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pozo67 's review for:
Vita Brevis: A Letter to St Augustine
by Jostein Gaarder
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heads up, I think this is fictional and haven't read Confessions.
Gaarder's best adult woman character. She's not shallow, she's heartbroken.
If this was just about sex, I'd be on his side. But it's not. It's the tale of a man who abandons his (common law) wife and takes her kid from her just because he feels too good for human relationships.
In the process, he also abandons or attempts to, all earthly pleasure. Food taste too good? Don't eat it. Clothes don't scratch? Swap for some that do. Music too pleasant? Don't listen to it.
That's not Christian, that's just scrupulousity.
He's how old exactly when he's waiting to marry an 11 year old? I don't care about cultural relativism, I just feel sad for that child.
Sad too for the mother and child who were separated. For the boy who died, only one parent grieving him. I cried at that part.
She has a strong voice. She's a philosopher too.
There's a big difference between "abandoning" the world of courtship to enter the church and breaking apart a family to do so.
Overall it's probably obvious this book made me think a lot. It also upset me and made me cry.
Gaarder's best adult woman character. She's not shallow, she's heartbroken.
If this was just about sex, I'd be on his side. But it's not. It's the tale of a man who abandons his (common law) wife and takes her kid from her just because he feels too good for human relationships.
In the process, he also abandons or attempts to, all earthly pleasure. Food taste too good? Don't eat it. Clothes don't scratch? Swap for some that do. Music too pleasant? Don't listen to it.
That's not Christian, that's just scrupulousity.
He's how old exactly when he's waiting to marry an 11 year old? I don't care about cultural relativism, I just feel sad for that child.
Sad too for the mother and child who were separated. For the boy who died, only one parent grieving him. I cried at that part.
She has a strong voice. She's a philosopher too.
There's a big difference between "abandoning" the world of courtship to enter the church and breaking apart a family to do so.
Overall it's probably obvious this book made me think a lot. It also upset me and made me cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship