Reviews

Sphinx by Anne Garréta

audreyvm's review

5.0

This astonishing novel hooked me on the first page. It tells the story of a love affair and it does so using a unique constraint (best kept a surprise, if at all possible) that has informed every aspect of the language, both in the original French and in translation, at which Emma Ramadan has done an amazing job. It was only on reading the translator's notes at the end that I realised just how tied to the story the language really is. I'm going to reread it this weekend to experience it all over again, as I got through it the first time in less than 24 hours.

nerdynursereads's review

4.0

We discuss this live on TBR Lowdown podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2ciTv-x7vU

spyfox's review

5.0

Great translation, fun writing exercise but also poignant. Very hard to do.

hetismarijkie's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

javorstein's review

5.0

Absolutely phenomenal book. Extraordinarily impressive translation work as well as writing the original French without ever revealing any notion of gender on the part of the narrator nor A***. Fascinating exploration of the bodily/sacred, negative theology, subjectivity, simulacra, and a myriad of other complex topics I had not expected from the novel. Took a severely dark turn by the end that I had not at all expected but in retrospect seemed almost inevitable. The connections between the unknowable G-d/Spirit and A***, the nothingness of the subject/'I', the use of mirrors throughout to question the subject/object distinction altogether... honestly a dizzying array of metaphor, metonymy, borderline mystical description, very Lispector-esque. Amazing read, loved this book, everyone should read it.

gobby_gilbert's review

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

bailee_f's review

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

omondi31's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

mivsella's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

heythereitsmere's review

3.0

The idea of this book is really neat. I found myself flipping between genders in the beginning and eventually settled on what I felt the characters were (it's definitely not necessary for the storyline though.) It was my first time reading this style of writing and I look forward to reading more.

As for the actual story, it flows as a stream of retelling of events between the main character and their relationship with a cabaret dancer after falling deep into the nightlife scene. I found the prose slow and dragged out at times, as the narrator goes on and on about their discontent with life. At times this character came across kinda 'woe is me' and I really found it hard to empathize with them. They basically hate their life and the only happiness comes after they meet A***. It's interesting to me because I honestly didn't feel the relationship through the pages much at all. Maybe it was written this way to show how monotonous everything in this persons life is. I didn't really enjoy the prose. My friend read this book as well and loved the prose (and enjoyed it in general,) but I guess it just depends on you! Glad I read it, but wasn't crazy about it overall. There were some parts I did really enjoy and good quotes. One of my favorite below -->

"Before, I was mourning the present; today I mourn a past that was never present." Depressing, but moving lol