Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Awakening
Awakening | Kate Chopin
First published in 1899, this beautiful, brief novel so disturbed critics and the public that it was banished for decades afterward. Now widely read and admired, "The Awakening" has been hailed as an early vision of woman's emancipation. This sensuous book tells of a woman's abandonment of her family, her seduction, and her awakening to desires and passions that threated to consumer her. Originally entitled "A Solitary Soul, " this portrait of twenty-eight-year-old Edna Pontellier is a landmark in American fiction, rooted firmly in the romantic tradition of Herman Melville and Emily Dickinson. Here, a woman in search of self-discovery turns away from convention and society, and toward the primal, from convention and society, and toward the primal, irresistibly attracted to nature and the senses "The Awakening," Kate Chopin's last novel, has been praised by Edmund Wilson as "beautifully written." And Willa Cather described its style as "exquisite, " "sensitive, " and "iridescent." This edition of "The Awakening" also includes a selection of short stories by Kate Chopin. "This seems to me a higher order of feminism than repeating the story of woman as victim... Kate Chopin gives her female protagonist the central role, normally reserved for Man, in a meditation on identity and culture, consciousness and art." -- From the introduction by Marilynne Robinson.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
intothehallofbooks
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

I read along with my BFF who is enrolled in an American Lit class and had to write a paper on it. The reading is easy, but the story is complicated and thought-provoking. In a lot of ways I really understand Edna and her thoughts, but in some ways I feel like her feelings of hopelessness make her careless with herself and those close to her.

Reminds me a lot of Anna‘s POV in Anna Karenina (my favorite!) but Anna K is by far the superior story.

review
andrew61
Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

At our rdg grp meeting this wk we discussed this classic American novel which was scandalous at the time as it tells the story of a married woman who toys with infidelity. It is an interesting portrait of new Orleans society where Edna's friendship with yng single men is not explicitly frowned upon but as she becomes more independent of her husband the restraints imposed on her ability to love have a dire consequence. Appropriately a classic

CoffeeNBooks This is one of my absolute favorite books of all time, and I've read it several times over the years. 10mo
LeahBergen I thought this was wonderful! 10mo
andrew61 @CoffeeNBooks @LeahBergen I'm surprised how long it has taken me to read and it definitely deserves a reread as it was beautifully written and I would like to try her short stories. 10mo
The_Penniless_Author Her short stories are excellent. The Storm was compulsory reading in most high school English Lit classes for years (and maybe still is, for all I know). 10mo
56 likes4 stack adds4 comments
blurb
TheSpineView
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Eggs Perfect 👌🏼👌🏼 1y
56 likes1 comment
blurb
IndoorDame
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

One of my favorite novels of all time happens to be this #Authors2ndBook #MayMontage @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Beautiful 💗💗 2y
dabbe I always found a way to teach “The Story of an Hour“ to my students, yet I have never read this one. #stacked 💙💚💙 2y
IndoorDame @dabbe and I‘ve never read that one but have always meant to, lol. Stacking it! 💙💙💙 2y
61 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
gebbxl
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
This post contains spoilers
show me
Mehso-so

This ending made me mad because for the duration of the book I was wishing Edna would actually do something to improve her life rather than mope in the despondency felt from her disloyalty to both her husband and children, but when she finally did something empowering and moved away, she succumbed to a feeling of loss that really was only temporary considering how capricious she is. I loved the writing style but this isn‘t a must read classic.

gebbxl FAKE 2y
gebbxl Semi fake… 2y
1 like2 comments
review
triplem80
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Mehso-so

I first read this WAY back in high school (more than half a lifetime ago!), and I didn't remember much other than the fact that I liked it. I wonder now if that was in comparison to most of my required reads (I don't like a lot of classics), or if I *actually* enjoyed it. On the re-read, I was most bothered by Edna's immaturity -- which probably wouldn't have stood out as much back then. Still, I enjoyed it more than most classics!

