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Title: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Review: I got about half way through this book and couldn't remember why I had loved it so much when I first read it ten years ago. Edith's superior observation, style and sharp storytelling kept me going and by the end I understood why I'd loved it so much the first time. Lily is certainly one of the most enigmatic characters you'll ever deal with. She's exasperating, stupid, intelligent, and lovely. Did Edith Wharton realize what a modern story she had written? Lily Bart could be any contemporary beautiful young woman striving to reach the top of her game using whatever tools she can muster. To me, Lily's ultimate sadness is that all her vivaciousness, all that she could be, was swallowed up by a gaping lack of spirit, passed on to her by her mother and her admonition not to "be dingey". That does a lot for your self esteem.
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