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nivasun's review
3.0
Confused, but also amused by these three absurd dramas. Fully appreciating this type of writing might take some practice for me, but I feel like this was a good place to start. Easy to follow, even though you sometimes get the feeling there must be something you’re not quite grasping. Enjoyable!
adrahja's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
2.5
bookcub's review
3.0
I really hate reading plays, but this was very funny and thought provoking. I'm excited to watch it, even if I didn't love reading it.
synkopenleben's review
4.0
More absurd drama. Rhinoceros is an effective metaphor on totalitarian regimes, The Chairs ponders how we can make what we leave behind be heard, how to leave an impression, and The Lesson is a more or less humorous take on the abuse of power. Ionesco is self-referential, witty and more than amazing: His plays take on a large number of thought-provoking topics while never leaving out humour. The Chairs is certainly the hardest play to grasp, leaving the reader behind with a speech by a mute and the phrase Angepain written on a blackboard. Angelbread can mean anything and nothing – and is thus perfectly absurd. 4/5
clem_maidment's review
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ch4t3unwoo's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
what
readingatnight's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Rating by story:
Rhinoceros - 5/5
The Chairs - 3.5/5
The Lesson - 4.25/5
Rhinoceros - 5/5
The Chairs - 3.5/5
The Lesson - 4.25/5
bookswithabi's review
1.0
This review is purely of the play The Chairs. I do at some point want to read the other plays within this collection, but I had to read The Chairs because I am studying it in drama at college.
It is probably the weirdest play I have ever read. I get that it's meant to be abstract, but still. I don't know, my rating will probably go up once I've studied it in class and understood it a bit more, but I just found it really weird, and I had to force myself to read it. It is definitely not something that I would pick up for myself, and I wouldn't really recommend it. I think it would be much better actually seeing this live, because the staging is quite complex, and I struggled imagining it, but I think the staging plays a key role in understanding the play.
It is probably the weirdest play I have ever read. I get that it's meant to be abstract, but still. I don't know, my rating will probably go up once I've studied it in class and understood it a bit more, but I just found it really weird, and I had to force myself to read it. It is definitely not something that I would pick up for myself, and I wouldn't really recommend it. I think it would be much better actually seeing this live, because the staging is quite complex, and I struggled imagining it, but I think the staging plays a key role in understanding the play.
erikarochefort's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
2.0