Reviews

Sphinx by Anne Garréta

leasaurusrex's review

0.5

Ultra-raciste.

Et absolument pas une lecture LGBTQIA, et encore moins « non-genrée ». On n’a aucun peut-être aucun marqueur de genre concernant les protagonistes, mais le reste ne trompe pas.

Et c’est si pompeux, au point d’en devenir insincère. 

Bref, j’étais enthousiaste en commençant, et maintenant je n’ai juste plus envie d’aller voir les prouesses techniques des écrivains et écrivaines francophones. 

Arrêtez de mal vendre les livres aussi.

juliaeder's review

4.0

This wasn’t an easy read and yet it was captivating and strangely beautiful. I will have to go back to at least one chapter though as I am not sure I actually understood it all the first time around.

denizerkaradag's review against another edition

5.0

Wonderful!

I've always thought it is possible to consider love beyond genders and even in my own writings I tried to wipe genders. Although I still believe we can or should constitute a language of love above genders, I couldn't contain myself from dreaming genders for our lovers while I was reading this book. Wonderful work and translation.

cemstoize's review

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

jackieh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

5.0

alexandra_avital's review

4.0

I’m conflicted on rating this book on a 5 star system. As literature, it was fascinating and well executed. As a novel, it often failed to pull the reader along. The second half of the book had more interesting plot points to move the story along. Too much of the first half was caught up in exhausting in the vice the narrator is living in. Overall, an interesting read.

forever_fantasy's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

anapau97's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

rouge_red's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

I need this book. Now.

I've never read such a sensuous book- it drips with descriptions that resonate not only emotionally with lust and longing, despair and loneliness, but you could almost reach out and touch the imagery Garreta creates with language. This was absolutely brilliant, and the conceit of it being a genderless love story must have been doubly hard to do in French. And kudos to Emma Ramadan, the translator, for doing a fantastic job! Wow! This feels like something I want to read and read again in different points in my life. I love that I can so clearly feel what can't easily be felt because it's almost like Garreta and Ramadan are saying things that should be so much more difficult to put into words; but here it's so well done. I can't say enough good things.

cdurant's review

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5