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kelseystamey's review against another edition
3.0
This aching Holocaust allegory occasionally strikes the right chord, and when it does, the sound is divine. Martel's prose can be lyrical, especially in the description of the pear in the play within the story, and he asks a few thoughtful questions. However, some of the material is too trite and derivative of other famous works for many readers (myself included) to consider Beatrice and Virgil as anything more than a flight of a talented author's imagination, a glorified daydream. I agree with other reviews; it would have worked best as a short story.
robynryle's review against another edition
1.0
Really a lot like Life of Pi, but not nearly as good. There were animals. There's a first person narrator who appears to actually be Yann Martel. And I didn't like the first person narrator, so now I don't really like Yann Martel, either. And then there's a long play that sounds exactly like Waiting for Godot or Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, only with animals.
karieh13's review against another edition
4.0
Yann Martel accomplishes something amazing in “Beatrice and Virgil”. He takes extremely unlikely characters and meshes them with one of humankind’s darkest hours…and delivers a story unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
I say experienced instead of read because like the main character, Henry, I was drawn into and lulled by this new world. Henry, a writer, has stopped writing. He’s living his life doing other things, and not the work for which most of the world defines him.
“Creative block is no laughing matter, or only to those sodden spirits who’ve never even tried to make their personal mark. It’s not just a particular endeavor, a job, that is negated, it’s your whole being. It’s the dying of a small god within you, a part you thought might have immortality.”
And then Henry is given a play about characters named Beatrice and Virgil, and with that play, his life is forever changed.
Somehow, even from the beginning of the book, Martel’s words both interested and soothed me. His writing style is rather matter-of-fact, but in a way that allows additional layers of meaning to become part of the narrative…almost without the reader noticing. Well, without noticing until later. Until it’s too late…
“The reader’s disbelief begins to lift, like a stage curtain. Now the story can unfold more easily. There’s nothing like the unimaginable to make people believe.”
I can’t explain why I was so taken by the world inhabited by Beatrice and Virgil…and neither could Henry. While there was certainly something “off” about it, the sheer strangeness was part of its charm.
“The taxidermist shook his head without saying a word. Henry stood and waited, marveling at the animals. He was happy to be back. This was a room full of adjectives, like a Victorian novel.”
(And yes, I am trying to describe the book while giving very few details. I would hate to spoil it for someone.)
There are so many passages I marked within this book. Passages that contain thoughts or actions or events that are so raw that they feel like a punch to the gut. Passages of such carefully crafted words that the description of a single action conveys dozens of emotions. But I just can’t lift the curtain on this book. It caught me by surprise to such an extent that I hope it will catch others.
And the end…the end. I was never expecting that. I turned the final pages slowly, reading the words but not wanting to. I realize I’m probably coming across as overdramatic, but the end of this book was so different from any expectation that I had when I first picked it up, that’s the only way I can describe it.
I will never forget this book. This book that uses such an unlikely way to remind us of things that should never be forgotten. This book that uses such unexpected characters to remind us of the fragility of what makes us human, of the value of our lives. This fictional story that brings forth unarguable truths about life – both the beauty and the pain of it.
“A work of art works because it is true, not because it is real.”
I say experienced instead of read because like the main character, Henry, I was drawn into and lulled by this new world. Henry, a writer, has stopped writing. He’s living his life doing other things, and not the work for which most of the world defines him.
“Creative block is no laughing matter, or only to those sodden spirits who’ve never even tried to make their personal mark. It’s not just a particular endeavor, a job, that is negated, it’s your whole being. It’s the dying of a small god within you, a part you thought might have immortality.”
And then Henry is given a play about characters named Beatrice and Virgil, and with that play, his life is forever changed.
Somehow, even from the beginning of the book, Martel’s words both interested and soothed me. His writing style is rather matter-of-fact, but in a way that allows additional layers of meaning to become part of the narrative…almost without the reader noticing. Well, without noticing until later. Until it’s too late…
“The reader’s disbelief begins to lift, like a stage curtain. Now the story can unfold more easily. There’s nothing like the unimaginable to make people believe.”
