As a Vietnam era veteran this story gripped me with a vigor I have seldom felt. I was transported to a time and place long ago. View the movie on Amazon, it is breathtaking in it's attention to detail. I felt it was a "coming of age" story for the Chinese man too. They were both restrained by mores. She by her inability to speak her true desire for his love. He by his inability to escape an arranged marriage. She reached out with sex, he reached out for permission to marry her even though she was deflowered and a foreigner. They both failed. Although he failed to realize his loss at first, her absence haunted him and he sought her out in the twilight of their lives.
@@LeafbyLeaf My comments were based on a literary appreciation of the work. Socilaogicly speaking it is the account of 2 dysfunctional families who abused their children. Penetration is not required to damage children and the household atmosphere put the girl in the category "abused" She :"acted out" by inviting sex, confusing it for affection [even bad attention is better than nothing] He was abused , lacking the necessary independence to mature. When children are abused they become a victim or a perpetrator later in life. This allows them to vent. We had one of each here. This was alluded to when she said he called her his "child". In Ms Duras case, she clearly was non-binary, based on this book, her described dreams for her Beautiful classmate, and by her later life actions and had great difficulty forming relationships.
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Lover! I still remember the first time I read it in my early teens. And I have since reread it many times. I had to look up The Norwegian translation, and the end of the first paragraph. It's the same as the French, and I agree, the English translation is more striking. Hope your day is good 😊
Currently finishing up Slaughterhouse 5, but after that I'm debating either "You bright and Risen Angels" or "Rising up and rising down". Where would you personally recommend? Out of all his stuff that is
CriticalX919 his first novel, YBARA, is a fine place to start-if you are comfortable with, say, Gravity’s Rainbow. RUARD is a philosophical feast that will take quite some time, even in the abridged version. If you want to get your appetite whetted for Vollmann, I would recommend his piece in Harper’s about the border wall (you can read it on their site). Otherwise THE ICE-SHIRT for fiction and POOR PEOPLE for non-fiction.
It’s many years since I read The Lover. I agree, the ambience Duras created of French colonial life among the mangroves and riverfront of Vietnam had a dreamy quality. Societal and geographical boundaries were crossed and crossed again. There is a French film adaptation which conveys the dreamy quality you describe. Right now, I don’t remember the year of production, I think it may have been late 80’s or early 90’s.
It’s very interesting that you noticed the different punctuation in the original and in the translation. Although it certainly had a clear intention in the case you illustrate here, it is very common that an English text has more periods than one in a Romance language, as you surely know. That reminds me of something Kurt Vonnegut said, and I paraphrase: “there’s no valid reason to use a semicolon”. I love Vonnegut but I always disregard this piece of advice when I write (in Spanish), as I know that each language has its own music. Although I’m not too sure if I agree with him when applied to English, either. I am currently reading _Les Yeux bleus cheveux noirs._ It is my first Duras and it will not be the last. This one is anything but straightforward. I find it fascinating when an author can move through different forms of writings like that, so I’ll definitely read _The Lover,_ before I plunge into another one of her more convoluted books.
‘Worn out with the desire to write’ is a good doco about Duras (pronounced dew-RAss - the ‘s’ is not silent). And I would advise a visit to SaDec and SaiGon. The 1992 film of the novel, Duras was not happy with, it was too conventional. I wish the vision for the film that Duras had, had been realised instead - less ‘commercial’ but what a cultural opportunity lost that can never be regained. I love VietNam.
Thanks for the edification on multiple points! (Thinking in a francophilic manner I couldn't help but truncate that -s.) Film, of course, can never fully realise literature. The act of reading, of seeing the syntax and feeling the words as they slide through the alembic from eyes to mind, is a singular enjoyment that film can never supplant. Nevertheless, you're right: a cultural opportunity lost, as film casts an immensely wider net than literature, and is often the only way to bring awareness to some books. Nice to hear from you, Theo!
Duras was her nom de plume; her legal surname was Donnadieu. Duras also composed a variant text relating the same story in 'L'Amant de la Chine du Nord', published in 1991, just a year before the film adaptation of 'L'Amant' was released. Duras herself was a filmmaker, and it is regrettable that she did not film the adaptation herself.
Oh, I love Carson McCullers! I’ve read a handful of her short stories, The Member of the Wedding (on which I did a paper in grad school), and, of course, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
![รวมเพลงลูกทุ่ง 6 หนุ่มไทบ้าน ฮิตติดกระแส ชุดที่ 1 l มนต์แคน ไมค์ ไผ่ เสถียร ไหมไทย พี [Longplay]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GD2v1OjMw5I/mqdefault.jpg)
Duras is one of my favorite writers. Her writing is very powerful and cuts right to the bone in the best way.
As a Vietnam era veteran this story gripped me with a vigor I have seldom felt.
I was transported to a time and place long ago.
View the movie on Amazon, it is breathtaking in it's attention to detail.
I felt it was a "coming of age" story for the Chinese man too. They were both restrained by mores.
She by her inability to speak her true desire for his love.
He by his inability to escape an arranged marriage.
She reached out with sex, he reached out for permission to marry her even though she was deflowered and a foreigner. They both failed.
Although he failed to realize his loss at first, her absence haunted him and he sought her out in the twilight of their lives.
I appreciate you sharing this.
I will definitely seek that film out on Amazon.
Thanks!
