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daybreak's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
An excellent read.
Very strong at the beginning, I considered that the story weakened with the relationship of Germaine and Jacques which left me unfazed. I found the characters at his précepteur's place much more interesting than the rather flat love story.
The style is a delight - though I found hard on some occasions to understand some bits. I think that is to be blamed on the fact that J.Cocteau's writing here is very situé: that is he uses metaphors and alludes to things that a modern ready might not know.
I particularly enjoyed how Cocteau writes homosexual love/attraction into his story : that is to say, seamlessly. Boys love girls, boys love boys, girls love boys, girls love girls. It's so simple. Unlike many other authors, it is not treated as a huge theme/issue. It exists, it is there and that's it. Simple. If only the world was like that.
This story broaches a lot of interesting themes amongst which beauty, the influence of beauty on us.
All in all a refreshing read!
An excellent read.
Very strong at the beginning, I considered that the story weakened with the relationship of Germaine and Jacques which left me unfazed. I found the characters at his précepteur's place much more interesting than the rather flat love story.
The style is a delight - though I found hard on some occasions to understand some bits. I think that is to be blamed on the fact that J.Cocteau's writing here is very situé: that is he uses metaphors and alludes to things that a modern ready might not know.
I particularly enjoyed how Cocteau writes homosexual love/attraction into his story : that is to say, seamlessly. Boys love girls, boys love boys, girls love boys, girls love girls. It's so simple. Unlike many other authors, it is not treated as a huge theme/issue. It exists, it is there and that's it. Simple. If only the world was like that.
This story broaches a lot of interesting themes amongst which beauty, the influence of beauty on us.
All in all a refreshing read!
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