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Les Îles
"Les grandes révélations qu'un homme reçoit dans sa vie sont rares, une ou deux le plus souvent. Mais elles transfigurent, comme la chance. À l'être passionné de vivre et de connaître, ce livre offre, je le sais, au tournant de ses pages, une révélation semblable. Il est temps que de nouveaux lecteurs viennent à lui. Je voudrais être encore parmi eux, je voudrais revenir à ce soir où, après avoir ouvert ce petit volume dans la rue, je le refermai aux premières lignes que j'en lus, le serrai contre moi et courus jusqu'à ma chambre pour le dévorer enfin sans témoins. Et j'envie, sans amertume, j'envie, si j'ose dire, avec chaleur, le jeune homme inconnu qui , aujourd'hui, aborde ces Îles pour la première fois..." Albert Camus.
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First published January 1, 1933
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 25, 2009
I had never heard of Jean Grenier until recently reading a Camus essay in which he speaks of the profound impact this book had on his life. So much so, that Camus provided the preface in the 1948 edition. Of Grenier, he says:
Grenier's angst seems at first commonplace and reminiscent of melodramatic teenage moments staring at the night sky. But then comes the point of departure. Whereas many of us retreat and subsume ourselves back into daily life, Grenier settles in. The game which we treat as an intellectual exercise, Grenier "...persists in the game. [He:] search[es:] in the ephemeral for an absolute which is not there." The Attraction of the Void. He does not retreat into the glorified havens of arbitrary existentialist values such as Truth (and yes, that's with the capital T) or truth. With almost child-like honesty, he relates.
However, the tone of the book takes on a more analytical flavor in Chapter 6. Imaginary India, without pretending to be anything other than a personal analysis, he compares Western and Eastern thought. Grenier's disillusionment with the post-modern Western man is apparent:
It appears that Grenier seeks out a more peaceful sense of enlightenment which everyone knows is the hallmark of Eastern thought. However, as much as he may appreciate the idea of deepening one's being found in India rather than expanding it as in the West, he rails against the poor use of language in Indian culture.
The use of language is paramount. Orwell provided Newspeak to reduce his Oceania citizenry to political correctness and it seems Grenier recognizes a similar limitation in addressing self-expression. The weakness in expressing emotion in Indian literature is also a weakness western culture has in expressing self-awareness. The contempt felt by people who, unable to express a base feeling that seems so fundamental, fall back on an assertion that it is unnecessary to do so.
Perhaps that is the purpose of writing this review. In attempt to capture what Grenier's book meant and express it in a way that will help me find the point of departure. I suppose that is what we all seek in a book or any exchange of ideas. To verbalize the idea so that we can construct our next step with nouns, verbs and the like. Language is one of the only intellectual materials we have with which to build.
I gave the book 5 stars, though I'm sure many would argue I'm being generous. It's hard for me to be able, at this point, to distinguish whether I enjoyed the book so much because of its impact on a writer whom I admire or whether I enjoyed it so much on its merits. Regardless, I'm grateful for Grenier.
He speaks to us only of simple and familiar experiences in a language without affectation. Then he allows us to translate, each at his own convenience. Only in such conditions does art become a gift without obligation.
Grenier's angst seems at first commonplace and reminiscent of melodramatic teenage moments staring at the night sky. But then comes the point of departure. Whereas many of us retreat and subsume ourselves back into daily life, Grenier settles in. The game which we treat as an intellectual exercise, Grenier "...persists in the game. [He:] search[es:] in the ephemeral for an absolute which is not there." The Attraction of the Void. He does not retreat into the glorified havens of arbitrary existentialist values such as Truth (and yes, that's with the capital T) or truth. With almost child-like honesty, he relates.
However, the tone of the book takes on a more analytical flavor in Chapter 6. Imaginary India, without pretending to be anything other than a personal analysis, he compares Western and Eastern thought. Grenier's disillusionment with the post-modern Western man is apparent:
We westerners have enough Samson's, Prometheuses, Slaves of Michelangelo, Zarathustras. Revolt and heroism are not the only paths open to man.