@@LeafbyLeaf My comments were based on a literary appreciation of the work. Socilaogicly speaking it is the account of 2 dysfunctional families who abused their children. Penetration is not required to damage children and the household atmosphere put the girl in the category "abused" She :"acted out" by inviting sex, confusing it for affection [even bad attention is better than nothing] He was abused , lacking the necessary independence to mature. When children are abused they become a victim or a perpetrator later in life. This allows them to vent. We had one of each here. This was alluded to when she said he called her his "child". In Ms Duras case, she clearly was non-binary, based on this book, her described dreams for her Beautiful classmate, and by her later life actions and had great difficulty forming relationships.
And he told her.. It was as before.. He still loved her he would go on loving her he would love her until the day he died
A beautiful book, one of my favorite novels.
She is also a wonderful filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for the very good film Hiroshima Mon Amour
Now that I did not know. Looks like I can watch it on Prime for $3. Merci beaucoup!
Your channel is so good! I really like the way you articulate your take on the book, very beautiful!
Thank you so much!
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Lover! I still remember the first time I read it in my early teens. And I have since reread it many times.
I had to look up The Norwegian translation, and the end of the first paragraph. It's the same as the French, and I agree, the English translation is more striking.
Hope your day is good 😊
Thanks, Silje! And thanks for inspiring me to prioritize it in my TBR queue!
so profound, so fleeting... 🖤
🙏
Really loving all of your videos so far, I'm partway through a massive William T Vollman buy because of you. Keep it up man, all the best
CriticalX919 thanks so much! Which Vollmann are you reading?
Currently finishing up Slaughterhouse 5, but after that I'm debating either "You bright and Risen Angels" or "Rising up and rising down". Where would you personally recommend? Out of all his stuff that is
CriticalX919 his first novel, YBARA, is a fine place to start-if you are comfortable with, say, Gravity’s Rainbow. RUARD is a philosophical feast that will take quite some time, even in the abridged version. If you want to get your appetite whetted for Vollmann, I would recommend his piece in Harper’s about the border wall (you can read it on their site). Otherwise THE ICE-SHIRT for fiction and POOR PEOPLE for non-fiction.
Awesome, thanks heaps for that. I actually just ordered poor people so I'll read that second!
@@ledsnipe Nice! I think I'm going to read it soon (haven't read it cover to cover yet)!
Just finished rewatching the movie. I didnt know it was a book!! Im sure its great n will search for it!! Thank you!!!
And I need to check out the movie!
Enjoy the read!
Take care!
It’s many years since I read The Lover. I agree, the ambience Duras created of French colonial life among the mangroves and riverfront of Vietnam had a dreamy quality. Societal and geographical boundaries were crossed and crossed again. There is a French film adaptation which conveys the dreamy quality you describe. Right now, I don’t remember the year of production, I think it may have been late 80’s or early 90’s.
1992. Starring Jane March and Tony Leung.
Here's a review on youtube of the movie. th-cam.com/video/bp0FTkcA5uk/w-d-xo.html
Nice! Thanks!
My fave book :) Thanks for reviewing.
Awesome! You’re welcome! It was a beautiful book. I’ll be rereading it in French soon.
It’s very interesting that you noticed the different punctuation in the original and in the translation. Although it certainly had a clear intention in the case you illustrate here, it is very common that an English text has more periods than one in a Romance language, as you surely know. That reminds me of something Kurt Vonnegut said, and I paraphrase: “there’s no valid reason to use a semicolon”. I love Vonnegut but I always disregard this piece of advice when I write (in Spanish), as I know that each language has its own music. Although I’m not too sure if I agree with him when applied to English, either.
I am currently reading _Les Yeux bleus cheveux noirs._ It is my first Duras and it will not be the last. This one is anything but straightforward. I find it fascinating when an author can move through different forms of writings like that, so I’ll definitely read _The Lover,_ before I plunge into another one of her more convoluted books.
I loved this book. Read it years ago.
I’ll be reading it in the French soon!
Loved the book, loved your review. I read it in spanish.
Thanks! I would think a French to Spanish translation would retain a lot of the original flare.
‘Worn out with the desire to write’ is a good doco about Duras (pronounced dew-RAss - the ‘s’ is not silent). And I would advise a visit to SaDec and SaiGon. The 1992 film of the novel, Duras was not happy with, it was too conventional. I wish the vision for the film that Duras had, had been realised instead - less ‘commercial’ but what a cultural opportunity lost that can never be regained. I love VietNam.
Thanks for the edification on multiple points! (Thinking in a francophilic manner I couldn't help but truncate that -s.) Film, of course, can never fully realise literature. The act of reading, of seeing the syntax and feeling the words as they slide through the alembic from eyes to mind, is a singular enjoyment that film can never supplant. Nevertheless, you're right: a cultural opportunity lost, as film casts an immensely wider net than literature, and is often the only way to bring awareness to some books. Nice to hear from you, Theo!
Duras was her nom de plume; her legal surname was Donnadieu. Duras also composed a variant text relating the same story in 'L'Amant de la Chine du Nord', published in 1991, just a year before the film adaptation of 'L'Amant' was released. Duras herself was a filmmaker, and it is regrettable that she did not film the adaptation herself.
You look like a young Liam Neeson.
He’s my dad but don’t tell anybody.
I can only see Liam Neeson while watching these videos!
@terileekline 😜
If you enjoyed Duras you should try reading Carson McCullers, you might like it :)
Oh, I love Carson McCullers! I’ve read a handful of her short stories, The Member of the Wedding (on which I did a paper in grad school), and, of course, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
Lovely thoughts, don’t forget to pronounce the “s” at the end of Duras! It was for her a point of pride to use that regional pronunciation.
Great point! In the same manner, I always forget to pronounce the “s” in Louis Armstrong.
It should be remembered though that Duras was her pen name; her legal surname was Donnadieu.