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Mrs. Erika Reily's avatar

The social sophistication of women who can quietly take the measure of a situation, especially one that includes a threat, and dispose of it neatly and discreetly always interests me. I haven't read the Age of Innocence for decades - and it was largely lost on me when I read it as a teenager, sadly - so I don't remember it well. However, your description of May efficiently exiting Ellen from her and Newland's life reminds me of the Baroness Schraeder in the Sound of Music. She knew what time it was when she beheld Maria awakening a genuine and long-dormant capacity for love and joy in Captain von Trapp, and being a smart and canny society woman, knew precisely which buttons to push to send Maria fleeing back to the abbey. She thought she had won, and it looked like she had, until the captain asserted what he actually wanted, which was a rich and genuine life with Maria and his children, not "in Vienna, in all your glittering salons, gossiping gaily with bores I detest, soaking myself in champagne, stumbling about to waltzes by Strausses" Love triangles and the life directions they represent are always interesting!

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Kalee's avatar

Thank you. I have always loved this book and think the Scorsese movie adaptation is exquisite, acting, scenery, and musical score.

Societal rules have almost disappeared in these chaotic times, but looking back they provided much needed safeguards for family and civilization.

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