Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.61 AVERAGE
2.61 AVERAGE
I recently read an article encouraging people to read this book, not under the lens of great literature, but as a study of humanity and I have seen a thousand more article calling it a 'classic' (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/we-translated-the-marquis-de-sades-most-obscene-work-heres-how-a7393066.html - a worthy read if you're interested). I knew that it would be a surprising read, after all, how many authors name's evolve into a noun over a century after death? Controversial reads don't bother me, I have enjoyed books like [b:Lolita|7604|Lolita|Vladimir Nabokov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377756377l/7604._SY75_.jpg|1268631] and after all, it was written during the French Revolution, they blushed at too much ankle showing, so it couldn't be that bad, right? wrong.
I'm not really sure what the point of this book was, there was clearly no purpose for the story other than to record the deplorable acts of the central 'characters'. In fact, it does read as more of an observational study rather than a piece of literature. For instance, when introducing the 'characters', Sade writes:
'The youngster had been enticed and carried away from the convent where she was being brought up; two nuns had been bought. You could not hope to find anything more seductive and sweeter.'
I was not able to finish this book. There is a part of me that understands the importance of the discussions surrounding it as it had - and still has - such a cultural impact. Bottom line, this book is disgusting and I would recommend researching into the real man behind the writing to understand the horror he inflicted on people in real life, rather than reading a sadists fantasy.
I'm not really sure what the point of this book was, there was clearly no purpose for the story other than to record the deplorable acts of the central 'characters'. In fact, it does read as more of an observational study rather than a piece of literature. For instance, when introducing the 'characters', Sade writes:
I was not able to finish this book. There is a part of me that understands the importance of the discussions surrounding it as it had - and still has - such a cultural impact. Bottom line, this book is disgusting and I would recommend researching into the real man behind the writing to understand the horror he inflicted on people in real life, rather than reading a sadists fantasy.
120 Days of Sodom is one of the hardest books I've tried to review. Did I like it? Not particularly, but I found it interesting. It's different from anything I've read, it's shocking, revolting, surprising and extremely well written. The amazing way Sade can describe almost angelical beauty is even more evident when in contrast with the dark and repulsive atmosphere of the whole book.
More than the situations depicted throughout the book, what makes it so shocking is the fact that Sade wasn't even trying to shock people. It's not like I believe he thought this story to be innocent and perfectly normal, it just doesn't seem like he meant for his book to be disgusting. It feels a lot more like he's just exploring his sexuality and what he finds exciting, without real life boundaries. It's almost as if he wrote this book for himself, even though he directly addresses the reader.
If you try to leave all moral judgement behind (it's the only way to endure all the descriptions of sexual abuse, lack of higiene, extreme violence, psychopathic behavior, misogyny, pedophilia, etc) it's actually an interesting journey through a mind and a sexuality that's totally different from what we're used to.
The reason I'm giving it two stars is because, after a while, it becomes repetitive and boring. The real appeal of this book is the ability to shock it's readers and how different it is from anything else they've probably read, but there's a limit to how much you can read about the same disgusting behaviors and still be shocked.
If you're a sensitive or easily impressed person I don't recommend this book, at all. Although it's usually considered erotica, there's nothing remotely erotic about it, be warned.
More than the situations depicted throughout the book, what makes it so shocking is the fact that Sade wasn't even trying to shock people. It's not like I believe he thought this story to be innocent and perfectly normal, it just doesn't seem like he meant for his book to be disgusting. It feels a lot more like he's just exploring his sexuality and what he finds exciting, without real life boundaries. It's almost as if he wrote this book for himself, even though he directly addresses the reader.
If you try to leave all moral judgement behind (it's the only way to endure all the descriptions of sexual abuse, lack of higiene, extreme violence, psychopathic behavior, misogyny, pedophilia, etc) it's actually an interesting journey through a mind and a sexuality that's totally different from what we're used to.
The reason I'm giving it two stars is because, after a while, it becomes repetitive and boring. The real appeal of this book is the ability to shock it's readers and how different it is from anything else they've probably read, but there's a limit to how much you can read about the same disgusting behaviors and still be shocked.
If you're a sensitive or easily impressed person I don't recommend this book, at all. Although it's usually considered erotica, there's nothing remotely erotic about it, be warned.