It appears that Grenier seeks out a more peaceful sense of enlightenment which everyone knows is the hallmark of Eastern thought. However, as much as he may appreciate the idea of deepening one's being found in India rather than expanding it as in the West, he rails against the poor use of language in Indian culture.
Hector's farewell to Andromache takes only two pages of the Illiad, but it escapes the insipid sentimentality that spoils for us the love scenes of Sanskrit literature.
The use of language is paramount. Orwell provided Newspeak to reduce his Oceania citizenry to political correctness and it seems Grenier recognizes a similar limitation in addressing self-expression. The weakness in expressing emotion in Indian literature is also a weakness western culture has in expressing self-awareness. The contempt felt by people who, unable to express a base feeling that seems so fundamental, fall back on an assertion that it is unnecessary to do so.
(When someone says it is unnecessary to be so literary, they mean that ideas do not require any expression, indeed, any realization, and in this way they take as a point of arrival what is in fact only a point of departure).
Perhaps that is the purpose of writing this review. In attempt to capture what Grenier's book meant and express it in a way that will help me find the point of departure. I suppose that is what we all seek in a book or any exchange of ideas. To verbalize the idea so that we can construct our next step with nouns, verbs and the like. Language is one of the only intellectual materials we have with which to build.
I gave the book 5 stars, though I'm sure many would argue I'm being generous. It's hard for me to be able, at this point, to distinguish whether I enjoyed the book so much because of its impact on a writer whom I admire or whether I enjoyed it so much on its merits. Regardless, I'm grateful for Grenier.
October 6, 2023
"Il m'a toujours semblé que parler de moi-même, me montrer pour ce que j'étais, agir en mon nom, c'était précisément trahir quelque chose de moi, et le plus précieux."
January 23, 2019
I came across Jean Grenier when he was mentioned in Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus as a mentor, so I was intrigued. More Rimbaud than Camus and more Daoism than philosophy, Grenier seems closer to Camus’s Algerian essays than to Sisyphus. Grenier’s enjoyment in, and fascination with, paradoxes, the elegance and ambiguity of language, hidden connections, and the value in the void, in nothingness, in emptiness, found sympathy with me. He offers no answers other than the suggestion that there is a deeper experience possible in existence. These essays are not for everyone.
April 8, 2016
홀로 있고자 하면서도 홀로 있지 않는 사람
December 26, 2021
«Σαστίζω στην, πάντοτε παρούσα, ανάμνηση του ξεριζώματος και της νοσταλγίας μου».
3.5*
3.5*
February 1, 2022
Not often I re-read but I felt the need to escape a bit. In the mid 1930s people would talk of Grenier in the same breath as Gide and the mind blowing libertarian embrace of beauty that was Les nourriture terrestres. Grenier is much more subtle. His message is seeing our place in the world through small things, or indeed the metaphor of islands for our relationships with others. 90 years on, sure, there’s a postcolonial problem with a lot of his writing; his writings about India are borderline fatuous... but there’s a sort of innocence and beauty in his writing, as well as a ton of layered meaning. Also in the 1930s Grenier was rather famous in Algeria. He became somewhat eclipsed by one of his students (he was a philosophy teacher). Albert Camus remained a firm friend (although one senses a wee bit of professional jealousy in the biographies) but obviously went on to rather more fame. If you know Camus’s early writing (Noces, Le mythe de Sisyphean), it’s Grenier all over - the influence is blindingly obvious.. This was a lovely catch up with an old friend though - I was 26 the last time I read this.... #guehennoreads #booksofinstagram #booksof2020
June 17, 2020
Les Îles de Jean Grenier est un texte tout à fait unique.
Méditation philosophique? Anecdote allégorique? Métaphysique? Ouvrage autobiographique? Tout se mêle dans le livre de l’ancien professeur d’Albert Camus.
