The American

I really enjoy Henry James, and this book was no exception. It is a portrait, perhaps one of the earlier, of a character encountered in a number of books (e.g., Sinclair Lewis' Dodsworth): the intelligent, successful, open and likeable American who goes out to see the (old) world and who is somehow completely blind to European social structure and conventions. In some aspects he is naive, but he is not stupid or inexperienced; he is simply unable to grasp the way members of a class-based society perceive humanity. And above all, he is genuinely likeable. I was also somewhat surprised to find that this book was written in 1877 -- to me, it really felt like an early-20th century novel, though I can't explain the precise reason. It wasn't the greatest piece of literature I've ever read, but it was very nice.

As for the narrator: it's really hard to rate him. On the one hand, he has a very warm, pleasant, clear voice, and he has a touch of that slightly outdated American accent which is perfect for the character and the narrator. He makes no attempt at characterizations, which I thought was fine -- I never felt confused as to the identity of the speaker. But the major problem with him is that he simply doesn't know any language other than American. Most of the story takes part in France, and there are quite a few French characters and expressions. For all of these, the narrator sounds like a caricature of an American mispronouncing French. He even mispronounces French expressions that are used in English, such as "coup d'etat" (he pronounces the final t). And the only character he tries to supply with an accent -- an elderly English woman -- sounds more or less like Dick Van Dyke's hilarious mock-Cockney accent in "Mary Poppins". It really sounded as if the main character was reading the novel. And just like the main character, the narrator has such a pleasant and earnest voice that it was hard to "blame" him for this shortcoming -- that's just the way he is.

All in all, an enjoyable if slightly confusing experience.

The first part was boring, no excitment, but latter part was exciting as it comes to climax.

Slowly comes to the climax

The story developed in the latter part. The contrast of French personality and American personality is worth noticing.

I didn't see the movie, but I think movie is more enjoyable than book.

this book was just okay for me. i don't care for books where the author is reading the book to you in his writing instead of just telling the story, comments like "the reader needs to understand that" just leaves me a bit cold. the story was fine but boring in places but the author did make you care about the main character and his love interest.
i absolutely loved the narrator, his voice and articulation made it seem as if it was the main character speaking and not a story being read. a very talented narrator.
how ever when i'm glad the book has ended even if the story line holds my interest and attention it's a book i don't really feel comfortable recommending.

Undiscriminating under travelled Americans.

This question is irrelevant and irritating.

By failing to differentiate in any way between the characters. A young French girl sounded like a middle aged, nasal American male. Her old aristocratic French father sounded exactly the same. A travesty of a wonderful novel. Can't Americans identify with any culture outside their own?
That having been said, his diction was exceeding clear and precise. Just not creative or interesting.

It's not the scenes it's the reader.

No.