sin_flore's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
vitsa's review
2.0
I was very relieved to finally finish it. I struggled to get through it even though it was relatively short.
I am not sure I got the whole philosophical depth of it, but I did like the concept.
The idea that the power to wish for anything can make you a slave is interesting.
I am not sure I got the whole philosophical depth of it, but I did like the concept.
The idea that the power to wish for anything can make you a slave is interesting.
Spoiler
The last part grated on my nerves a bit. Raphael had been dying for so long that I wanted him to get on with it already!franderochefort's review against another edition
3.0
La Peau de chagrin is one of Balzac's earliest and best known full length efforts and an important step in the formation of the Human Comedy for its weaving together of various key themes and character strands. Drawing heavily from his Swedenborgian influence, Balzac tells the story of young Raphael, a man on the verge of suicide who comes across a talisman that allows him whatever he desires at the cost of a portion of his life each time it's used. The tale progresses through the highs the new power allows its bearer as well as the inevitable and sad undoing that it leads to in the end.
This definitely had its longueurs, particularly some of the more drawn out descriptive passages (though others, such as the antique shop near the beginning, were wonderfully evocative), the denouement feels somewhat drawn out and meandering, and there's an inevitably moral rectitude from Balzac here that puts this in sharp contrast to what the Decadents might have done with such a story half a century later, but the strong stuff here is really good - the whole melodrama of the 2nd part was particularly delicious even though it's where the chagrin is least relevant, I really liked the contrast between Pauline and Foedora as embodiments of a certain kind of feminine ideal, and it was pleasant to see the return of Dr. Bianchon as well as the first appearance of Rastignac in my Balzac reading experience.
I know there's better to come from this writer but this was a promising kick-off to longer Balzac nonetheless.
_________
The most difficult work I've read in French once again, as I continue to push up the difficulty on my endeavours - this is really dense prose and I can't say I wasn't warned this is a hard novel to read but I definitely ended up slowing to a crawl for a lot of the first part. By the end though I was rolling forward once again and the confidence I feel in my reading competence in the language now I'm done is stronger than ever.
This definitely had its longueurs, particularly some of the more drawn out descriptive passages (though others, such as the antique shop near the beginning, were wonderfully evocative), the denouement feels somewhat drawn out and meandering, and there's an inevitably moral rectitude from Balzac here that puts this in sharp contrast to what the Decadents might have done with such a story half a century later, but the strong stuff here is really good - the whole melodrama of the 2nd part was particularly delicious even though it's where the chagrin is least relevant, I really liked the contrast between Pauline and Foedora as embodiments of a certain kind of feminine ideal, and it was pleasant to see the return of Dr. Bianchon as well as the first appearance of Rastignac in my Balzac reading experience.
I know there's better to come from this writer but this was a promising kick-off to longer Balzac nonetheless.
_________
The most difficult work I've read in French once again, as I continue to push up the difficulty on my endeavours - this is really dense prose and I can't say I wasn't warned this is a hard novel to read but I definitely ended up slowing to a crawl for a lot of the first part. By the end though I was rolling forward once again and the confidence I feel in my reading competence in the language now I'm done is stronger than ever.
lilyhowells's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
astbrz's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
petit_nenuphar's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ferouz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
franreinke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ritathepearlie's review
challenging
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
cuongtrn's review
4.0
an outstanding “fairytale” can reflect French society in the nineteenth century or even today. i’m completely obsessed with the ending. for God's sake, i wish i had read it sooner.