You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nadja is the OG manic pixie dream girl to Breton, but in a way he's aware of it so it's bearable.
Disclaimer : this isn't a bad book, by any means. I just didn't adore it.
Nadja follows the brief relationship between André Breton, a french surrealist poet and author (the writer of this book) and Nadja, a poor and strange girl (probably a prostitute, too) who teaches him a new way to see the world. She inspires the writing of the book, which he names after her.
There is no actual story, only bits and pieces of what they shared together (and also unrelated stories that Breton wants to share, just because).
It's partly this messy and disjointed aspect that I didn't like, but the book has its strong points : Nadja is the beginning of a surrealist manifesto ("La beauté sera convulsive, ou elle ne sera pas") and has an inspiring dimension to it. It makes you want to create.
If you're a tortured and loveless artist, give this a read. Otherwise, it's still pretty interesting but not phenomenal. Apollinaire's Alcools accomplished much more for me (surrealism-wise) than this (even though his poetry isn't even properly surrealist). I shouldn't be comparing these two books though, lol.
Disclaimer : this isn't a bad book, by any means. I just didn't adore it.
Nadja follows the brief relationship between André Breton, a french surrealist poet and author (the writer of this book) and Nadja, a poor and strange girl (probably a prostitute, too) who teaches him a new way to see the world. She inspires the writing of the book, which he names after her.
There is no actual story, only bits and pieces of what they shared together (and also unrelated stories that Breton wants to share, just because).
It's partly this messy and disjointed aspect that I didn't like, but the book has its strong points : Nadja is the beginning of a surrealist manifesto ("La beauté sera convulsive, ou elle ne sera pas") and has an inspiring dimension to it. It makes you want to create.
If you're a tortured and loveless artist, give this a read. Otherwise, it's still pretty interesting but not phenomenal. Apollinaire's Alcools accomplished much more for me (surrealism-wise) than this (even though his poetry isn't even properly surrealist). I shouldn't be comparing these two books though, lol.