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galatee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
adoré, un mélange entre Les Cosaques de Tolstoï et Aurélien d’Aragon
jeannepirouette's review against another edition
5.0
Grange la forêt le froid la peur la mort.
Lu entre Rennes, Amsterdam et Berlin, dans des parcs, des lits, des trains.
Lu entre Rennes, Amsterdam et Berlin, dans des parcs, des lits, des trains.
briancrandall's review against another edition
5.0
He thrust his hand into his pocket and felt the key of Mona's house. A great livid moon rose slowly over the forest as he watched; its slanting beams glowed on the road, the rough gravel bristled with sharp shadows, becoming a stream bed once again. Nothing seemed more important now than to be sitting beside such a stream, at the heart of the earth's deep labor. He felt a sudden revulsion at the pit of his stomach, as if he had run into the sea across a cold beach: he recognized the fear of being killed; but a part of himself stood aside, floating on the current of the buoyant night: he felt something of what the passengers in the ark must have felt when the waters first lifted it off the ground. [184]
liberrydude's review
4.0
I read this book when I learned of the author's death two years ago and remember liking it and it being quite different. Quite a fanciful book, a soldier in the forest primeval while the Germans invade finds love. Descriptive imagery and storytelling had me thinking of the movie "Pan's Labrynth." Sort of an obscure author to Americans
zeljana's review
4.0
A Balcony in the Forest is a slow, poetic book that explores seclusion, waiting and anxiety in the midst of a war which is for most of the book still distant.
We follow an officer named Grange who commands a small unit somewhere in a forest in the Ardennes. He spends his days walking in the forest, visiting a nearby village, and even meeting a sprite-like lover. His experience is the core of this novel, his thoughts and meditations about life, war and nature. We know very few of the external details for any of the characters and there is a dream-like quality throughout this book.
The language is exquisite and while the book is quite simple in its concept, it is memorable because of the universality of themes it touches so subtly.
We follow an officer named Grange who commands a small unit somewhere in a forest in the Ardennes. He spends his days walking in the forest, visiting a nearby village, and even meeting a sprite-like lover. His experience is the core of this novel, his thoughts and meditations about life, war and nature. We know very few of the external details for any of the characters and there is a dream-like quality throughout this book.
The language is exquisite and while the book is quite simple in its concept, it is memorable because of the universality of themes it touches so subtly.
variousfictions's review against another edition
3.5
Really enjoyed this one. Gracq does a great job describing the monotony and anticipation of war. As he calls it: a soft degeneration. Seducing Lieutenant Grange, while stationed in a defending blockhouse, into suspension of disbelief; a daydream that's permeated by the surroundings of the Ardennes forest. A war that feels close but never real, even when it finally, and brutally, disturbs the tranquility of Grange's world.
pedantic_reader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
writingsurreal's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mishasw's review
4.0
Jeez this thing slaps. Only kinda marred by the love story part of things, just a bit toooo nymphettey but I guess it works in the overarching purpose of the book. Part sand country almanac part historical fiction, this sucker looks deep into the mindset of a fearful but overly optimistic Europe. Is war an inherently evil act that lowers all parties or is there a just war and honorable death? Whooooo knowsssss?????????
lessidisa's review against another edition
2.0
Comme certaines review le disent c’est un roman d’attente. Le personnage attend qu’il se passe quelque chose et - MOI AUSSI. Personnellement je ne l’ai pas trouvé particulièrement bien écrit. Il y avait beaucoup de mots qui m’étaient inconnus, ce qui m’a déçu pour un livre écrit dans les années 50. Enfin cette histoire propose beaucoup de descriptions de forêts