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_elise_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lindseyam's review
4.0
such an incredibly underrated book. radiguet got both acclaim and backlash from this book, and if he’d lived to write more i have no doubt he’d become a major author. and his writing is something i could never get enough of i don’t think. the main character becomes increasingly dislikable — constantly manipulating and emotionally abusing marthe — and it was an interesting narrative to see
anjsi's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
audryt's review against another edition
5.0
Exceedingly sophisticated material written in the tone of a mature narrator looking back on the dramatic and often terrible behavior of his youth -- which is amazing, when you consider that this novel was written by a youth.
Reading this story about a teenage boy carrying on an affair with a married woman was like watching a two-year-old throw a temper-tantrum -- only the tantrum involved sex, deception, passion, manipulation, rape, and regret. Short and potent without being overly graphic, raw and honest, and a very compelling read.
Reading this story about a teenage boy carrying on an affair with a married woman was like watching a two-year-old throw a temper-tantrum -- only the tantrum involved sex, deception, passion, manipulation, rape, and regret. Short and potent without being overly graphic, raw and honest, and a very compelling read.
oecky's review
3.0
good story but a little booooring. took like 9 months to read.... after like page 60 pretty good!
prairierosereads's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sure I would've appreciated this more if I studied it further.
*I Wanna Know What Love Is* playing in the background
*I Wanna Know What Love Is* playing in the background
gimpyknee's review against another edition
2.0
Much brouhaha about a story who’s protagonist is an immature, unlikeable, selfish prick.
enofortinfab's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
3.0
cybrgloss's review against another edition
4.0
A schoolboy begins an illicit affair with the 19 year old wife of a soldier, the two flounder through the despicable pitfalls and self-centered highs of First Love. This isn’t some grand amorous story, but a rather realistic view of how heinous and selfish we can begin to behave when consumed by love—particularly the inexperienced.
Such a tragedy to not have more from Radiguet (aside from Le Bal du Comte d’Orgel ofc), this is one of the few classic French novels about immature-if-not-outright-intolerable people in love that I actually truly enjoyed.
“We think we are the first to experience such anxieties, not realizing that love is like poetry, and that all lovers, even the most ordinary, imagine themselves to be innovators.”
Such a tragedy to not have more from Radiguet (aside from Le Bal du Comte d’Orgel ofc), this is one of the few classic French novels about immature-if-not-outright-intolerable people in love that I actually truly enjoyed.
“We think we are the first to experience such anxieties, not realizing that love is like poetry, and that all lovers, even the most ordinary, imagine themselves to be innovators.”