I think books cannot be viewed this black and white. Reading a book is always an interpretation and I feel that not everyone should get the same from a book. The author of course will put his intentions into the work, but it is for the reviewer/reader themselves to determine whether they take that intention from the book or not. There is no right and wrong here, in my opinion.

The Figure in the Carpet (Little Black Classics #49) – Henry James

3 responses

  1. theorangutanlibrarian Avatar
    theorangutanlibrarian

    Yeah I don’t like the concept for this one. I agree that there isn’t just one interpretation to a book and I think this is way too much in favour of authorial intent being king! It’s kind of reductive

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Bookstooge Avatar
    Bookstooge

    Oy vey.

    Of course, with it being James, I’m not surprised. His Portrait of a Lady left me with the impression that he was the quintessential 20th century “classic” kind of author even while only being alive in the 20th century for a short time.

    Arrogant, pompous and convinced of his worth and greatness, which was measured by his own yardstick and nobody else’s. Amazing what you can “interpret” about an author, hahahhaaaa. I really have no idea if the previous statement about him is true at all or not, so don’t take it seriously. That is just my impression from reading one book.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. urlphantomhive Avatar
      urlphantomhive

      It is kind of the impression I got from this story as well…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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The author

After a day of work, Marjolein likes to wind down with a book or two, or five! Unapologetic reader of at the very least three books at any given time, she apparently is unable to settle on a favorite genre.

She might pause her audiobook just long enough to discuss books online.

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