snailspace's review
4.5
A pleasure read of marshmallowy melodrama. Barthes takes us, sifts through the ooze of sentimentality and comes up against some cutting edges - the feels are far from being only sickly or sweet. The je-t'aime piece I'd read again. The whole thing in fact, maybe piecemeal. Glossary entries - how are we to take the whole and the part in this form?
tableforone's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.75
ferciboy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
mkeil16's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
If you have ever wondered to yourself “am I the only one who feels such strong feelings?” then this is the book for you. “A Lover’s Discourse” is Barthes stream-of-consciousness which gives a language, a vocabulary, and an understanding of what it means to be a lover.
If you want to understand why we feel a spark at the lightest brush of hands, why we feel like writing love letters (or constant texts), what deprives us of words, how we can idolize someone, why crushes can be so very crushing, and how we can feel such intense ups and downs when in love then read this. If you’ve ever been in love (especially that chaotic young love) then read this.
Barthes thesis (or my takeaway) is that we are all alone in our feelings of love — be them mad, strong, lugubrious, contrived, or simply inexplicable — and through the lack of acceptance by the systems we inhabit (Christianity represses the lover; psychology wants you to reject the lover; capitalism has no room for the free thoughts of the lover; etc), the lover stays solitary in his adorations and amourous feelings. Thus, Barthes did the best job I’ve ever seen of giving the lover a language to not be so alone in love.
If you want to understand why we feel a spark at the lightest brush of hands, why we feel like writing love letters (or constant texts), what deprives us of words, how we can idolize someone, why crushes can be so very crushing, and how we can feel such intense ups and downs when in love then read this. If you’ve ever been in love (especially that chaotic young love) then read this.
Barthes thesis (or my takeaway) is that we are all alone in our feelings of love — be them mad, strong, lugubrious, contrived, or simply inexplicable — and through the lack of acceptance by the systems we inhabit (Christianity represses the lover; psychology wants you to reject the lover; capitalism has no room for the free thoughts of the lover; etc), the lover stays solitary in his adorations and amourous feelings. Thus, Barthes did the best job I’ve ever seen of giving the lover a language to not be so alone in love.
tchouktche's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
3.5
en vrai c’était cool mais je sais très bien que je ne vais rien retenir de ça livre, il ne m’a pas vraiment marqué et en plus des fois c’était dur à lire mais à part ça c’était super intéressant
oleade's review against another edition
5.0
Un bon livre pour mettre des mots sur des sentiments que tout le monde à, lit, voit à la télé, dans la rue, au théatre, entre nous, etc.
Quelques fragments qui m'ont particulièrement marqué:
Le vaisseau fantôme
Aimer l'amour
Attente
Agony
Retentissement
Incertitude des signes
Quelques fragments qui m'ont particulièrement marqué:
Le vaisseau fantôme
Aimer l'amour
Attente
Agony
Retentissement
Incertitude des signes