Librarybelle This is a classic I could not really get into, and maybe it is because of some of her attitude. Perfect choice for this prompt! 2y
Cinfhen I also struggle with classics!! Great choice. 2y
See All 6 Comments
triplem80 @Cinfhen Awesome! I will add them to my list. 2y
squirrelbrain You‘re doing so well! 2y
21 likes6 comments
review
breng_pbs
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
Mehso-so

Kate Chopin can write some really depressing stuff ngl

blurb
TH3F4LC0N
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Wanna give a shoutout to Kate Chopin, whose 172nd birthday it is today! She was a real renegade, saying things so far ahead of her time that it killed her career, but she‘s so important for that. For those who don‘t know, The Awakening is my 4th favorite book of all time, & one that had an immense impact on me as a person. If you wanna hear my thoughts on it, check out my discussion at:

https://youtu.be/KcOP7NfbchA

And happy birthday, Kate! 🥳

Chrissyreadit Yes- it had an impact on me as well. She knew how to share the conditions facing women in a way that said the Patriarchy is literally killing us. 3y
TH3F4LC0N @Chrissyreadit Indeed! The ending of The Awakening always gets me! 😭😭😭 3y
19 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
bela_deters
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Panpan

I did not like this book. Edna is unlikeable and while I can acknowledge the literary merit of this book given the time it was released I would give this book a 2/10

blurb
Susanita
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

I don‘t have a bookmark with #food on it so here‘s some yogurt and a bookmark from the lovely @BarbaraTheBibliophage

I was concerned that I had lost this bookmark because it wasn‘t with the rest of them, but I found it in use in a book! (Not the tagged book)

#fortheloveofbookmarks

Ruthiella I‘ve found a few left in books too as I hunt them down for the prompts! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Aww, I‘ve seen those!! Thanks for the shout out! 💕 3y
43 likes2 comments
quote
DebinHawaii
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

#QuotsyJul21 #tumult

Someday I will actually read this…😉

“But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult!”

TK-421 It‘s on my tbr too 3y
LeahBergen I read it and thought it was wonderful. I think you‘ll like it! 😊 3y
DebinHawaii @LeahBergen Good to hear!🤗 3y
37 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
ontheBL
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick
blurb
CrowCAH
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

#WindsOfMarch #Awakening

A woman reflects on her life and has an awakening of sorts. Doesn‘t end well with the course of action she decides to take.

Eggs Brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
65 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
STORYBOOK-CAFE
post image

"She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world."

tdrosebud This is a beautiful picture. 4y
Tera66 Wow, lovely and I love this quote.💖 4y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Emmybird01
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Mehso-so

3/5 for this one. I was mad throughout most of this book. The way women are treated is just awful. I know that this is for some but not for me.

TheBookHippie I yelled at it. Helped a lot 😬😩 4y
Emmybird01 @TheBookHippie Oh I wanted to! Lol 4y
4 likes3 comments
review
CortexVortex
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

Published in 1899, The Awakening is about a privileged yet unhappy mother/wife who develops feelings for other men. It is somewhat similar to Madame Bovary but I think Kate Chopin captured the psyche of her protagonist a bit better.

AvidReader25 You‘re right, I thought this one was so much better than Madame. 4y
34 likes5 stack adds1 comment
blurb
OfPrurientInterest
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Finally starting my first book for the podcast!!

quote
I-wouldnt-give-up-myself
The Awakening | Kate Chopin

“I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children, but I wouldn‘t give myself. I can‘t make it more clear; it‘s only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me.”

blurb
ninergrl6
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

I‘m SO EXCITED to be teaching one of my favorite books again after a 10 year hiatus. Finally something GOOD about this school year! Another female teacher convinced the males to read/teach it even though I‘ve been suggesting it for over 20 years 🤦🏻‍♀️ I gave students some brief background info & asked them what they expect from the book. One wrote, “That it will be mildly inappropriate but well written.” 🤔 #teachersoflitsy #feministclassic

kspenmoll Happy for you! 4y
8 likes1 comment
blurb
GreenGrl87
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

These #3books are some of my favorite banned books that I‘ve read.

staci.reads ❤ all three! Great choices! 4y
12 likes1 comment
review
saritaroth
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Mehso-so

I read this book at my seventeen-year-old son's urging; he didn't really like it, but he thought I should read it anyway. It is about Edna Pontellier, an oppressed housewife who falls in love with a Creole man named Robert LeBrun. LeBrun ends up abandoning Edna twice, causing her to fall into the depths of despair. It kept my interest, although not obsessively so.

