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matthewwester's review against another edition
1.0
I rarely get so excited to read a book. How could it not be brilliant? It's a philosopher I thoroughly enjoy (Fear and Trembling, for example, is brilliant), writing about a subject that's always intriguing (young love gone wrong), with an approach that is sure to be complicated and thoughtful (trying to make himself look like the bad guy). Honestly, I've been fascinated by Kierkegaard and Olsen's relationship since I first heard a summary of their lives.
So I can't begin to describe the disappointment I felt in reading this. It takes dozens of pages for any advancement of plot to take place (for instance, it takes 50 pages just for the main character to learn her name is Cordelia). The style is dense (which encourages you to read slower) but then the content is mostly whiny drivel; small unimportant details are expanded into multiple paragraphs of rhetorical questions and the metaphors center around cliche images and language. In the last 40 pages there are a few rare moments of philosophical musing, but mostly it feels like the journal entries of an unusually intelligent pre-teen.
I am glad so many other reviewers seemed to enjoy this book. As for me, I just don't see the appeal.
So I can't begin to describe the disappointment I felt in reading this. It takes dozens of pages for any advancement of plot to take place (for instance, it takes 50 pages just for the main character to learn her name is Cordelia). The style is dense (which encourages you to read slower) but then the content is mostly whiny drivel; small unimportant details are expanded into multiple paragraphs of rhetorical questions and the metaphors center around cliche images and language. In the last 40 pages there are a few rare moments of philosophical musing, but mostly it feels like the journal entries of an unusually intelligent pre-teen.
I am glad so many other reviewers seemed to enjoy this book. As for me, I just don't see the appeal.
secemozmen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
admatthews's review against another edition
3.0
Read as part of the Penguin Great Loves series, as an extract from the larger work 'Either/Or', forming a standalone piece. Problem with it as a standalone work is that it represents only the extreme aesthetic 'Either', without the opposing ethical 'Or', and over the work it's easy to forget the preface that sets the diary up as the work of a monstrous figure; even with that, it lacks the ethical balance. As a study of extreme aestheticism (extreme to a considerable fault) it uses seduction as the vehicle - and it's very much seduction, not love, though worth remembering that seduction was a morally negative term in a way it no longer is, and these days we would call it stalking and then coercion. It's the amoral aestheticism that involves pure self-indulgence with no regard for the interests of others, and later degenerates into A Rebours, etc. It also reminded me strongly of John Lanchester's 'A Debt to Pleasure'.
georgisabina's review against another edition
3.0
this one is a debate worthy one, unfortunately I suppose my opinion falls in the negative side cause, despite of the writing style and overall concept, I cant think of a single thing that I liked about this book.
however, I do believe that if the diary was cordelia's I would have found Johan way more attractive and interesting as a character and maybe, probably liked the book more. but given the fact that it is not from her perspective and Johan is, matter of factly, a seducer in love with the ultimate femininity and beauty I do not like a lot of things about it, therefore three stars. I would have given it two but I feel like it deserves more.
however, I do believe that if the diary was cordelia's I would have found Johan way more attractive and interesting as a character and maybe, probably liked the book more. but given the fact that it is not from her perspective and Johan is, matter of factly, a seducer in love with the ultimate femininity and beauty I do not like a lot of things about it, therefore three stars. I would have given it two but I feel like it deserves more.