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jayisreading's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
This is a beloved collection of ideas related to love by Roland Barthes, and it’s one that unfortunately did not resonate much with me. That being said, I think this is absolutely one of those books that will resonate at certain points in one’s life (particularly while in love), in moments when Barthes’s words read more clearly than normal. I’m just not at that point, is all.
This is also a bit of a dense read, especially if you’re unfamiliar with all the references Barthes made and/or haven’t grappled very much with his work. Some fragments went over my head, while others I was able to appreciate more or made me think, “Oh, I see what you mean.” In general, though, I quite enjoyed the way he was in dialogue with so many works and people.
I think I’ll reach a point in my life where I’ll want to revisit A Lover’s Discourse because it feels like the right time to read it again. There’s certainly a lot to contemplate, and I’d be curious what future me will think of this book when that time comes.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Rape, and Suicide
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