blurb
madams421
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Spell Your State in Books: INDIANA
This week our brave, angry community in Indianapolis has stood up for justice and I hope to support however I can. Standing in solidarity. Looking to educate myself more - if you have recommendations for books to read during this time to diversify my understanding of stories, please share! Here are some books I collected to spell the name of our state - what would you choose?
#bookstacks #statenamechallenge

BiblioLitten The tagged book is an old favourite. 💙 4y
madams421 @BiblioLitten I wrote my senior thesis on it in college and have loved it ever since ❤️ 4y
CoffeeNBooks The Awakening is one of my absolute favorite books! 4y
31 likes3 comments
review
Jennaree3
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
Pickpick

One of my favorites. Some people dislike the ambiguous ending but I found it refreshing. It lets the reader decide what it all means.

blurb
readordierachel
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

#7days7books that left a deep impression
Day 7

Feel like sharing some of yours @BiblioLitten ?

BiblioLitten I don‘t think I‘ll ever forget the ending of this book. 💙 5y
batsy Great pick. 5y
Tanisha_A Fabulous cover. Stacked. 5y
See All 6 Comments
youneverarrived Love this cover 😍 5y
AvidReader25 I love this book, but I haven‘t seen this gorgeous cover yet! 5y
76 likes3 stack adds6 comments
review
sillysoph
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
Pickpick

An amazing book that everyone should read-- it's okay to not want what everyone said will make you happy.

8 likes5 comments
blurb
catiewithac
The Awakening | Kate Chopin

Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph ! I recommend you check out some hashtags like #litsylove ❤️ @LitsyHappenings is a good one to follow to keep up with book swaps and #buddyreads ! And of course #bookspin 🤓🤩🥳

Birdsong28 Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph 🎉🎊 5y
See All 17 Comments
Cinfhen Thanks for thinking of me @Birdsong28 💜and welcome @sillysoph 5y
Schnoebs Welcome @sillysoph 🎉🎉🎉 5y
Cupcake12 Welcome to Litsy 5y
DHill Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph 5y
TheAromaofBooks Aww, thanks for recommending #bookspin!! ❤ 5y
Jas16 Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Birdsong28 awww thank you!! Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph 📚🎉🎊📚🎉🎊 5y
Caroline2 @Birdsong28 thank you!! And hi @sillysoph 👋 5y
Caroline2 I would recommend @squirrelbrain @jhod @Mitch @jenniferw88 @GingerAntics for some more awesome people to follow! 👍 and of course @julesG @MrBook (edited) 5y
Andrew65 Welcome to Litsy @sillysoph 🤗, you will love it here! 👍 Thanks for the tag @Birdsong28 😍 5y
squirrelbrain Thanks for the tag @Caroline2 - welcome to Litsy @sillysoph ! 😁 5y
Ms_T @Birdsong28 You‘re so kind! 😘 5y
catiewithac @Birdsong28 Thanks for the list of cool people to follow! I took your advice ;) 5y
42 likes17 comments
blurb
Worley-B
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Just finished, and, excuse me, but, what the actual f$@k with that ending?! 😟😭

Sweettartlaura Yes... but that ending was very feminist 100 years ago. And I feel like the thread of this book can be traced from it through much of modern literature. Including The Bell Jar, and more recently My Year of Rest & Relaxation. 5y
Worley-B @Sweettartlaura I haven't read My Year of Rest & Relaxation, but I did immediately think of The Bell Jar. I just didn't expect it... at all. 5y
Sweettartlaura I know. When I read it at 19, I wanted to keep the door open for her return. But 20 years on, I get it - it‘s the happiest ending she can make for herself 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y
See All 8 Comments
Worley-B @Sweettartlaura Yes, that makes sense. I'm just going to need some time to get over it. 😔😆 5y
Sweettartlaura Oh, it took me half a lifetime 😂. And seeing it play out in other books. You‘ll get there 👍🏻. Read My Year of Rest and Relaxation soon, while this is fresh in your mind. 5y
Worley-B @Sweettartlaura Does it have a happier ending?! I may not be able to take it! Lol 5y
Sweettartlaura Ummmm 🤔😳... yes??? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂. Yes... but it‘s not a “happy” book. It just shows the evolution of women‘s choices in relation to their existential crises. We have a few more now 💁🏻‍♀️😏 5y
Worley-B @Sweettartlaura 😂 Very well. At least I'm prepared. 5y
11 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
Worley-B
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Loving "The Awakening"! ❤

quote
AllieLovesBooks
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

“The voice of the sea, speaks to the soul.” - Kate Chopin from The Awakening. I read this in high school and do not remember anything, I cannot wait to revisit it! #coffeeandaclassic #bookart #books

blurb
GinaKButler
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Starting this one poolside. I‘m using it for my Classic Set in the American South prompt. 💦

11 likes1 stack add
blurb
Sunraven
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Late night reading while the kitty and the SO are sleeping. Recently I discovered that there are a ton of classics on Kindle Unlimited, and armed with my new Paperwhite, I‘m wading enthusiastically into the fray!

#classics

blurb
BekaReid
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Seems a fitting time to reread some Kate Chopin after a successful Women's March on Philadelphia this morning despite the cold, and it was cold!!

quote
TK-421
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

“The bird that would soar above the level plain of #tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth.” #QuotsyDec19

blurb
IndoorDame
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

My first experience with a #classicyouenjoyed And still one of my favorite novels of all time. #gratefulreads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 I haven‘t read this one! May have to check it out! 5y
IndoorDame @OriginalCyn620 I highly recommend it! It‘s short, quiet, a sort of vignette of a group of friends on a seaside vacation. Very feminist/countercultural for its time. I find it emotional. (edited) 5y
52 likes2 comments
blurb
PNWBookseller85
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

In the mood for a classic.

tpixie Did you pick one?? 🦋 5y
76 likes1 comment
blurb
Qpri
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Wonderfully written, in Virginia Woolf style!
Thankful for my reading spot this morning (Ubud, Bali, Indonesia ☺️)

blurb
Emilymdxn
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

How did we get to July wrap up time already? I don‘t believe how fast this year is passing.

Pretty good reading month for me! Excited to get properly cracking on the booker prize long list in August. Standouts from this month were This Is Shakespeare and The Awakening 💖💖💖

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Nicely done! 💕📚💕 5y
65 likes1 comment
quote
Emilymdxn
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Bad picture I‘m afraid but this quote really got me in the gut 💖

Megabooks Definitely! 5y
Diverge_Reads THAT quote! I love Kate Chopin. 5y
62 likes2 comments
review
writeropolis
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

Chopin perfectly captures the stifling atmosphere of Louisiana which reflects Edna‘s state of mind too. I feel like the atmosphere is a Thing with Southern writers. My version included a few of her short stories & I forgot she wrote Désirée‘s Baby. Incredibly aspirational from a short story writer‘s standpoint. #amreading #bookworm #bibliophile #bookish #booknerdigans #bookblogger #tsundoku #greatreads #readmorebooks #coolgirlsread

9 likes1 stack add
review
Emilymdxn
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

This book was pretty much perfect! So simple and lyrical, and a very timely read for just after Madam Bovary - sidenote that it goes very well with Taylor Swift‘s new song 😍

I was so impressed by the calm writing style that described such intense emotions so beautifully, so recognisably. Edna felt so familiar even tho she‘s fro a continent away in a time I‘ve never lived in. Can‘t believe I haven‘t read this before!

MicheleinPhilly This is one of my all time favorites. I really should do a re-read. 5y
70 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
CoffeeNBooks
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

#LetsTravelJuly One of my favorite books, much of it is set in New Orleans, at the #Beach on the Gulf coast.
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻💙🌊 5y
IndoorDame The first "classic" I fell in love with! 5y
94 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
KellyHunsakerReads
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
OriginalCyn620 😊📚❤️ 5y
Jenken1998 One of my favorites ❤ 5y
KellyHunsakerReads @Jenken1998 it is a beautiful book 5y
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
writeropolis
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
quote
johannamason
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Just starting Kate Chopin‘s The Awakening and the mood is already thick.

review
Centique
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image
Pickpick

Some books are less about plot than capturing a feeling or illustrating something deeper, beyond feeling, rooted in the soul. This is that type of book
Edna has a seemingly happy life. She has not noticed she is not happy. Something in her awakens. A realisation that her choices have been mapped, that she is caught where she is, being something she never chose to be.
Chopin beautifully portrays her confusion and conflicting desires. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Centique A classic and a short read, this needs to be savoured and thought about, IMO - to get the most out of it. I can imagine it would be a great book club discussion or would be great to hear teaching around it. 6y
Blaire Yes, we did this one for my feminist book club and we had a great discussion. 6y
readordierachel Lovely review. I think I'm due for a reread. 6y
See All 7 Comments
Reggie I love “the woman who realizes she is unhappy” stories. Stacked. 6y
Weaponxgirl Great review! 6y
RohitSawant Wonderful review! 6y
96 likes7 stack adds7 comments
blurb
sherri
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Re-reading The Awakening and practicing a craft.

