Reviews

The Age of Reason by Jean-Paul Sartre

snichols's review

Go to review page

challenging dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

1.0

a_o_on_the_go's review

Go to review page

4.0

Satre's main character Mathieu seemingly articulated my own sense of being some thirty years before I was even born: "I'm not obstinate, I'm highly strung: I don't know how to let myself go. I must always think of what is happening to me - it's a form of self-protection".

Set in a bohemian 1930s Paris, Satre's existentialist philosophies finds variant but concordant voices focussed on: what it is to be free; how one can become free; and what the achievement of the freedom ideal allows and what it may restrict. The writing is simple, the topics are bleak, the characters are unlikeable, but the story has a pulse and a point.

sh00's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Да, экзистенциализм, в сущности, явление интересное. Интересно было наблюдать и за авторским подходом к написанию, второй роман трилогии написан ещё и во вполне модернистском ключе, но к третьему роману модернизм был оставлен.

Любопытно было оставить часть персонажей в открытом для них финале - и даже не во вполне визуализированном.

Полемичные произведения, вот этот вот вполне сартровский (если не в принципе французский) натурализм - это очень на любителя. Я - люблю.

thewasteland's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

artistformallyknownasbeefpussy's review against another edition

Go to review page

  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A

4.75

drewbutler's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Marcelle is the only redeemable person in this almost unbearably French book.

saturday_reads's review

Go to review page

reflective medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

rachel_the_managing_editor's review

Go to review page

4.0

Some good moments here, a few twists, beautiful passages and descriptions, and food for thought. But ultimately too hit-you-over-the-head allegorical, particularly at the end. Bleak.

etopiei's review

Go to review page

4.0

This started a little slowly but was quite an enjoyable read. The story was interesting and the dialogue very well written.

morganwright's review

Go to review page

reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

First 2/3 of the book were a struggle, but the last third was enjoyable