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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This is not necessarily an un-feminist story, but rather an excruciatingly honest one that admits human fallibility and complexity, qualities that Ernaux fears will be judged when exposed. This fear illustrates a vulnerability in her writing that I now find extremely moving, particularly in reflections such as this one: “Sometimes I wonder if the purpose of my writing is to find out whether other people have done or felt the same things or, if not, for them to consider experiencing such things as normal.”
Simple Passion is not about A., who in fact seems entirely generic and unremarkable from the little we discover about him. Rather, it is about the feelings he awakens, the power he exerts, and the impossibility – at least for a time – of imagining life without his touch. A. is the part that Ernaux keeps to herself, but she gives her passion in both its senses – her desire and her suffering – in this brief, raw “offering, of a sort”.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
My first book of this author and I loved how she could translate this obsession and love, dread, grieve, this infatuation. Her passion was captivating.
medium-paced
Une écriture plate, une histoire banale, on s'ennuie même sur une 70aine de pages 🫠
J'avais adoré La Place mais Passion simple m'a ennuyé comme pas possible...
C'est simplement pas une passion pour moi...
J'avais adoré La Place mais Passion simple m'a ennuyé comme pas possible...
C'est simplement pas une passion pour moi...
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
emotional
medium-paced
This book is fantastically vulnerable. It was honestly a difficult read for me. Ernaux writes about an all consuming affair she has. I found it incredibly frustrating to read about this successful woman being so completely wrapped up in a man that seems to take the relationship much less seriously than she does. The value I got out of the book was actually noticing what happened within me as I read it. Why did this all disturb me so much? After all it is perfectly normal for people to have their emotions to be dependent on the person they are in love with. To me it is impossible to imagine having an experience like this that I would find humiliating and then write and publish it (then he might also read it, the horror!). I’m amazed at her for doing this and the world is richer for her bravery. I would recommend if you read this book to notice what emotions it stirs up for you, I imagine it will be different for everyone. Maybe you can learn something about yourself while reading this book.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced