A Room with a View

"Girls at a Window" by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Latest read worth mentioning - "A Room with a View" by E.M. Forster

I have read this little treasure a number of times, but it had been a few years since I'd opened the pages. The copy I have (Bantam Books) has an excellant introduction to the life and works of Forster by Mona Simpson which I found very helpful. My way of approaching "classics" is to read the work, then read the information about the work and author, then read the work again. I want to read it first with unbiased eyes, and take note of what catches me, what meanings I get from it. Only then do I do the background research, get the info, and reread the book with new eyes. It's been a good process for me, it allows me to trust my inner perceptions, yet learn from outside sources and grow from theirs.

What I appreciate the most about this little book is that it chronicles the growing sense of awareness and sense of self of a young woman. She is given the chance to see past the narrow structures of her life, and see what broader horizens are possible for her mind, soul and life. My delight in the story and some of his turns of phrase allow me to overlook the occasional banality or prejudical class statement.

I'm not going to do an indepth discussion of this book right now because, well, I'm just too dang tired right now. But I certainly commend this read to anyone else!