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A review by oblomov
In the Land of Pain by Alphonse Daudet
4.0
The problem with Julian Barnes' In the Land of Pain by Julian Barnes, translated by Julian Barnes and with footnotes by Julian Barnes, is that this is supposed to be Alphonse Daudet's autobiographical account of his time receiving treament for syphilis in sanatoriums.
And it still is that, it's a frank and intimate collection of Daudet's short and beautifully written notes on medicines, morbid humour, TMI details of fellow patients and agony. The book is barely a novella in length, and yet it should be about 60% shorter because Julian Barnes, played by Julian Barnes, will not stop talking. His footnotes regularly take up half a page or more, and it almost feels like I'm reading dual stories in some thoroughly unwanted reminder of [b: House of Leaves|24800|House of Leaves|Mark Z. Danielewski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403889034l/24800._SX50_.jpg|856555].
Unlike House of Leaves, Barnes' second narrative is actually interesting and informative, and I enjoyed his mini essay about the long relationship between syphilis and writers, with some even claiming it was a badge of honour or maturity, which is bloody horrifying. My real issue with the book is the terrible layout, and if the footnotes had been endnotes or another essay on its own (thus not butchering the pages) I'd have instantly added another star.
A fascinating read on a gruesome subject and thoughtful annotations placed in a thoughtless way.
And it still is that, it's a frank and intimate collection of Daudet's short and beautifully written notes on medicines, morbid humour, TMI details of fellow patients and agony. The book is barely a novella in length, and yet it should be about 60% shorter because Julian Barnes, played by Julian Barnes, will not stop talking. His footnotes regularly take up half a page or more, and it almost feels like I'm reading dual stories in some thoroughly unwanted reminder of [b: House of Leaves|24800|House of Leaves|Mark Z. Danielewski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403889034l/24800._SX50_.jpg|856555].
Unlike House of Leaves, Barnes' second narrative is actually interesting and informative, and I enjoyed his mini essay about the long relationship between syphilis and writers, with some even claiming it was a badge of honour or maturity, which is bloody horrifying. My real issue with the book is the terrible layout, and if the footnotes had been endnotes or another essay on its own (thus not butchering the pages) I'd have instantly added another star.
A fascinating read on a gruesome subject and thoughtful annotations placed in a thoughtless way.