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elevander's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
t51's review against another edition
*picks book up*
*begins to feel nauseous*
*puts book down*
I can't believe I actually finished this
*begins to feel nauseous*
*puts book down*
I can't believe I actually finished this
catecardoso's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bbbb123's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sofiapaginas's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dictelilje's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
stephatree's review against another edition
3.0
I almost gave up on it. It is dreadfully boring. Maybe purposefully so. The pointless conversations and happenings support his idea that everything is meaningless.
A few bits were interesting. My favorite part is a scene in a park. He's looking at this old tree, thinking about how people talk of trees "surging toward the sky." He counters that living things aren't as heroic as we make them out to be. The tree doesn't necessarily want to exist at all. He says "every living thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance."
A few bits were interesting. My favorite part is a scene in a park. He's looking at this old tree, thinking about how people talk of trees "surging toward the sky." He counters that living things aren't as heroic as we make them out to be. The tree doesn't necessarily want to exist at all. He says "every living thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance."
medienmonolog's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
benedettal's review against another edition
4.0
Although plagued by an atrocious translation, I couldn’t not enjoy this novel. It’s an existentialist, slightly absurdist tale of disenchantment with life, feeling like a stranger in society, feeling like life has been lived to its max and it’s just about surviving after this point. It’s about a lack of purpose and the unrelenting feeling of uneasiness in one’s realisation that that’s the case.
The feeling of nausea can be read as depression, extreme detachment combined with dissatisfaction and also feeling trapped. The allegory built through the plot is so effective. Antoine’s relationship with Anny, his vague longing for her and their ultimate confrontation was super climactic. She is very much underdeveloped as you might expect, but still manages to utter some of the most poignant words about trauma, love, lost chances.
The juxtaposition with the autodidact, whose experiences and personal philosophy have made him love mankind is also quite inspired. Despite his efforts, the autodidact is ultimately shunned for his association with socialism and what are seen by others as homosexual tendencies. Through Antoine’s eventual compassion for him we understand his own struggle, feeling so distanced from society, but also the ugliness of society itself, which rejects those it doesn’t consider conformant with the unspoken rules, even when said rules are alienating and lead to hardship for everyone.
Anyway, it’s a solid novel, very much in the realm of Camus and Dostoevsky. Good stuff.
The feeling of nausea can be read as depression, extreme detachment combined with dissatisfaction and also feeling trapped. The allegory built through the plot is so effective. Antoine’s relationship with Anny, his vague longing for her and their ultimate confrontation was super climactic. She is very much underdeveloped as you might expect, but still manages to utter some of the most poignant words about trauma, love, lost chances.
The juxtaposition with the autodidact, whose experiences and personal philosophy have made him love mankind is also quite inspired. Despite his efforts, the autodidact is ultimately shunned for his association with socialism and what are seen by others as homosexual tendencies. Through Antoine’s eventual compassion for him we understand his own struggle, feeling so distanced from society, but also the ugliness of society itself, which rejects those it doesn’t consider conformant with the unspoken rules, even when said rules are alienating and lead to hardship for everyone.
Anyway, it’s a solid novel, very much in the realm of Camus and Dostoevsky. Good stuff.