The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions)
This Second Edition of a perennial favorite in the Norton Critical Edition series represents an extensive revision of its predecessor. The text is that of the first edition of the novel, published by Herbert S. Stone in 1899. It has been annotated by the editor and includes translations of French phrases and information about New Orleans locales, customs, and lore, the Bayou region, and Creole culture. “Bibliographical and Historical Contexts”, expanded and introduced by a new Editor’s Note,
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(out of 9 reviews)
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The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
- ISBN13: 9780061450556
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
You don’t have to be alive to be awakened. Chloe Saunders is a living science experiment—not only can she see ghosts, but she was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. She’s a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control, which means she can raise the dead without even trying. Now Chloe’s running for her life with three of her supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and they have to find someone who c
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Review by Jonathan J. Casey for The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions)
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Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” is the classic novel about women that “Madame Bovary” purports to be but isn’t. It’s not just a “woman’s” novel, though, it perfectly (and poetically) captures the inner life of a solitary person who is forced to live for the sake of others. And while this has been a distinctly female position for a large part of Western history, it is a position that can be identified with by just about anyone in our current age of employee internet-use monitoring. This is a twentieth-century tale of discomfort with and reaction to antagonistic surroundings. For those of us who don’t feel the need to procreate in an overpopulated world, Edna’s (and presumably Chopin’s) discomfort with children will make sense. For those of us who may not always know exactly what we want out of life, this story will strike a chord. Kate Chopin’s writing is deliberate but not labored. She is particularly successful at depicting ambiguity in a way which is highly descriptive and communicative. This is a skill which I can’t praise highly enough, and it culminates in an ending which is absolutely perfect. While criticism could be raised against “The Awakening” as another apology for the suicidal artist, Edna’s literal and symbolic escape is less pretentious than Harry’s in “Steppenwolfe,” nor as indecipherable as that of any of Joyce’s creations. Kate Chopin’s novel is truly a classic in the sense that it should be a part of any survey of American literature. The Norton Critical edition is the best way to go, too, with helpful biographical information and literary criticism. If you want a more enriching experience with this novel, I’d highly recommend this version.
Review by Saralee Terry Woods for The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions)
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Saralee says
The Awakening is a part of many required reading lists and is also a fashionable choice for book club discussions. Why is this novel that was written more than 100 years ago relevant today? During the 1890s, if you were a part of the well to do Creoles of New Orleans you spent your summers at Grand Isle – a resort for those who could afford it. Edna Pontellier is there with her husband, their children and their servants. As the story opens, Pontellier is on the beach with Robert Lebrun and her husband is deciding whether to dine with his family or if it would be more socially beneficial for him to spend the evening at his club. We soon learn that appearances and social position are what matters most to Pontellier’s husband and as long as she abides by those rules, she will get along just fine. When she decides not to abide by the rules, the story becomes interesting and the book significant. Kate Chopin was one of the first to write about women outside of their mandated roles as satisfied domestic companions. She boldly wrote about what a woman feels like who discovers sexuality and independence and it was courageous for her to write this book. Pontellier was raised as a Presbyterian in Kentucky and it was on a whim that she married her husband who was part of the Creole Catholic establishment. Her character enjoyed taking risks but was heartbroken with the consequences. What did you think about Pontellier’s relationship with her children? Was she selfish or bold by putting her needs first? What do you think she did that offended society most? At what age should someone read this book? How did you feel about Pontellier’s last act of defiance? Did her character win or lose? Why did this book end Chopin’s promising career as a writer? I recommend reading a text of The Awakening that includes both the context and criticism. The context will help you understand what all of the French phrases mean and also explain Creole society and the background in which the story takes place. Larry’s language
The Awakening is all about Edna Pontellier and her moral, sensual and personal growth and development. This 1899 novel by Kate Chopin is very modern in its tone and in its honest treatment of human feelings and emotions. While proper society in the 1890s was still very Victorian in its outlook and pronouncements, its citizens were human to the core, as Pontellier demonstrates. She is trapped in a dull marriage in New Orleans in a social climbing, status seeking family where – instead of summering in the Hamptons or a mountain retreat – she and her husband and their servants vacation at Grand Isle. Like a good husband in that society, he leaves Pontellier each week to return to the city to make money. While he is gone, she enjoys the company of the other families in a social setting where rigid rules govern the proper behavior and emotions that may be expressed regardless of true feelings.Pontellier’s social rules instead are far more like a modern country club environment where certain manners are demanded, at least in public, until the lights are low, drinks are flowing or the spouses are absent. For Pontellier, these rules rapidly give way to her expression of her inner desires and thoughts. What are the boundaries for an individual and for a society in the expression of personal desires? Was Pontellier only lusting in her heart or did she actually sin? Morally, is there a difference? Do you think modern authors like Erica Jong or John Updike treat sensuality and marital rules differently than Chopin? This was a shocking novel in 1899 but today Pontellier’s turmoil and dilemma would be neither unusual nor frightening and perhaps that is why modern man and woman usually succeed in handling these situations in a far better way than Pontellier.
