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bubos212's review against another edition
Rather poorly written-the the multiple perspectives offered just didn't add much to the story. We're introduced to too many characters that are ignored and who serve little relevance to the actual story (Andre, Francoise, even Scott). Overall, an extremely convoluted story.
iateapineapple's review against another edition
3.0
Hm, a very challenging book, and not for the reasons it thinks it’s challenging. Nevertheless, there’s something rather human about the way it’s all told that elevates it above a somewhat disturbing story of someone coming to conscious of their difference.
zefrog's review
3.0
The book is described as a gay classic but although there are some very interesting elements to it, to me, it is too much a product of its time (the 1950's).
While overall reasonably positive in its presentation of homosexuality, the internalised homophobia, what we would today call slut-shaming, and the ending are all too dated.
Peters' conflicted view (which appears to be mirrored in his personal life - he went back in to the closet and got married for a while) seems to be that homosex when taking place within the limits of a monogamous relationship is perfectly fine and a source of happiness and growth to those involved. Casual sex is however clearly frowned upon and apparently the only real expression of homosexuality. Much cognitive dissonance ensues for our hero.
Gore Vidal, reviewing the story deems it to be about "the corruption and murder of innocence". It is interesting that, contrary to what one might expect from a story with the limitations mentioned above, the corruption and murder (SPOILER: Matthew, fairly predictably and sadly unsurprisingly, commits suicide at the very end) are effected not as a result of homosexual "perversion" but through the refusal by society (embodied by Matthew's relatives) to accept Matthew's sexual preferences.
Beyond this however there are also flaws in the structure of the book itself. Elements of the story are left unexplored or untold when they should have been. Notably Peters starts a whole story line with André only to completely abandon it once it has been established. We are also not told why Matthew (the hero) and his mother have to move to France from the US, an action that gives rise to the whole story.
Although perhaps understandable for the time, Peters feels the need to use ellipses at several points of his narrative. Unfortunately he does this a little clumsily, I thought,, creating too much uncertainty and confusion as to what actually takes place.
But Finistère remains a complex and well written novel worth a read both for enjoyment and as a document.
While overall reasonably positive in its presentation of homosexuality, the internalised homophobia, what we would today call slut-shaming, and the ending are all too dated.
Peters' conflicted view (which appears to be mirrored in his personal life - he went back in to the closet and got married for a while) seems to be that homosex when taking place within the limits of a monogamous relationship is perfectly fine and a source of happiness and growth to those involved. Casual sex is however clearly frowned upon and apparently the only real expression of homosexuality. Much cognitive dissonance ensues for our hero.
Gore Vidal, reviewing the story deems it to be about "the corruption and murder of innocence". It is interesting that, contrary to what one might expect from a story with the limitations mentioned above, the corruption and murder (SPOILER: Matthew, fairly predictably and sadly unsurprisingly, commits suicide at the very end) are effected not as a result of homosexual "perversion" but through the refusal by society (embodied by Matthew's relatives) to accept Matthew's sexual preferences.
Beyond this however there are also flaws in the structure of the book itself. Elements of the story are left unexplored or untold when they should have been. Notably Peters starts a whole story line with André only to completely abandon it once it has been established. We are also not told why Matthew (the hero) and his mother have to move to France from the US, an action that gives rise to the whole story.
Although perhaps understandable for the time, Peters feels the need to use ellipses at several points of his narrative. Unfortunately he does this a little clumsily, I thought,, creating too much uncertainty and confusion as to what actually takes place.
But Finistère remains a complex and well written novel worth a read both for enjoyment and as a document.
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