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csanchez94's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
andriawrites's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this. Salter is just a master of poetry in prose. Each page left me in awe of his writing.
danielapereiraa222's review against another edition
4.0
This book was phenomenal. It took me so long to read and I’m so thankful I decided to finish it. I’m a hoe for old literature
theadequategatsby's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
j_m_alexander's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A disorienting erotic story of a youthful affair in France.
What a tricky little book, the narration in particular makes this very steamy and emotionally wrought story... well, strange. Everything is in a very romantic morning glow haze, but the shifting perspective distorts the scenes every so often, reminding you the reader that much of what is being related is not first-person, but made up (as it were, being fiction, this is a meta sort of device the author has employed) by an almost reclusive third individual that has jealously imagined so much of what we are reading. In the end does the narration make what is otherwise a sexy, romantic, if somewhat tragic story just a pervy one? It is undeniably voyeuristic.
The writing itself is for the most part beautiful in it's simplicity and directness. Salter seems to be able to convey pages worth of observations and sensations in a few sentences, eschewing euphemisms in preference for something more blunt.
Our primary protagonist is someone I feel like I know, or at least knew when I was in my twenties. Phillip Dean is a shining confident young man, smart enough and good looking enough, traipsing along taking others up on every kindness they offer without ever thinking of any costs to others, but then again he never demands and isn't overtly unkind, people just want to do for him. He can manage to do so little and yet be so beloved, and because of this cause much damage. As the book goes on you do get the sense that passion has lead him to feel somewhat reckless and possibly ensnared, an intoxicating love affair that can feel like the heights of love, but is mostly the effects of very gratifyingly fulfilled lust. All to say, Phillip Dean is frustrating as all hell as a character. I would say that you barely get to really know him beyond his sexual preferences, but I honestly don't think there is much more to know, he seems to likely not know himself any better than we do - impetuous, selfish, and young.
Definitely steamy, open-door (pretty sure I am using that term correctly), and of it's time. There are some phrases and off-hand comments that are cringey reading today, but seems likely part of everyday language in the 1960's.
What a tricky little book, the narration in particular makes this very steamy and emotionally wrought story... well, strange. Everything is in a very romantic morning glow haze, but the shifting perspective distorts the scenes every so often, reminding you the reader that much of what is being related is not first-person, but made up (as it were, being fiction, this is a meta sort of device the author has employed) by an almost reclusive third individual that has jealously imagined so much of what we are reading. In the end does the narration make what is otherwise a sexy, romantic, if somewhat tragic story just a pervy one? It is undeniably voyeuristic.
The writing itself is for the most part beautiful in it's simplicity and directness. Salter seems to be able to convey pages worth of observations and sensations in a few sentences, eschewing euphemisms in preference for something more blunt.
Our primary protagonist is someone I feel like I know, or at least knew when I was in my twenties. Phillip Dean is a shining confident young man, smart enough and good looking enough, traipsing along taking others up on every kindness they offer without ever thinking of any costs to others, but then again he never demands and isn't overtly unkind, people just want to do for him. He can manage to do so little and yet be so beloved, and because of this cause much damage. As the book goes on you do get the sense that passion has lead him to feel somewhat reckless and possibly ensnared, an intoxicating love affair that can feel like the heights of love, but is mostly the effects of very gratifyingly fulfilled lust. All to say, Phillip Dean is frustrating as all hell as a character. I would say that you barely get to really know him beyond his sexual preferences, but I honestly don't think there is much more to know, he seems to likely not know himself any better than we do - impetuous, selfish, and young.
Definitely steamy, open-door (pretty sure I am using that term correctly), and of it's time. There are some phrases and off-hand comments that are cringey reading today, but seems likely part of everyday language in the 1960's.
fwarg's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ynnctz's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ben_r's review against another edition
4.0
With perfectly intense prose, Salter tells a fevered love story that may not have happened. Or happened in very different ways. A mesmerous tale.
guinness74's review against another edition
slow-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
2.0
Meh. It was sometimes difficult to discern who was the narrator in this rats nest of sentence fragments. Maybe in 1967 this was avant-garde, or maybe I just prefer a different style. The story itself is not all that interesting. The sex was probably taboo for the time (though I can’t imagine) but it’s not overly imaginative. So, what’s left? Driving through the French countryside in a vintage convertible…and that’s how it gets 2 whole stars.