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2.61 AVERAGE
2.61 AVERAGE
The stories in this book are purposefully gross for the sake of being gross. Other reviewers have supplied plenty of detail as to the depths this book plumbs. Aside from the fact that it's troubling that some dude thought up all this shit, it's also tediously boring in its repetitiveness. Like, too boring to finish, thus it has ended up on my dnf shelf. This book doesn't have a hidden meaning; it's simply one disturbed individual's idea of the most fucked up "hedonism" he could think of. If anything, it was quite interesting to see how much he talks about asses in great detail, but I guess this was supposed to be the most shocking thing (among others) he could think of to display the absolute depravity of the four men. This kind of idea about gay people really doesn't hold up today and so a large part of the "shock" value of this portion was simply lost on me. The men's treatment of people as cattle and objects in the story was possibly more disturbing to me than the fact that the author thought up this crap. It harkens to actual classism that existed and still exists today, but says absolutely nothing interesting about it. I feel like there really was no point to him writing this except that he was bored out of his skull imprisoned for so long. It certainly doesn't add any value to the literary world. Maybe I watch too many serial killer videos, this book came across to me like a neatly packaged torture list for some aspiring serial killer rather than any literary marvel. Just boringly repetitive torture porn.
I am not a prude, but Marquis de Sade always manages to make me feel slightly uncomfortable while reading his books, and at the same time, compels me with his insight of human depth and corruption. It is as depraved as his other works, even more; but very interesting nonetheless.
why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why
Mind numbingly boring above everything! De Sade is right when he says do not pretend that at least one part of this sordid tale won't excite you, he really does cover every base from the most innocent to the most abhorrent. A long and tedious read, repetitive and so full of male ego, it was hard to wade through at times. I wouldn't recommend this book no, the only thing it gave me was satisfaction and thankfulness that times have moved on considerably from the late 1700s.
Un livre très personnellement influent, en fait on pourrait dire qu'il a réveillé quelque chose en moi.
Update:
Finished. Nothing changes for my review, did get a little more disturbing towards the end due to the mutilation and deaths. Just thankful I finished it already.
Old review - Currently reading review
16/04/2012
I actually have no idea where the hell I am at the moment in Sodom, I think I'm at day....20+ something. I gave myself a banned book and film challenge, like many others have to see if they can stomach the infamous books and films that have caused some sort of controversy.
I was excited to read a copy of Sodom, purely for the reaction I was gonna get from reading it, so far nothing.
The story itself is dragging on and repeating itself numerous of times. Of course there is disturbing content, language and scenes described but all that doesn't work when your bored out of your mind reading it. And with how the characters speak, which is obviously not our modern lingo and with it's own hidden language such as 'Friggin'- in some ways for myself I really need to concentrate and read with my mind fully into the realm of the book. But with how it's going my mind actually wonders else where while my eyes just read on.
Finished. Nothing changes for my review, did get a little more disturbing towards the end due to the mutilation and deaths. Just thankful I finished it already.
Old review - Currently reading review
16/04/2012
I actually have no idea where the hell I am at the moment in Sodom, I think I'm at day....20+ something. I gave myself a banned book and film challenge, like many others have to see if they can stomach the infamous books and films that have caused some sort of controversy.
I was excited to read a copy of Sodom, purely for the reaction I was gonna get from reading it, so far nothing.
The story itself is dragging on and repeating itself numerous of times. Of course there is disturbing content, language and scenes described but all that doesn't work when your bored out of your mind reading it. And with how the characters speak, which is obviously not our modern lingo and with it's own hidden language such as 'Friggin'-
Spoiler
Hangjob/masturbation etc.
There only two things I can say about this book
1) I couldn't read all the "passions" described.
2) I loved Sade's daring and judging game, placed at the reader.
1) I couldn't read all the "passions" described.
2) I loved Sade's daring and judging game, placed at the reader.
Besides being grotesque in every way, this book isn't written particularly well. The characters are relatively indistinguishable, and their habits are abhorrent, pedophilia among them. I know this book is intended to shock the senses, and I approached it with the knowledge that it may do so, but I draw the line at ingesting vomit. Call me old-fashioned.
dark
medium-paced
Of course, it is hardly sustainable to read this unfinished book which is undoubtedly the worst of Sade's work, the worst in the sense that it reveals even more bluntly, bordering on the bearable, the vices of human nature, its hidden side to how flourishing. Because this is Sade's goal, his contemporaries denigrated him all his life. Or accused of erotic literature here, we can see that the goal is not to arouse the sensual image of the reader but to denounce the vices which remain in each of us pushed here to their paroxysm. In particular, because it is about child abuse. Which is always even less acceptable, but what gives the strength of this too disparaged work, unfortunately seldom appreciated at its current value.