yassinelbadrawy's review
4.0
“Memories bring with them a devil called melancholy—oh, cruel demon that I cannot escape."
I knew as soon as I picked up this book that it would become an instant favorite of mine. We follow a young Dutch woman called Mata in the early twentieth century who aspires to be a dancer in Parisian society's upper class. Her beauty, sex appeal, and intelligence are all used to achieve her goal. Her life eventually becomes very difficult and she keeps reaching dead ends. In an attempt to flee and restart her life, she associates with the wrong people at the wrong time, and that ends up landing her in jail on spying charges. I couldn't stop reading Mata's story, she's such a strong and brave woman. Everything she said was admirable and beautiful.
I knew as soon as I picked up this book that it would become an instant favorite of mine. We follow a young Dutch woman called Mata in the early twentieth century who aspires to be a dancer in Parisian society's upper class. Her beauty, sex appeal, and intelligence are all used to achieve her goal. Her life eventually becomes very difficult and she keeps reaching dead ends. In an attempt to flee and restart her life, she associates with the wrong people at the wrong time, and that ends up landing her in jail on spying charges. I couldn't stop reading Mata's story, she's such a strong and brave woman. Everything she said was admirable and beautiful.
nferre's review against another edition
3.0
You were not merely a person unjustly accused of espionage, but someone who dared to challenge certain customs. And for that you could not be forgiven.
Interesting book about the life of Mata Hari, well researched and documented - although it left me with more answers than questions.
Born in Holland, she married young and had a daughter - and then decided to discard her old life as a snake discards his unwanted skin, and begin anew sans child nor husband. How a young lady, well brought up, fluent in many languages, educated became what today we would call a stripper and a very high end prostitute is really not looked into in depth. The consequences of her life, and her entry into the world of espionage, or not, is well documented as is the betrayal of the many men she served.
The book is written almost as a letter to her daughter, but at no time do we learn whether she ever saw her daughter again, after she initially left Holland for the dance halls of France.
Interesting book about the life of Mata Hari, well researched and documented - although it left me with more answers than questions.
Born in Holland, she married young and had a daughter - and then decided to discard her old life as a snake discards his unwanted skin, and begin anew sans child nor husband. How a young lady, well brought up, fluent in many languages, educated became what today we would call a stripper and a very high end prostitute is really not looked into in depth. The consequences of her life, and her entry into the world of espionage, or not, is well documented as is the betrayal of the many men she served.
The book is written almost as a letter to her daughter, but at no time do we learn whether she ever saw her daughter again, after she initially left Holland for the dance halls of France.
charly_22x's review against another edition
2.0
Leider bleibt die Geschichte recht oberflächlich und schon zu Ende, bevor überhaupt wirklich etwas passiert ist.
littleprefect's review
4.0
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Mata Hari's life was her own, and in the pages of this book I was left feeling mixed about her 'confidence' and 'dignity' because sometimes she came across as spiteful and cruel. But in her situation who wouldn't be, when all you know and those you've known have abandoned you? I enjoyed the way the book was written, in letter form, but it left me wanting. Perhaps, its truly me wanting her pardon.
marmottestar's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
indianajane's review
1.0
Meh. Set it aside early on. Just not all that interesting, and the world is full of good books.
sikata's review
3.0
This book narrates a woman's struggle for freedom in an era of men. A life of lust, money and freedom (however that may come) A choice to not spend life in the predictable boredom. But yes as with all things, independence always comes with a price. But if we think of it she was never truly independent, she just passed from one chain to another.