gmuguruza's review against another edition
5.0
This book is wonderful. A beautiful reflection on life and death, the thought experiment of immortality taken to the extreme, with really immersive stories. It's a masterpiece!
katrinavalentina's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the best introductory and explanatory existential fiction, including that of Sartre and Camus. Interrogates ideas of being in the world and others, especially in regards to facticity, finitude, and being-towards-death while still being an enjoyable and understandable piece of fiction.
luelizabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Simone discusses how living is determined in our effort to find meanings in the details. Fosca’s transition from apathy to empathy and back to apathy was movingly written. Though he is of poor character, he shows that all men are mortal. Even in immortality, we make an effort to find meaning - however short that effort may be.
beaukowski's review against another edition
5.0
Much like Kafka’s ‘The Trial’, it gave me an existential crisis; but that’s okay
boxcar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What if one man was involved in every evil thing white men have done? Haunting, masterful--it's always an interesting read when the protagonist is deeply flawed. This one is flawed and immortal, and it's pretty sick. Cool way of writing about European history too.
emilia10's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
_dunno_'s review against another edition
2.0
Dear Simone, I'm pretty sure you wrote better things than this one. But why on earth did I have to start with this book? I kept on reading, hoping to get to the point where I'm blown by your immense talent. Guess what? It bore me to death. And now I'm having second thoughts when it comes to giving you another chance.
paulataua's review against another edition
5.0
“ We don’t have to count on the future to give a meaning to our acts. If that were the case, all action would be impossible.”
It is not surprising to find Beauvoir concerned with death and human action in the world. ‘All Men Are Mortal’ sees Regina, an ambitious actress, fascinated by Fosca’s immortality and ready to listen to his story, a story that takes us through several important historical periods including Charlemagne’s empire, Cortez’s conquest of the Incas, and the French Revolution. She soon realizes that what she thought would be a blessing turned out to be more of a curse.
It is not surprising to find Beauvoir concerned with death and human action in the world. ‘All Men Are Mortal’ sees Regina, an ambitious actress, fascinated by Fosca’s immortality and ready to listen to his story, a story that takes us through several important historical periods including Charlemagne’s empire, Cortez’s conquest of the Incas, and the French Revolution. She soon realizes that what she thought would be a blessing turned out to be more of a curse.