Bielzebubby Wow! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
9 likes1 comment
blurb
kmshaffer
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

I start class tomorrow! These are two textbooks for a young adult literature class that I‘m taking. So excited to read them 🤓 #college #day13 #Litsy 📚

dgingo A YA class? Fun—enjoy it! Neither of these are YA books, but I imagine they connect to YA books you‘re reading? What else is on the syllabus? 6y
kmshaffer The class is actually just geared toward the study of literature in the young adult age group in education— so not exactly the young adult genre! I wish lol! I haven‘t received the syllabus yet, so I‘m not sure what the class exactly entails. Excuse my improper wording! And thanks for asking:) @dgingo 6y
MelissaSue81 I remember reading the awakening in high school for summer reading. I thought it was going to be sexy and risqué but I was disappointed. 6y
See All 6 Comments
DocBrown @MelissaSue81 😂😂😂 6y
dgingo @kmshaffer Ah! Okay—that makes more sense. No apology necessary—I was just trying to figure out the YA angle. Enjoy the class! 6y
DGRachel Ooooohhhh....I need that Norton for Taming of the Shrew😍😍😍 6y
74 likes6 comments
review
LiterarySloth
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
Pickpick

I loved this book. Kate Chopin can be a difficult read. For me, the endings you don‘t expect are what I like. That is what you get with Kate Chopin.

dory.sheade I read this book for my AP Literature class and really enjoyed it. The discussions we had (primarily those dealing with the metaphors of the birds and sea, as well as when the turning point in Edna's awakening truly was) were quite interesting. 6y
LiterarySloth @dory.sheade I fell in love with Kate Chopin after reading some of her short stories in an American Lit class. I want more of her books! 6y
CoffeeNBooks This is my absolute favorite book of all time! I've read it several times! 6y
See All 11 Comments
dory.sheade @LiterarySloth I agree with you there! I'm currently on my classic literature crusade lol. Most of it is recommendations from my Lit teacher. Right now I'm working on Never Let Me Go :) 6y
LiterarySloth @CoffeeNBooks I want to read it again but I have so many books that I need to get to. I can‘t justify rereading anything right now! 😂 6y
LiterarySloth @dory.sheade I haven‘t read that one. I‘m trying to get through all the books I‘ve bought during binges haha 6y
CoffeeNBooks @LiterarySloth The first time I read it was when I was in high school, and then I read it again a few decades later. 😂 Now, I teach it every year in my AP Literature class. I rarely reread books- there are way too many books I haven't read yet! 📚 6y
LiterarySloth If I were an English professor, I‘d be sure to teach it, too! It isn‘t one that people typically pick up. I don‘t know too many other people who have read it. 6y
dory.sheade @LiterarySloth I feel that lol. But if you ever get the chance it's a really great read. It's slightly dystopian but most people don't realize it, and the relationships between the characters as well as the subtle questions on ethics are quite fascinating. It is definitely one of my favorite books to discuss 6y
LiterarySloth @dory.sheade I‘ll add it to my TBR! 6y
dory.sheade @LiterarySloth awesome! I hope you enjoy it once you get to it :) 6y
6 likes11 comments
blurb
KrystleTheBookSlayer
The Awakening | Kate Chopin
post image

Day 10 #adventrecommend #FeministRead

Set in 1899, this story follows Edna as she discovers herself while struggling with her role of being a wife & mother. It focuses societal expectations of women & being trapped in those roles. There is infidelity in this story & Edna comes off as selfish as a result of her struggle with her role in society & her depression.

@emilyrose_x

Reviewsbylola One of my favorites. And if that floral backdrop is your bed sheet, I am in LOVE with it!!! 6y
KrystleTheBookSlayer @Reviewsbylola Thanks! It's my comforter that I got from Target! I love floral prints. 💐 6y
43 likes2 comments