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leachronicles's review
5.0
I am planning on doing a more in-depth review of this book, but for now -wow. This book means so much to me. As a musician, as an artist, as a human. Lately, I've spent so much time questioning what it means to be those things. The questions were hanging over my head for months, and I feel like this book brought me clarity. The writing is utterly beautiful, Pascal's writing style is like the composing of Saint Colombe: he is able to convey the sigh of a young woman to the weep of an old man. I absolutely adore how 20th century French writers are able to ncaptivate you and change your entire life in less than 100 pages.
albatrossonhalfpointe's review
1.0
Set in seventeenth-century France, All the World's Mornings is based on the life of Monsieur de Sainte Colombe, a solitary, reclusive widower and taciturn musical genius, and the father of two beautiful daughters.
One spring, a shy but ambitious young man arrives at the farm begging to become a pupil of Sainte Colombe. As time passes the attraction between Marin Marais and each sister in turn reaches a passionate consummation.
This book was recommended by one of my French professors at university, but having now read it, I must admit I'm not sure why. It is a translation of course, so perhaps it's lost something therein, but really, I just didn't get it. This musician sometimes sees his dead wife, and this guy shows up to learn from him, and starts sleeping with the older sister, then gets seduced by the younger sister and leaves. He eventually gets married, as does the younger sister, but the older sister pines away to death or something, and then the father and the dude bond. Or something. I really don't know. Like I said, I just didn't get it. It's probably lovely in French.
One spring, a shy but ambitious young man arrives at the farm begging to become a pupil of Sainte Colombe. As time passes the attraction between Marin Marais and each sister in turn reaches a passionate consummation.
This book was recommended by one of my French professors at university, but having now read it, I must admit I'm not sure why. It is a translation of course, so perhaps it's lost something therein, but really, I just didn't get it. This musician sometimes sees his dead wife, and this guy shows up to learn from him, and starts sleeping with the older sister, then gets seduced by the younger sister and leaves. He eventually gets married, as does the younger sister, but the older sister pines away to death or something, and then the father and the dude bond. Or something. I really don't know. Like I said, I just didn't get it. It's probably lovely in French.
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