Review by Kerry B. Faler for The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions)
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This edition of The Awakening is a beautifully compiled work. I found it incredibly insightful as I used it for research papers in high school and college. The essays and criticism from Chopin’s era are priceless. It was so helpful to have those along with the text, they really gave insight one could not find elsewhere. The Awakening continues to be my favorite book, this my favorite edition. If you are going to write a paper on this book or Chopin there is no other book that will help you more.
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I read this book when I accepted a challenge to be more aware of the authors I chose to read — i.e., deliberately read more books by women, by minority authors, and by third-world authors.A friend recommended five books by women, all of which I loved. “The Awakening” is a fascinating look at women’s place in society at a point in time when things are beginning to change. The female characters in this novel are not two-dimensional, moving about in silent submission to oppressive patriarchal authority; rather, they are presented as individuals with thoughts, desires, feelings, etc. of their own. While by today’s standards this is not a revolutionary idea, at the time Chopin was writing, it was rather novel.This book, then, served as a fascinating glimpse into a world that is past — a world that was on the brink of change. Even if this were not a gripping story in its own right (which, by all means, it is), “The Awakening” would be worth reading simply for this social-historical vision.
Review by C. Monte for The Awakening (Norton Critical Editions)
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This small volume reads like a lazy afternoon on a balmy day in the Big Easy. This is the story of a young woman, Edna, married, with two small boys, who begins to sense an unfolding yearning within herself, which she is unsure how to fulfill. When the book was written in 1899, it was considered scandalous and avant-garde, garnering scathing reviews. By today’s standards it is slow and undulating, barely shocking, and somewhat slow paced, considering what Edna undertakes as she tries to reconcile her longings with social convention. This book takes one back to an era when literature relied on style, language and imagery to provoke a reader. It is a tight psychological journey, which may leave you thoughtful rather than breathless.
Review by E. A Solinas for The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
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It’ a pretty cool idea — a secret cabal devoted to genetically engineering and controlling supernatural creatures like witches and werewolves.
Kelley Armstrong continues to do the idea justice in “The Awakening,” the second book in her urban-fantasy series aimed at kids and young adults. It’s a solid novel that lags somewhat in the middle (when it seems like not much is happening beyond bickering), but has plenty of suspense, a dash of necromantic horror, and likable characters with realistic flaws and self-doubts.
Recap: Chloe has been imprisoned by the Edison Group along with Rae (who turns out to be a half-fire-demon), while Dr. Davidoff tries to track Simon and Derek.
But Chloe’s terrible situation gets worse as she discovers that Rae actually LIKES the Edison Group, and that other boys and girls who weren’t “rehabilitated” were killed. Oh yes, and an uber-creepy demon is whispering rotten nothings in Chloe’s ear. When a shopping trip gives her the opportunity to escape the Group, she takes her chance — only to suffer a devastating loss, and find herself unexpectedly allied with her former nemesis Tori.
Escaping is not the end of their problems, though — life on the run is hardly glamorous, the streets are full of thugs, and neither girl has anyone they can go to. And reuniting with Simon and Derek only multiplies their problems, as the already-strained relationships start to fray under tension. With a million-dollar bounty on Chloe’s head and the Edison Group in pursuit, the kids must find a place of safety before they end up permanently “terminated.”
“The Awakening” picks up directly after the first book of the series, and it’s a pretty different sort of story — our heroes are just trying to stay alive, free and semi-hygienic, while they search for Derek and Simon’s dad. The plot lags a little in the middle when the Edison Group seems to fade into the background, but fortunately it picks up again for a suitably suspenseful climax at the boys’ house.
Armstrong is able to maintain an atmosphere of “The Fugitive”-like suspense all throughout the book. It has plenty of balanced dialogue (with much bickering), solid descriptions, a sense of humour (much mocking of bad movie cliches) and some gloriously eerie scenes that dip into the realm of horror, such as Chloe being assaulted by rotting zombie bats (“The bat was decomposing, one eye shriveled, the other a black pit”). And even when the Group isn’t near, she uses switchblade-wielding thug girls and redneck werewolves to remind us that this is a dangerous world.
But as solid as the plot is, the real standout here is how Armstrong develops the characters — all have their own flaws and insecurities, and some of them are exploring their supernatural powers. Chloe in particular struggles to overcome her “damselitis” and be more assertive, even as she reluctantly faces the prospect of what her necromantic abilities might unleash.
Derek and Tori also get some exploration: he continues to struggle with his bestial instincts and his temper, while the cause of her disgust and dislike for Chloe are explored. Nice twist on the usual “snotty teen queen torments our heroine.” And Armtrong gives a chilling look at the brainwashing and cold-blooded methods of the Group, behind all the smiles and pretty promises.
“The Awakening” is a suitable sequel to Armstrong’s first young adult book, and it ends with the promise of new problems and solutions in her next one. Definitely a good read, whether for teen or adult fans of werewolves, witches and zombies.
Review by The Compulsive Reader for The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
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In the sequel to The Summoning, Chloe Saunders finds herself betrayed, and back in the hands of the Edison Group. There she discovers the truth: she’s part of an experiment, her genes modified in an attempt to suppress her supernatural powers. But when she manages to get away–with the help of an unlikely ally–and join Simon and Derek again, she finds that the Edison Group is relentless and ruthless, and keeping away from them will be harder than they originally thought. In the meantime, Chloe learns that controlling her powers is a lot harder than she imagined, and there’s too much she doesn’t know…
The Awakening is even more riveting and full of nonstop action than its prequel. Armstrong offers an unflinching and oftentimes grim look at what life on the streets is like for teens, with the added appeal of a perfectly sinister and powerful enemy and the suspense of unknown supernatural powers. Armstrong’s teen characters are smart and resourceful, and each obstacle thrown their way requires them to use every bit of caution, wits, and intelligence they possess. Armstrong focuses a little more on the technical aspects of the teens’ powers and abilities as Derek and Chloe especially explore their capabilities and restraints. Their difficulties and the tension that they face help them grow as characters and make them more appealing characters to the reader. This dark, gripping, and highly suspenseful read will have readers chomping at the bit for a sequel.
Review by Darcy Wishard for The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
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If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl–someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment–not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I’m a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.
Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends–a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch–and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.
Okay I’m just going to do a real quick review on this book because it’s been out for a while and I know there are a ton of reviews on it. I just had to put my two cents in though because it was sooo good! This book is even better than the 1st in the series (The Summoning). You know that feeling when you finish a book and you are panicing because it just came out and now you have wait like probably a year before the next one comes out? YES! That was me last night…Anyway, without spoiling anything for you guys who haven’t read it yet. I’m rooting for the underDOG to get the girl! My only real complaint about the book (if you can call it that) is that I really wan’t to strangle Tori…she is so annoying! Is it bad to want a character to be “offed” so you don’t have to listen to her whine anymore? Just kidding, but seriously!
Okay there you have it, not really a review more or less just me saying, “Read this series!” Oh and if you don’t know yet this series is a trilogy and the thrid book The Reckoning is due out May 2010
Review by K. Butler for The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
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Chloe Saunders is back in the second book of the Darkest Powers series. If you haven’t read The Summoning yet read it before reading this review. SPOILERS.
At the end of the first book Chloe and Rae go to Chloe’s Aunt Lauren for help, not knowing that she is working for the very group that they are trying to escape from. As a result, Chloe and Rae end up locked in a high security warehouse that houses the Edison Groups many experiments. Luckily, Derek and Simon are still on the run and on the lookout for Chloe and Rae.
After encountering ghosts of some of the former Lyle House occupants Chloe decides to take matters into her own hands and figure out a way to escape, this time for good. With the help of Liz’s ghost and a trapped demi-demon Chloe manages to find more information about the Edison group and how she can possibly escape from them.
Once away from the Edison group Chloe is forced to face the reality of living on the run with nowhere and nobody to turn to other than Tori, Derek, and Simon. Her father has posted a $500,000 reward for her safe return and the Edison group is no longer worried about keeping any of them alive.
Will Chloe and the others be able to outrun the Edison group or will their luck finally run out? Will Chloe ever figure out what her true feelings are for Derek and Simon?
The Darkest Powers series is full of paranormal happenings, betrayal, and budding romance. I highly recommend this series for any fans of the Twilight series. Definitely not the same story line but just as good.
Review by J. Alderton for The Awakening (Darkest Powers)
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I really enjoyed this book. It’s YA so it’s a pretty quick read but well worth it. My only complaint is that I wish Chloe would admit she has feelings for Derek. They seem to spend a lot of time together during this book and I was hoping for at least some sign that they were interested in each other. But he keeps telling her to go talk to Simon! All in all I really liked this book and can’t wait until The Reckoning comes out. I recommend reading The Summoning and The Awakening. Kelley Armstrong is a great author. Check out her Women of the Other World series too. Those are great books!