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katykelly's review
4.0
Wow. My uncle recommended the author to me, I'd seen the film of the first story so thought I'd try it.
Excellent short stories. And you know, they felt like novels - the detail, plots, characterisation I usually complain is absent in short stories were all present and correct. Great ideas, excellent narrations and styles (letters, looking to the past, inner thoughts), with a theme and slight connection running through. Admittedly the final one I didn't like but at 9 pages I just didn't have much to connect to.
Very worthwhile, beautifully written. Now seeking out 'Chess', another recommendation.
Excellent short stories. And you know, they felt like novels - the detail, plots, characterisation I usually complain is absent in short stories were all present and correct. Great ideas, excellent narrations and styles (letters, looking to the past, inner thoughts), with a theme and slight connection running through. Admittedly the final one I didn't like but at 9 pages I just didn't have much to connect to.
Very worthwhile, beautifully written. Now seeking out 'Chess', another recommendation.
ljutavidra's review
4.0
A Letter from Unknown Woman - 4/5
A Story Told in Twilight - 3/5
The Debt Paid Late - 5/5
Forgotten Dreams - 5/5
Overall: 4/5
First two were meh, they seemed too childish to me (when did i exactly turn into an old grandma??), but the last two were amazing. I wish I wrote the last one myself (especially that last sentence, Zweig is a real short story master).
A Story Told in Twilight - 3/5
The Debt Paid Late - 5/5
Forgotten Dreams - 5/5
Overall: 4/5
First two were meh, they seemed too childish to me (when did i exactly turn into an old grandma??), but the last two were amazing. I wish I wrote the last one myself (especially that last sentence, Zweig is a real short story master).
emsplanations's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pcarvajald's review
4.0
“Letter from an unknown woman”
Wow. Just wow. I have lots of thoughts but is just so beautiful. The whole letter is a masterpiece, with such intense beautiful phrases of pure (innocent at first) love. To be loved this passionately is like a dream to me. To feel love this deeply is one of my desires now.
Had one plot twists that left me shocked. That was amazing. I would read it again 100% plus is only like 64 pages so is perfect to read it on one seat.
4/5⭐️
Spoilers ahead:
I’m sorry that she left the world without the love she deserved. But she was the love she was willing to give, intimate, infinite, pure, beautiful. And the man, well, he is a man. Did not recognize her once. Disappointed but not surprised. What a shame.
I’ll read the rest of the stories from the book and write a review later ;3
Wow. Just wow. I have lots of thoughts but is just so beautiful. The whole letter is a masterpiece, with such intense beautiful phrases of pure (innocent at first) love. To be loved this passionately is like a dream to me. To feel love this deeply is one of my desires now.
Had one plot twists that left me shocked. That was amazing. I would read it again 100% plus is only like 64 pages so is perfect to read it on one seat.
4/5⭐️
Spoilers ahead:
I’m sorry that she left the world without the love she deserved. But she was the love she was willing to give, intimate, infinite, pure, beautiful. And the man, well, he is a man. Did not recognize her once. Disappointed but not surprised. What a shame.
I’ll read the rest of the stories from the book and write a review later ;3
habelhamessafaa's review
2.0
we can be a main character in the stories of those we consider side characters. and vice versa. life's strange.
aiyaivy's review
4.0
I did not read the other stories but I did read "Letter from an Unknown Woman" in class. It was extremely interesting and relatable. It contained a lot of themes such as love, obsession, and multiple roles. I greatly enjoyed reading it as it was very straightforward and I enjoyed analyzing it as well.
(Read this short story for class)
(Read this short story for class)
zh_mna99's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
borumi's review
발신자가 없거나 정말 오랫동안 연락이 끊어졌던 어릴 적 친구로 부터 온 편지
그리고 황혼녘 속삭이는 비밀 이야기..
솔깃하지 않을 이가 어디 있을까?
그렇게 호기심으로 시작한 이야기들은 시간이 갈수록 더 풀리기는 커녕 자꾸 더 꼬이는 기분이다..
이 사람이 왜 이 이야기를 나에게 하고 있을까?
그 사람은 대체 누구일까?
왜 이렇게 행동할까?
무슨 일이 있었을까?
이미 흘러간 화자의 과거의 의식은 현재 청자(혹은 독자)의 마음 속 소용돌이와 어우러져 자꾸 쏟아져 나오는 질문들의 홍수로 이어진다.
땅거미가 질 무렵의 어슴푸레하고 몽환적인 분위기 속에서 화자의 페이스에 맞추어 뜀박질하는 가슴을 부여잡고 따라다니다보면 어느 새 결말에 도달하고 돌이킬 수 없지만 자꾸 뒤돌아보게 하는 아쉬움의 여운이 남는다.
... stories told in the evening all tread the gentle path of melancholy. Twilight falls with its veils, the sorrow that rests in the evening is a starless vault above them, darkness seeps into their blood, and all the bright, colourful words in them have as full and heavy a sound as if they came from our inmost hearts.
Love may have no more quietly beautiful moments than these pale, twilight dreams.
생각해보면 젊은 날과 사랑 모두 그렇지 않을까?
아무것도 아닌 것에 정신없이 맹목적으로 좇아다니고
조그만 가랑잎의 바스락거림에도 소스라치게 놀라거나 감동받고
뭔가 세상이 우리에게서 숨기려고 하는 비밀을 밝혀내려고 안간힘을 쓰다보면
청춘도 사랑도 뒤로 남겨진채
마치 먼 옛날의 다른 나라의 이야기처럼 백일몽이나 희미해진 흔적과 같이 아련하게 애잔함으로 다가온다.
아니, 그렇게 흐릿해지고 우리의 삶 밖에 있어보이는 먼 기억 속에서나마
우리는 우리의 마음을 차곡차곡 개어놓고 과거를 직시하며 솔직히 고백할 수 있는 걸지도 모르겠다.
You want me to tell you a story. Willingly. But not about me, for our life in these big cities is short of experience, or so it seems to us, because we do not yet know what is really our own in them.
하지만 그럼에도 불구하고 우리는 미련을 간직하고 뒤돌아볼 수 밖에 없다.
눈코입의 윤곽이 다 날라갈 정도로 빛에 과다노출된 모델이 더 아름다운 것처럼 흘러간 시간의 안개 속에서 우리의 초라하고 어설픈 지난 날은 극도로 미화되고 우리는 숙취에 깰 때 괴로워도 자꾸 술병을 집어들듯이 과거로 다시 빠져들게 된다.
But the heart is always happy to lie to itself.
The sweet, light fragrance of a first youthful, half-unspoken love, with all its intoxicating tenderness, had awoken in them like a dream on which you reflect ironically when you wake, although tyou really wish for nothing more than to dream it again, to live in the dream.
The beautiful dream of young love that ventures only on half-measures, that desires and dares not ask, promises and does not give.
과거를 뒤돌아보게 하는 4가지 이야기가 너무나도 잘 짜여진 작가의 솜씨에도 감탄하지만
유려하고 섬밀한 문장들로 작품의 분위기를 완벽히 (아니 어쩌면 원문보다 더 아름답게) 살린 번역가 Anthea Bell의 실력에도 놀랐다. 앞으로 Stefan Zweig 책들은 되도록 이 번역가의 작품으로 읽고 싶다.
이 책을 읽고서 생각난 뮤직비디오 하나 올립니다. 2014년 데미안의 공연은 참 쓸쓸해보입니다..ㅜㅜ
"My Favourite Faded Fantasy"
You could be my favourite taste
To touch my tongue
I know someone who could serve me love
But it wouldn’t fill me up
You could have my favourite face
And favourite name
I know someone who could play the part
But it wouldn’t be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
As with you
You could be my favourite place
I’ve ever been
I got lost in your willingness
To dream within the dream
You could be my favourite faded fantasy
I’ve hung my happiness upon what it all could be
And what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
You could hold the secrets that save
Me from myself
I could love you more than love could
All the way from hell
You could be my poison, my cross,
My razor blade
I could love you more than life
If I wasn’t so afraid
Of what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
Of what it all, what it all could be
With you
What it all, what it all could be
Of what it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
Loved is all that bloomed
Always what you did
Never let someone go or they...
I ain't never loved like you
I’ve never loved I've never loved
I’ve never loved loved loved like you
I’ve never loved
I’ve never loved
I’ve never loved
그리고 황혼녘 속삭이는 비밀 이야기..
솔깃하지 않을 이가 어디 있을까?
그렇게 호기심으로 시작한 이야기들은 시간이 갈수록 더 풀리기는 커녕 자꾸 더 꼬이는 기분이다..
이 사람이 왜 이 이야기를 나에게 하고 있을까?
그 사람은 대체 누구일까?
