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bubos212's review against another edition
One of the greatest romantic-tragedies ever written; a portrait of a love that transcends physical bounds and continues long after death. Regardless of Peyrefitte's character, I think it's insane that 'Les amities particuleres' is practically unknown outside of France.
oscarwildesort's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I've ever read in my whole life (hate the author, though. But he's dead, so, whatever, I'm not supporting him in any way, lmao) and the fact that almost no one knows about its existence because its translations into other languages are out of print makes me so mad.
Published in 1943, Special Friendships talks about homosexual love between teenagers in such a beautiful way I was indeed stunned -the prose and metaphors were splendid-, and critiques, at the same time, religious fanaticism so well. Every tragedy in this book could be easily blamed on religious intolerance and hypocrisy, but one of the things I loved the most was the character's psychology, and the fact that they're all to blame for their own actions too.
All the characters are so well written, but I'm gonna talk about the protagonist, 14-year-old son of a marquis, Georges de Sarre. This is the fictional character I've related to the most in my whole life. He's smart and clever, and a cynical and manipulative liar, but he has anxieties and regrets too, and he commits terrible mistakes he's ashamed of later, even though he plans everything in such a plausible and thorough way that he easily manipulates people and situationships to his own like.
(He's literally Mastermind and mirrorball by Taylor Swift. Can relate).
He made me so mad at times, but he’s literally me. The fact that a book written more than 80 years ago manages to remain this relatable AND portrait how hard it was to be queer in those times AND in a religious place makes it SO GOOD.
Also! Another thing I loved was the fact that, even though the rest of the world wanted to separate them, the main characters didn’t have internalized homophobia, like in almost all the other LGBTQ+ classics I’ve read.
They just loved each other in such a tender way and became victims of religious intolerance by the end.
This book is pure tragedy, in case y’all didn’t notice. And to be honest, I hated the ending. This could’ve worked better with a happy ending, idc. I understand the necessity of tragedy in some other stories, but THIS ONE would’ve been perfect with a happy one. Or at least wait a little more to make them tragic. However, I fell in love with these characters and their relationship; I even dare to say it was one of the best romances I’ve ever read but, again, it would’ve been THE one if they didn’t become tragic before something I was rooting so bad to happen actually happened.
(Well, actually, the ending was perfect for the religious critic, because it showed how much damage fanaticisms can cause, but it should’ve been a little later idc).
I hated every priest in this book with a burning passion, I can't even put it into words. I'm just gonna pretend they get theirs lives eaten by a crow every morning while the two main characters live happily ever after.
(Random update: I just saw someone saying that the main character was the most unrealistic thing they've ever read bcs a 14/15-year-old wouldn't act like that, and the fact that he has read a bunch of old books wouldn't make him that intelligent still, and I- no, bestie, I literally turned 15 like 2 months ago and he was printed out of my personality, help
Published in 1943, Special Friendships talks about homosexual love between teenagers in such a beautiful way I was indeed stunned -the prose and metaphors were splendid-, and critiques, at the same time, religious fanaticism so well. Every tragedy in this book could be easily blamed on religious intolerance and hypocrisy, but one of the things I loved the most was the character's psychology, and the fact that they're all to blame for their own actions too.
All the characters are so well written, but I'm gonna talk about the protagonist, 14-year-old son of a marquis, Georges de Sarre. This is the fictional character I've related to the most in my whole life. He's smart and clever, and a cynical and manipulative liar, but he has anxieties and regrets too, and he commits terrible mistakes he's ashamed of later, even though he plans everything in such a plausible and thorough way that he easily manipulates people and situationships to his own like.
(He's literally Mastermind and mirrorball by Taylor Swift. Can relate).
He made me so mad at times, but he’s literally me. The fact that a book written more than 80 years ago manages to remain this relatable AND portrait how hard it was to be queer in those times AND in a religious place makes it SO GOOD.
Also! Another thing I loved was the fact that, even though the rest of the world wanted to separate them, the main characters didn’t have internalized homophobia, like in almost all the other LGBTQ+ classics I’ve read.
They just loved each other in such a tender way and became victims of religious intolerance by the end.
This book is pure tragedy, in case y’all didn’t notice. And to be honest, I hated the ending. This could’ve worked better with a happy ending, idc. I understand the necessity of tragedy in some other stories, but THIS ONE would’ve been perfect with a happy one. Or at least wait a little more to make them tragic. However, I fell in love with these characters and their relationship; I even dare to say it was one of the best romances I’ve ever read but, again, it would’ve been THE one if they didn’t become tragic before something I was rooting so bad to happen actually happened.
(Well, actually, the ending was perfect for the religious critic, because it showed how much damage fanaticisms can cause, but it should’ve been a little later idc).
I hated every priest in this book with a burning passion, I can't even put it into words. I'm just gonna pretend they get theirs lives eaten by a crow every morning while the two main characters live happily ever after.
(Random update: I just saw someone saying that the main character was the most unrealistic thing they've ever read bcs a 14/15-year-old wouldn't act like that, and the fact that he has read a bunch of old books wouldn't make him that intelligent still, and I- no, bestie, I literally turned 15 like 2 months ago and he was printed out of my personality, help
mayloon's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Roger Peyrefitte broke onto the literary scene with the award winning 1943 novel les Amitiés particulières about the bond of two boys at a Roman Catholic boarding school, inspired in part by his own youth.
See an in-depth review at my blog.
See an in-depth review at my blog.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Blood
There is a predatory priest as well as general homophobia from a religious basis depicted in the book.sergio's review against another edition
4.0
Un libro forte, profondo, che racconta in modo “impudico” un mondo mai tramontato di relazioni forti. Non è un caso se questo romanzo è diventato non solo un grande classico, ma che il sul titolo sia utilizzato in molte lingue proprio per identificare quelle amicizie tra ragazzi che hanno anche un contenuto sensuale. Molti lettori si soffermano su un testo visto come critico rispetto alla Chiesa Cattolica. In realtà questo aspetto non è fondamentale se non per il tradizionalismo barocco dei suoi riti (quasi “ammirati” dall’autore).
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