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augenstern's review
1.0
I read this book in a different translation but simply had to comment on the English version as well - it’s fascinating how a book that’s so uncomfortable to read is so boring at the same time.
Heliogabalus makes his appearance about halfway into the book, after endless and repetitive descriptions of female-centred cults? I think? It was hard to really get what Artaud was talking about, it just sounded like sexist nonsense he picked up from the ancient Romans (who most definitely were very reliable sources when talking about different cultures as we all know) and just random mysticism? It couldn’t hold my attention for longer than two pages at a time and I think I officially lost it when he started talking about 3, 4 and 12.
I don’t know what I expected when I picked up this book, but it certainly wasn’t that I had to read about sperm, castration and “menstruation eaters” on every second page (and that’s me being generous). And I’m certainly not against decadence and vile topics but he presented it in such a gross yet boring way?
Honestly, for that alone the book could be congratulated.
Heliogabalus makes his appearance about halfway into the book, after endless and repetitive descriptions of female-centred cults? I think? It was hard to really get what Artaud was talking about, it just sounded like sexist nonsense he picked up from the ancient Romans (who most definitely were very reliable sources when talking about different cultures as we all know) and just random mysticism? It couldn’t hold my attention for longer than two pages at a time and I think I officially lost it when he started talking about 3, 4 and 12.
I don’t know what I expected when I picked up this book, but it certainly wasn’t that I had to read about sperm, castration and “menstruation eaters” on every second page (and that’s me being generous). And I’m certainly not against decadence and vile topics but he presented it in such a gross yet boring way?
Honestly, for that alone the book could be congratulated.
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