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beebliobibuli's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
ameliasbooks's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
2.25
Good things first. I liked the description of Bruges and the the melancholic description of the place. If you also read some biographical facts about the author I can get, where the fascination for this book came from (back in the day).
But time has moved on. And what has been acceptable and a great book of its time, is not necessarily a must-read nowadays. Even if you are reading this with the time it was written in mind, it is still misogynistic and definitely not "a study of passion". Gag.
What starts out as a man grieving and finding the perfect place for him to do so, ends up in a very uncomfortable read, without any real emotions, but with him only trying to comfort himself through making women taking care of him in a way only he determines.
Sometimes it is just time to say goodbye to a famous classic, without having to grieve about it. I am sure Belgian literature has better things to offer meanwhile.
But time has moved on. And what has been acceptable and a great book of its time, is not necessarily a must-read nowadays. Even if you are reading this with the time it was written in mind, it is still misogynistic and definitely not "a study of passion". Gag.
What starts out as a man grieving and finding the perfect place for him to do so, ends up in a very uncomfortable read, without any real emotions, but with him only trying to comfort himself through making women taking care of him in a way only he determines.
Sometimes it is just time to say goodbye to a famous classic, without having to grieve about it. I am sure Belgian literature has better things to offer meanwhile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Terminal illness
v_de_quimper's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leonorb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
“Certes elle avait toujours les mêmes yeux. Mais, si les yeux sont les fenêtres de l'âme, il est certain qu'une autre âme y émergeait aujourd'hui que dans ceux, toujours présents, de la morte.”
“La ville, elle aussi, aimée et belle jadis, incarnait de la sorte ses regrets. Bruges était sa morte. Et sa morte était Bruges. Tout s'unifiait en une destinée pareille. C'était Bruges-la-Morte, elle-même mise au tombeau de ses quais de pierre, avec les artères froides de ses canaux, quand avait cessé d'y battre la grande pulsation de la mer.”
kiriamarin's review against another edition
4.0
Uma cartilha do simbolismo unido a arquitetura medieval e melancólica de Bruges, um conto de
" resemblance" do estado de luto do viúvo Hughes e a cidade "poetizada " e silenciosa de forma bela mas vazia.
Com reminiscências do romantismo e fascinio do mórbido como nas obras de Poe,sobre obsessões sacramentais que atormentam quando quebradas, do pecado cometido a "esposa adorada e idealizada ",mantida num altar e ressuscitada através de necessidades alucinante.Da angústia de um passado distante, idílico que contrasta com o desespero presente.
Um único caminho,suicídio?
"...death itself erased by death."
" resemblance" do estado de luto do viúvo Hughes e a cidade "poetizada " e silenciosa de forma bela mas vazia.
Com reminiscências do romantismo e fascinio do mórbido como nas obras de Poe,sobre obsessões sacramentais que atormentam quando quebradas, do pecado cometido a "esposa adorada e idealizada ",mantida num altar e ressuscitada através de necessidades alucinante.Da angústia de um passado distante, idílico que contrasta com o desespero presente.
Um único caminho,suicídio?
"...death itself erased by death."
franderochefort's review against another edition
4.0
Bruges-la-Morte is Rodenbach's short and highly influential symbolist novel, and as with the movement in general it lives mostly on its poetic and rich prose - the evocation of the city of Bruges is almost a kind of perverse declaration of love as Rodenbach uses the sleepy, decaying city as a character in itself, imbuing tragedy into the futile and tragic fate of Hugues, a widower unable to move on from his deceased wife until he finds her likeness in another woman - with unforeseen and disastrous consequences. The constant relationship of doubles - Hugues as a kind of dead, immobile entity and the equally dead and unchanging city, the living woman embodied as sordid reality vs the deceased woman as perfected ideal, are all played to the fullest extent and give rich meaning to the fluctuations of desire, despair and yes, death (the references to "la mort/e" in this novella are omnipresent and the gloom of the city is never fully allowed to dissipate for even a moment). Very painful and sad but very good.
______
A difficult read as Rodenbach's prose is some of the most complex and flowery I've encountered yet in French - my dictionary wasn't of help with a lot of the more convoluted turns of phrase here either but I didn't feel I was deprived of too much compared to if I were reading a translation. Challenging and probably not a good idea to binge in a day (though I did anyway)
______
A difficult read as Rodenbach's prose is some of the most complex and flowery I've encountered yet in French - my dictionary wasn't of help with a lot of the more convoluted turns of phrase here either but I didn't feel I was deprived of too much compared to if I were reading a translation. Challenging and probably not a good idea to binge in a day (though I did anyway)
hartereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0