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briannareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I think I enjoyed the concept of this book a lot more than the actual book. It barely constituted a book, it was more of a novella, jam-packed with as much depressing and disturbing shit that you can you think of. It feels like a fever dream. I started reading this book because my French tutor had a PDF of the first chapter and I was so interested that I requested the whole book from my school library.
Jean Le-Maigre was my favourite character by far, and while he dies about 2/3 into the story, his time felt so short-lived that I was actually a bit shocked when he died, although I knew it was coming. As a writer, I really felt for Jean Le-Maigre, his sensitivity, his relationship with his brothers, and his obsession with writing his autobiography.
I also loved Le Septième and Héloïse, as well as the brutal honesty and ugliness of the Catholic Church in mid 20th century Quebec. The story is hopeless but so brutally honest that it almost makes you laugh at some scenes.
The writing was the worst part for me, as I'm not very good with fill-in-the-blanks-yourself kind of writing, and I'm still not sure if I interpreted things the way I was supposed to.
Anyways, the book didn't give me hope. It was quite depressing and although it ends on a positive note, knowing that baby Emmanuel will grow up in that family and the cycle of poverty and abuse will just continue makes me the saddest.
Jean Le-Maigre was my favourite character by far, and while he dies about 2/3 into the story, his time felt so short-lived that I was actually a bit shocked when he died, although I knew it was coming. As a writer, I really felt for Jean Le-Maigre, his sensitivity, his relationship with his brothers, and his obsession with writing his autobiography.
I also loved Le Septième and Héloïse, as well as the brutal honesty and ugliness of the Catholic Church in mid 20th century Quebec. The story is hopeless but so brutally honest that it almost makes you laugh at some scenes.
The writing was the worst part for me, as I'm not very good with fill-in-the-blanks-yourself kind of writing, and I'm still not sure if I interpreted things the way I was supposed to.
Anyways, the book didn't give me hope. It was quite depressing and although it ends on a positive note, knowing that baby Emmanuel will grow up in that family and the cycle of poverty and abuse will just continue makes me the saddest.
mmlemonade's review against another edition
3.0
La prose était magnifique:
« … Au couvent, la visite de l'Époux était si douce! Elle le recevait sans larmes et sans effroi, tout abandonnée à sa calme torture, à son horrible joie, les yeux fermés, son corps frémissant à peine sons le frêle drap blanc qui le recouvrait. »
pp. 99-100
J'ai aimé la « pudeur » de la plume de Blais. Elle peut nous communiquer les choses les plus crues en utilisant des beaux mots soigneusement choisis, comme un travail d'orfèvre:
« [Quelque chose de mystérieux] l'avait ému chez Jean Le Maigre. Son exquise folie, peut-être, ou chose de plus inquiétant encore: les bonnes dispositions que l'adolescent possédait pour ce que le Frère Théodule appelait le mal sans chercher à le définir toutefois. Enfin, le Frère Théodule n'avait jamais eu un disciple aussi agile à le suivre, une proie aussi légère et amusée dans le péril. Sans le savoir, Jean Le Maigre avait un peu rafraîchi le diable de ses obsessions et avait laissé derrière lui (au moins pour quelques jours) le souvenir d'une délirante camaraderie, mais encore imprégnée de tendresse. » p. 121
Pour autant que l'histoire du Québec m'intéresse, je m'intéresse plus au style de vie, comment iels s'habillaient, comment iels se nourrissaient, en quoi iels croyaient … Mais les histoires du genre le fils de la sœur du beau-frère de la grand-mère et la tante du fils d'untel (comme dans Une saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel ou Les Belles-Sœurs), ça m'ennuie. Je recommande la critique vidéo de Verbomoteurs pour apprécier l'œuvre dans tout son symbolisme et son importance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOCXCV4zGcQ
« … Au couvent, la visite de l'Époux était si douce! Elle le recevait sans larmes et sans effroi, tout abandonnée à sa calme torture, à son horrible joie, les yeux fermés, son corps frémissant à peine sons le frêle drap blanc qui le recouvrait. »
pp. 99-100
J'ai aimé la « pudeur » de la plume de Blais. Elle peut nous communiquer les choses les plus crues en utilisant des beaux mots soigneusement choisis, comme un travail d'orfèvre:
« [Quelque chose de mystérieux] l'avait ému chez Jean Le Maigre. Son exquise folie, peut-être, ou chose de plus inquiétant encore: les bonnes dispositions que l'adolescent possédait pour ce que le Frère Théodule appelait le mal sans chercher à le définir toutefois. Enfin, le Frère Théodule n'avait jamais eu un disciple aussi agile à le suivre, une proie aussi légère et amusée dans le péril. Sans le savoir, Jean Le Maigre avait un peu rafraîchi le diable de ses obsessions et avait laissé derrière lui (au moins pour quelques jours) le souvenir d'une délirante camaraderie, mais encore imprégnée de tendresse. » p. 121
Pour autant que l'histoire du Québec m'intéresse, je m'intéresse plus au style de vie, comment iels s'habillaient, comment iels se nourrissaient, en quoi iels croyaient … Mais les histoires du genre le fils de la sœur du beau-frère de la grand-mère et la tante du fils d'untel (comme dans Une saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel ou Les Belles-Sœurs), ça m'ennuie. Je recommande la critique vidéo de Verbomoteurs pour apprécier l'œuvre dans tout son symbolisme et son importance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOCXCV4zGcQ
maud_ite11's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bea0410's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lacurieuse's review against another edition
3.0
Just started this last night (Dec. 6, 2009). Wonderful glimpse into poor, rural post-war family life. Emmanuel is the 16th child, whose mother gives birth in the morning, then goes to work on the farm all day.
athenalindia's review
3.0
So, this certainly was a book. Part of the Canadian 100. Huh. It's...a little overwrought. Strange. Perhaps strangest of all was the introduction (not by the author) insisting that this book was not overwrought, that it was an accurate representation of pre-Quiet Revolution rural Quebec. She was quite insistent, taking Robertson Davies to task for a review where he apparently said that Blais had talent, but maybe she should try toning down the bombast next time.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
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