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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a fascinating experience reading this book was.
If you're a proponent of novels where, simply put, "stuff happens," this probably isn't for you. Against Nature is, instead, a novel whose every chapter puts different topics - art, perfumes, flowers, writers, and others - under a magnifying glass. Such a strange time I've had with this book- fascinating descriptions; beautiful in fact. It's philosophical, and curious, and difficult to read at times, at many times...
And as you can probably see, I'm having a tough time writing about it.
But if it was one thing, that would be fascinating.
If you're a proponent of novels where, simply put, "stuff happens," this probably isn't for you. Against Nature is, instead, a novel whose every chapter puts different topics - art, perfumes, flowers, writers, and others - under a magnifying glass. Such a strange time I've had with this book- fascinating descriptions; beautiful in fact. It's philosophical, and curious, and difficult to read at times, at many times...
And as you can probably see, I'm having a tough time writing about it.
But if it was one thing, that would be fascinating.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
reflective
slow-paced
Richly detailed, sometimes overwhelming. Full review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reBjBaX_QSA&feature=youtu.be
In the widely read "Portrait of Dorian Grey," Oscar Wilde has his character read a peculiar text that changes his life. That book happens to be "Au Rebours," which depicts the kind of decadent French lifestyle that Wilde only dreamed of living. Starting from this decadence, Huysmans manages to span the gamut of extreme experience in his works, from attending satanic masses to eventually joining a monastery.
Ok, so this book is truly a funny and smartly written book, and it’s descriptions are truly amazing, but what makes this book so amazing is the ninth chapter , that’s where IMO the power and sensitivity of the book is truly displayed
In chapter 10, Des Esseintes rubs a styrax pellet between his fingers, with the narrator describing the released odor as "at once repugnant and delightful." That pretty much describes my reaction to this book.
There were some lines that had me laughing out loud and some chapters, like chapter 10, that just delighted me. (Chapter 10 focuses on fragrance; each chapter is devoted to a different intellectual or sensual pursuit.) Other times, the character of Des Esseintes filled me with a sort of bored loathing that's hard to describe, but seems perfectly appropriate to the situations the author depicts.
After spending 15 years on my TBR list (thanks to Paglia's Sexual Personae) I am glad I finally got around to reading this. And who knows, maybe I'll read it again in another 15 years.
Favorite quote: "It all comes down to syphilis in the end."
There were some lines that had me laughing out loud and some chapters, like chapter 10, that just delighted me. (Chapter 10 focuses on fragrance; each chapter is devoted to a different intellectual or sensual pursuit.) Other times, the character of Des Esseintes filled me with a sort of bored loathing that's hard to describe, but seems perfectly appropriate to the situations the author depicts.
After spending 15 years on my TBR list (thanks to Paglia's Sexual Personae) I am glad I finally got around to reading this. And who knows, maybe I'll read it again in another 15 years.
Favorite quote: "It all comes down to syphilis in the end."