I can’t explain why I was so taken by the world inhabited by Beatrice and Virgil…and neither could Henry. While there was certainly something “off” about it, the sheer strangeness was part of its charm.
“The taxidermist shook his head without saying a word. Henry stood and waited, marveling at the animals. He was happy to be back. This was a room full of adjectives, like a Victorian novel.”
(And yes, I am trying to describe the book while giving very few details. I would hate to spoil it for someone.)
There are so many passages I marked within this book. Passages that contain thoughts or actions or events that are so raw that they feel like a punch to the gut. Passages of such carefully crafted words that the description of a single action conveys dozens of emotions. But I just can’t lift the curtain on this book. It caught me by surprise to such an extent that I hope it will catch others.
And the end…the end. I was never expecting that. I turned the final pages slowly, reading the words but not wanting to. I realize I’m probably coming across as overdramatic, but the end of this book was so different from any expectation that I had when I first picked it up, that’s the only way I can describe it.
I will never forget this book. This book that uses such an unlikely way to remind us of things that should never be forgotten. This book that uses such unexpected characters to remind us of the fragility of what makes us human, of the value of our lives. This fictional story that brings forth unarguable truths about life – both the beauty and the pain of it.
“A work of art works because it is true, not because it is real.”
gogowhatwhat's review against another edition
I can't rate this book. It's either a five star or a one star. I loved and hated it.
sunfishe's review against another edition
im not gonna put a star rating for now because i am hugely conflicted about this book. what started as a book that was light-hearted and conversational ended in a confusing mess of violence. the last 13 questions of the book brought the whole thing to quite a head.
conceptually i love this book, but I am very conflicted about the character of the taxidermist -- which I think is exactly the authors point
i love the words about faith being like being in the sun, and Virgil having God days and Godless days.
conceptually i love this book, but I am very conflicted about the character of the taxidermist -- which I think is exactly the authors point
i love the words about faith being like being in the sun, and Virgil having God days and Godless days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Suicide, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Torture
lilnoto's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
“Slice a pear and you will find that its flesh is incandescent white. It glows with inner light. Those who carry a knife and a pear are never afraid of the dark.”
bhsmith's review against another edition
3.0
My experience with this book pretty closely mirrored the ups and downs of the novel itself. Without giving any spoilers, I will say that everything started great... a moderately light-hearted story about a writer struggling with his career. This early portion of the book was very well written, conversational and light. Then, things took a turn. The novel introduced a new plot line - the plot line that ends up being central to the development of the entire novel - and all of a sudden the writing is a bit more laborious. We start to follow the story of Beatrice and Virgil... and the novel dramatically slows down. Then, finally, the climax of the novel. The plot line with Beatrice and Virgil (and all associated parties) concludes quite dramatically, which makes the last 20 pages of the novel stunning, if not a little unbelievable.
So, lots of changes of tone throughout the novel that match up pretty well to how you'll actually feel about the writing. I was turned on to Yann Martel's writing after Life of Pi, and after reading Beatrice and Virgil I'll certainly give his next novel a read... but perhaps with a bit less enthusiasm.
So, lots of changes of tone throughout the novel that match up pretty well to how you'll actually feel about the writing. I was turned on to Yann Martel's writing after Life of Pi, and after reading Beatrice and Virgil I'll certainly give his next novel a read... but perhaps with a bit less enthusiasm.
carolbsmith's review against another edition
2.0
I read strictly for enjoyment. Several times I wondered why I was still reading Beatrice and Virgil.
The first seventy-five percent of the book was barely interesting. The last twenty-five percent was disturbing.
I did not like the ending at all.
The first seventy-five percent of the book was barely interesting. The last twenty-five percent was disturbing.
I did not like the ending at all.
theologize's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Animal death, and Animal cruelty