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ivostarr's review
4.0
I hadn't read any of Beauvoir's fiction in quite some time, but it is funny that this novel called up some of the same feelings I had about the earlier novels I read. It is obvious that she loved to research, because this really shines through as she takes the reader all over the world via her character, Fosca, in All Men Are Mortal. She pays great attention to detail and aims to craft an environment rich with politics, emotion, and exploration of some of the tenets of existentialism. What I don't feel I get from Beauvoir is a writing style that I can really fall in love with. Then again, I'm reading her books in English, so it may not be her at all.
Beauvoir reveals the bulk of the story in flashbacks as Fosca, an immortal man, tells the story of his life to Regina. Now, Regina is fascinating, because she is not initially set up as an extremely likable character. In fact, the way Beauvoir wrote Regina somewhat reminded me of some of Colette's female characters--interesting, beautiful, complicated, awful, vain, etc. You don't love her, but you want to know more.
But, you actually don't get much of Regina. Once the story really gets going, it is all about Fosca's tale, which becomes an exercise for Beauvoir to explore aspects of existentialism through her main character.
Beauvoir reveals the bulk of the story in flashbacks as Fosca, an immortal man, tells the story of his life to Regina. Now, Regina is fascinating, because she is not initially set up as an extremely likable character. In fact, the way Beauvoir wrote Regina somewhat reminded me of some of Colette's female characters--interesting, beautiful, complicated, awful, vain, etc. You don't love her, but you want to know more.
But, you actually don't get much of Regina. Once the story really gets going, it is all about Fosca's tale, which becomes an exercise for Beauvoir to explore aspects of existentialism through her main character.
nixxer's review against another edition
The characters were annoying me, and reading it felt like a chore. I feel like the story didn't live up to what it could've been, because the topic does interest (and mildly despresses) me.
annasar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sophiajerome's review
5.0
Genuinely one of my favorite existentialist texts yet. Had me screaming and crying. I will be thinking about this until the day I die (because there will be one!).
kaffee_auf_ex's review against another edition
what on earth did Simone smoke when writing this
ant_bateman's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
applesodaperson's review
challenging
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
4.0
This book really was a masterpiece. But I feel like the little summary about it is a bit misleading. This is a book about Fosca, the immortal guy, not Regina, like the summary leads you to believe. Still interesting, but some of his backstory did feel a bit like reading a history textbook. But of course my favorite parts were all the ones talking about the nature of mortality and what it means to live and be a human. It reminded me of The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is one of my all time favorite book, and my favorite classic.
Read from the Provo library.
Read from the Provo library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts