Reviews

Kamouraska by Anne Hébert

emilyily13's review against another edition

3.0

I wasn’t super interested in this book but the idea of the writing constantly moving between 1st/2nd/3rd person and past/present tense was very cool and effective in portraying her mental state. So that was rad.
3.5/5 stars

moncoinlecture's review against another edition

5.0

Je pense que j'aime réellement l'écriture d'Anne Hébert. Encore une fois, la magie a opéré.

vvnobook's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

marysec's review against another edition

1.0

Publié l'année de ma naissance, ce livre est considéré comme étant un classique de la littérature québécoise.

Ce roman a tellement marqué la littérature québécoise qu'il a fait l'objet de nombreux ouvrages scientifiques et d'un film.

Mais pour moi, la magie n'a pas opéré.

Je me suis rendue de peine et de misère à la page 100 et j'ai décidé de mettre fin au déplaisir que je m'imposait.

Les divagations de l'héroïne m'ont étourdie. Ses pensées délirantes sautent sans cesse d'une époque à une autre, de Sorel à Kamouraska, cela rendait ma lecture très ardue.

neonrabbit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

flounie_baby_lit's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rldepencier's review against another edition

3.0

What a weird, weird, weird novel. Oddly enjoyable. Oddly odd.

ingridostby's review

3.0

There are far too few reviews for this! Gothic horror, poetic prose, innovative storytelling, and very creepy and cathartic. It felt slow at times (hence the rating), but I was kind of in love with it and think the author’s a genius. If you find a copy, I highly recommend.

franderochefort's review against another edition

2.0

My first Québécois novel, though I didn't notice too many differences of dialect as it turned out. Kamouraska is a novel based on a real life incident in the frozen countryside of Quebec and particularly around the town that gives this novel its name, a murder of passion which is explored here mainly through the eyes of the woman for whom the American doctor kills and who subsequently suffers the permanent stain of guilt and suspicion from all around her. At its best as an exploration of a peculiar amour fou.

________

I'm glad I didn't let go of this one as I was considering at one point, not because I wasn't liking it as such but more just because the first/third person switches and terse writing style proved to be more challenging than I expected at first. Definitely still some ambiguities left over but I feel like I understood the main plot and emotional experiences.

audelidou's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5