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1.0 out of 5 stars
Off Color, 25 Nov 2008
"Cherry", was originally published in January and February of 1901 in "Harper's Magazine". This made it Booth Tarkington's third novel in print, though it did not get published in book form until 1903. While I have enjoyed the other Tarkington novels and stories that I have read, I found "Cherry" to be very poor in many ways. It was far too predictable, which leaves the reader waiting and waiting for the story to catch up with them. It could be argued that this adds to the humor, given the nature of the narrator, but it certainly is possible to maintain that humor and perception without boring the reader to such an extent. There is barely enough material here for a short story, let alone a novel.
"Cherry" is the story of a love triangle, as told from the perspective of one of the two suitors. The gentleman in question is Mr. Sudgeberry, a young man who is attending to his studies. The object of his affection is Miss Sylvia Gray, and the competitor for her heart is William Fentriss who is also a young man attending the same school. The story initially deals with the time between terms when both Mr. Sudgeberry and William Fentriss have plenty of time to devote to courtship. The two men are quite unalike, the narrator being very serious and verbose, and Mr. Fentriss delighting in music, poetry, and the company of friends.
The story is readable in its way, but at the same time frustrates the reader with taking so long to reach a conclusion. There is a decent idea behind the story, but it is not executed well. I would recommend that this one be skipped and instead one might read "The Two Vanrevels" for a love triangle story from Tarkington which works far better than this one.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Off Color, 24 Aug 2008
"Cherry", was originally published in January and February of 1901 in "Harper's Magazine". This made it Booth Tarkington's third novel in print, though it did not get published in book form until 1903. While I have enjoyed the other Tarkington novels and stories that I have read, I found "Cherry" to be very poor in many ways. It was far too predictable, which leaves the reader waiting and waiting for the story to catch up with them. It could be argued that this adds to the humor, given the nature of the narrator, but it certainly is possible to maintain that humor and perception without boring the reader to such an extent. There is barely enough material here for a short story, let alone a novel.
"Cherry" is the story of a love triangle, as told from the perspective of one of the two suitors. The gentleman in question is Mr. Sudgeberry, a young man who is attending to his studies. The object of his affection is Miss Sylvia Gray, and the competitor for her heart is William Fentriss who is also a young man attending the same school. The story initially deals with the time between terms when both Mr. Sudgeberry and William Fentriss have plenty of time to devote to courtship. The two men are quite unalike, the narrator being very serious and verbose, and Mr. Fentriss delighting in music, poetry, and the company of friends.
The story is readable in its way, but at the same time frustrates the reader with taking so long to reach a conclusion. There is a decent idea behind the story, but it is not executed well. I would recommend that this one be skipped and instead one might read "The Two Vanrevels" for a love triangle story from Tarkington which works far better than this one.
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