왜 이렇게 행동할까?
무슨 일이 있었을까?
이미 흘러간 화자의 과거의 의식은 현재 청자(혹은 독자)의 마음 속 소용돌이와 어우러져 자꾸 쏟아져 나오는 질문들의 홍수로 이어진다.
땅거미가 질 무렵의 어슴푸레하고 몽환적인 분위기 속에서 화자의 페이스에 맞추어 뜀박질하는 가슴을 부여잡고 따라다니다보면 어느 새 결말에 도달하고 돌이킬 수 없지만 자꾸 뒤돌아보게 하는 아쉬움의 여운이 남는다.
... stories told in the evening all tread the gentle path of melancholy. Twilight falls with its veils, the sorrow that rests in the evening is a starless vault above them, darkness seeps into their blood, and all the bright, colourful words in them have as full and heavy a sound as if they came from our inmost hearts.
Love may have no more quietly beautiful moments than these pale, twilight dreams.
생각해보면 젊은 날과 사랑 모두 그렇지 않을까?
아무것도 아닌 것에 정신없이 맹목적으로 좇아다니고
조그만 가랑잎의 바스락거림에도 소스라치게 놀라거나 감동받고
뭔가 세상이 우리에게서 숨기려고 하는 비밀을 밝혀내려고 안간힘을 쓰다보면
청춘도 사랑도 뒤로 남겨진채
마치 먼 옛날의 다른 나라의 이야기처럼 백일몽이나 희미해진 흔적과 같이 아련하게 애잔함으로 다가온다.
아니, 그렇게 흐릿해지고 우리의 삶 밖에 있어보이는 먼 기억 속에서나마
우리는 우리의 마음을 차곡차곡 개어놓고 과거를 직시하며 솔직히 고백할 수 있는 걸지도 모르겠다.
You want me to tell you a story. Willingly. But not about me, for our life in these big cities is short of experience, or so it seems to us, because we do not yet know what is really our own in them.
하지만 그럼에도 불구하고 우리는 미련을 간직하고 뒤돌아볼 수 밖에 없다.
눈코입의 윤곽이 다 날라갈 정도로 빛에 과다노출된 모델이 더 아름다운 것처럼 흘러간 시간의 안개 속에서 우리의 초라하고 어설픈 지난 날은 극도로 미화되고 우리는 숙취에 깰 때 괴로워도 자꾸 술병을 집어들듯이 과거로 다시 빠져들게 된다.
But the heart is always happy to lie to itself.
The sweet, light fragrance of a first youthful, half-unspoken love, with all its intoxicating tenderness, had awoken in them like a dream on which you reflect ironically when you wake, although tyou really wish for nothing more than to dream it again, to live in the dream.
The beautiful dream of young love that ventures only on half-measures, that desires and dares not ask, promises and does not give.
과거를 뒤돌아보게 하는 4가지 이야기가 너무나도 잘 짜여진 작가의 솜씨에도 감탄하지만
유려하고 섬밀한 문장들로 작품의 분위기를 완벽히 (아니 어쩌면 원문보다 더 아름답게) 살린 번역가 Anthea Bell의 실력에도 놀랐다. 앞으로 Stefan Zweig 책들은 되도록 이 번역가의 작품으로 읽고 싶다.
이 책을 읽고서 생각난 뮤직비디오 하나 올립니다. 2014년 데미안의 공연은 참 쓸쓸해보입니다..ㅜㅜ
"My Favourite Faded Fantasy"
You could be my favourite taste
To touch my tongue
I know someone who could serve me love
But it wouldn’t fill me up
You could have my favourite face
And favourite name
I know someone who could play the part
But it wouldn’t be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
No it wouldn't be the same
As with you
You could be my favourite place
I’ve ever been
I got lost in your willingness
To dream within the dream
You could be my favourite faded fantasy
I’ve hung my happiness upon what it all could be
And what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
You could hold the secrets that save
Me from myself
I could love you more than love could
All the way from hell
You could be my poison, my cross,
My razor blade
I could love you more than life
If I wasn’t so afraid
Of what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
Of what it all, what it all could be
With you
What it all, what it all could be
Of what it all, what it all could be
What it all, what it all could be
With you
Loved is all that bloomed
Always what you did
Never let someone go or they...
I ain't never loved like you
I’ve never loved I've never loved
I’ve never loved loved loved like you
I’ve never loved
I’ve never loved
I’ve never loved
cec7le's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0