A review by peeled_grape
The Awakening by Kate Chopin

2.0

I really wanted to like this--I read "The Story of an Hour" and I was taken by it--but Chopin writes like she's yelling at everyone all the time. She also can't write endings, and this is no exception. I don't want to use this term to describe her writing, but it's very accurate: she's the poster child for the 19th century hysterical woman. She's overly dramatic, I think. I wish this had been more complex, as I feel Edna's marriage and her feelings both toward her husband and toward Robert would call for something less straightforward than what's here. Her marriage isn't bad, it's just not what she wants it to be--but it's treated like it's the worst thing ever. Despite being considered a feminist text, Chopin lets Edna's life be absolutely ruled by her relationship with the men in her life.

Edna is crushed when Robert leaves, and she drowns herself. All Chopin stories I've read end like this: the female lead realizes she's still married and dies at the thought of it.)

It wasn't bad. It just also wasn't good.