Reviews

Pure and the Impure by Judith Thurman, Colette, Herma Briffault

krisheiney's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had mixed feelings about this book. At times, I was drawn in by Colette’s honest but loving evaluation of the flawed and beautiful characters she chose to fill this book with. And at other times, the datedness of the discussions was too jarring, too painful in how women always come out behind, even through this progressive-for-her-time lens. On the writing level, though some had me tangled up (I expect much of the this is down to translation), much of the sentences are pure poetry and reward a slower reading than  I had the luxury to give. 

cruddy's review against another edition

5.0

First colette book, found some sections a but confusing but overall awesome 

vulpinevik's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

salemreadsbooks's review against another edition

The last 20 pages truly lost me.

I don’t know if it’s the translation or if that’s just how complex/purple the author wrote — but there were many passages I flat out didn’t understand. And many I had to reread to just slightly grasp.

There were some very interesting quotes though. I really enjoyed looking into a very different period of queerness and sexuality. There’s certainly room for discussion and criticism of the ideas in this regard, but I found them compelling to engage with.

Overall, it was VERY difficult to read at times and I think it’s overly complex, but there were engaging parts as well.

seriouspleasures's review against another edition

3.0

this book is probably better than my experience reading it. at less than 200 pages, it took me about 3 weeks to read it. i dunno, i just couldn't get into it. the episodic nature of colette's storytelling didn't really lend itself to edge of your seat reading, and the subject matter (the various permutations of erotic, sensual relationships) wasn't something i really wanted to ponder deeply. not bad, but something i could (should?) have passed on.

occasional_owl's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

laura_sonja's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted to love this, and I kinda didn’t. I loved how sensory and lush the writing was, but I found some of the dialogue kind of...clunky? That could just be a translation issue though! I also just didn’t enjoy the chapters were Colette talks about like, the Don Juans she has known. The chapter on Renee Vivien was definitely my favourite chapter of the book.

raphaelsandingjr's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective medium-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

3.25

hillarytully's review against another edition

challenging funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

pennepasta's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5