Reviews

Coup de Grâce by Grace Frick, Marguerite Yourcenar

goroakechi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

desirosie's review against another edition

3.0

This was an interesting and compelling read; emotionally and linguistically spare.

dinosaursatwork's review against another edition

4.0

I was thinking of giving this book 3 or 4 stars but then I read Marguerite Yourcenar's afterword. It made me realise I could have read the book more critically and that some of the things I would have criticized in a review were done with intention and aided the story the author wanted to tell.

Apart from that, the story kept me engaged and I wanted to - after initial confusion - press on and learn what exactly happened.

This story introduced me to Marguerite Yourcenar and I would love to read some of her short stories or essays in the future.

roxxie's review against another edition

4.0

Ein sehr fesselndes Buch voller Leidenschaft, Freundschaft, Liebe und Hass, und dem Tod.
Mit sehr warmen gefühlsechten Worten taucht man ab in die Tragödie eines Dreiecksfreundschaft, welch jähes Ende man nicht zu hoffen wagte.

lauren_endnotes's review against another edition

"They say that fate excels in tightening the cord around the victim's neck, but to my knowledge, her special skill is to break all ties. In the long run, whether we wish it or not, destiny extracts is from difficulties by removing them, and everything else, from us."

▫️Coup de Grâce by Marguerite Yourcenar, translated from the French by Grace Frick, 1939.

#ReadtheWorld21

deeva's review against another edition

4.0

Ein sehr fesselndes Buch voller Leidenschaft, Freundschaft, Liebe und Hass, und dem Tod.
Mit sehr warmen gefühlsechten Worten taucht man ab in die Tragödie eines Dreiecksfreundschaft, welch jähes Ende man nicht zu hoffen wagte.

epots's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

asingpracha32's review against another edition

2.0

Read this book for modernist literature for my undergrad at URI. It was tough to focus on and I was constantly getting distracted or bored, reread many parts buts but did find some of the story well written. I don’t know enough about Europe during the First World War to really appreciate many of the parts. Erick is the worst narcissistic jerk ever.

cgadient's review against another edition

3.0

Slow to get going. I felt like this translation was clunkier than frick’s other work. The last few pages are exquisite.

andreiagmmarques's review against another edition

4.0

Comecei com uma obra muito cruel da Margueritte Yourcenar mas que valeu muito. Tenho pena de ser tão curta (mas ainda assim pesada). É um (anti) romance que envolve três jovens e cujo pano de fundo é o fim da primeira guerra mundial e a revolução russa. Mais não digo porque iria ficar aquém.

Vou começar a explorar mais obras desta autora porque estas pouco mais de cem páginas arrebatadoras souberam a pouco.
*Uma vez mais levei chapada durante o prefácio, decidi que vou deixar de os ler. Pelo menos antes da obra.