A review by whogivesabook
Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux
4.0
I was really impressed with this one. As my first encounter with Ernaux's work, I'll review how good an entry point it is after I've read more, but I believe it'll be a good start for people.
Ernaux recounts the experience of, and insights drawn from, her relationship with a married man.
She writes in a way that lays out the feelings retrospectively but adroitly. A crystalline structure emerges. We can explore, as she does (though it is obviously borne of previous consideration) the theory of loving someone in that specific way. The obsession. The waiting.
I'd personally felt a little ashamed of myself for having engaged with someone in this duplicitous way... But, though she briefly speaks of shame, she's hardly troubled by it.
Then again. She is French.
I see her settle into my pantheon as slightly better than Cusk, but not quite as good as Lispector.
What it did ignite is two drives:
To read more biographical works by women
To read more of Ernaux specifically
I've a feeling there will be a topic that makes her really sparkle. We shall see.
Ernaux recounts the experience of, and insights drawn from, her relationship with a married man.
She writes in a way that lays out the feelings retrospectively but adroitly. A crystalline structure emerges. We can explore, as she does (though it is obviously borne of previous consideration) the theory of loving someone in that specific way. The obsession. The waiting.
I'd personally felt a little ashamed of myself for having engaged with someone in this duplicitous way... But, though she briefly speaks of shame, she's hardly troubled by it.
Then again. She is French.
I see her settle into my pantheon as slightly better than Cusk, but not quite as good as Lispector.
What it did ignite is two drives:
To read more biographical works by women
To read more of Ernaux specifically
I've a feeling there will be a topic that makes her really sparkle. We shall see.