Reviews

Elskeren fra Nordkina by Marguerite Duras

aellatgirl's review against another edition

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2.0

NOO MADAME DURAS YOU'VE MAILED A MOVIE SCRIPT TO YOUR PUBLISHER BY ACCIDENT STOP STOP STOP NOOOOOO

apechild's review against another edition

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2.0

2006 bookcrossing:

I'd never heard of Marguerite Duras before. This is about her early life in Vietnam, but for me it was just a story. And a bit of an odd/depressing one at that.

She's 14 in the book, has an incestuous relationship with one of her brothers and an affair with a twenty-seven year old Chinese man. An affair which they both know must end, so they spent a lot of time talking about how miserable this makes them and crying.

It's written as if someone is watching the film and telling you in great detail what's happening on screen.

This book left me a bit cold to be honest, and I really didn't care about any of the characters. Oh well, you can't like everything!

eylulunuz's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

bluelight333's review against another edition

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

3.0

sophiepiczenik's review against another edition

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5.0

My new neighbor told me I write like Duras and so she handed me this book.

I think this book is a masterpiece.
I burned through it.

The writing makes it all. It is so well orchestrated.
Distance, yet emotional. It is so well balance.

You get a glimpse into the thought process of the characters and then a zoom out, seeing the bigger picture of the setting. It is so delicious.

More often than not, when we come across a story with a plot that isn't easy to digest (incest, colonialism, pedophiles, criminal mine in kids), the narrative is always so black and white but, Duras has managed to make it otherwise.
You don't see the characters regretting anything nor do you see a clear character development, it is not shove in your face. The characters are very humane and relatable and I find myself embodying some of them.

A GREAT READ

jojoroz's review against another edition

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2.0

Détestable expérience de lecture, il y a 10 ans j’avais pas supporté ça na pas changé. Pourquoi glorifier un amour détestable et problématique 

nataalia_sanchez's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

scunareader's review against another edition

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5.0

The book that inspired the movie, "The Lover". The art of Duras' writing is essential to absorb before you appreciate the movie.

timimoo's review against another edition

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4.5

pas 5 étoiles juste parce que j’ai préféré l’amant, ou en tout cas mon expérience de lecture était meilleure 

cserras's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

4.0