L’effet est une musique charmante et inquiétante, ou on retrouve l’abord d’un être humain dénué de tout, dépouillé et réduit à son seul esprit.
L’attrait du vide décrit par Mr. Grenier est à la fois dérangeant et familier. On se retrouve dans le petit garçon sous le pommier, ce qui nous implique directement dans les méditations qui vont suivre.
Peut-on apprendre à vivre en observant un chat? A mourir en conversant avec un boucher gravement malade? Oui et non.
Les Îles n’apportent pas forcément des réponses, simplement une promenade merveilleuse au cœur même de la condition humaine.
Méditation philosophique? Anecdote allégorique? Métaphysique? Ouvrage autobiographique? Tout se mêle dans le livre de l’ancien professeur d’Albert Camus.
L’effet est une musique charmante et inquiétante, ou on retrouve l’abord d’un être humain dénué de tout, dépouillé et réduit à son seul esprit.
L’attrait du vide décrit par Mr. Grenier est à la fois dérangeant et familier. On se retrouve dans le petit garçon sous le pommier, ce qui nous implique directement dans les méditations qui vont suivre.
Peut-on apprendre à vivre en observant un chat? A mourir en conversant avec un boucher gravement malade? Oui et non.
Les Îles n’apportent pas forcément des réponses, simplement une promenade merveilleuse au cœur même de la condition humaine.
December 2, 2025
realistic surrealism. cynical optimism.
너무너무 사랑함!!!! 사랑해!!!!!!!!!!!
너무너무 사랑함!!!! 사랑해!!!!!!!!!!!
December 29, 2024
Quelle belle surprise ! Dans un style assez vintage, s'enchainent une suite d'essais sur la mort, les voyages, le néant et quelques autres sujets existentiels traités avec une finesse et une profondeur qui ne m'ont pas laissé indifférent. Certains passages sont absolument sublimes, il donne envie d'être appris par cœur ou gravé sur des murs. Le ou les derniers chapitres sur l'Inde ne m'ont cependant pas paru à la hauteur du reste.
August 17, 2019
“Since you are alive, why not live?”
I liked the essay of his reminiscence of his childhood cat Mouloud, but the remaining essays went beyond me. I find philosophy difficult to read, but I’m trying to improve myself.
I liked the essay of his reminiscence of his childhood cat Mouloud, but the remaining essays went beyond me. I find philosophy difficult to read, but I’m trying to improve myself.
December 1, 2021
Ενδιαφέροντα δοκίμια, με ταξιδιάρικη διάθεση και χροιά που σε συντροφεύει στους τόπους που επιλέγει ο συγγραφέας.
Δυνατή γραφή, με φιλοσοφικές προεκτάσεις και αναφορές στο θάνατο και την συντροφικότητα.
Όμορφο, αλλά όχι κάτι ξεχωριστό θα έλεγα.
Δυνατή γραφή, με φιλοσοφικές προεκτάσεις και αναφορές στο θάνατο και την συντροφικότητα.
Όμορφο, αλλά όχι κάτι ξεχωριστό θα έλεγα.
December 29, 2021
"Ik liet mijn blik op hem rusten en zijn aanwezigheid (waarin alles lag besloten) gaf mij mijn vertrouwen weer terug.''
November 16, 2025
À relire.
December 14, 2025
una lectura pequeñísima y tiernísima que se lee en dos ratitos un 10
August 14, 2014
Islands clearly demonstrates just how influential Jean Grenier was to Albert Camus's personal philosophy about life and also his writings. Grenier eloquently details the nature of life and death through his beautiful essay about the death of his cat as well as a personal essay written about his own mortality.
Scattered throughout this book you can see hints of what Camus would later latch onto and cultivate into his various written works. These include a small section discussing natural death and a philosophical death which could be reminiscent of Camus's first novel, A Happy Death, in which he divides the two chapters into a natural death and a conscious death. There is also a page that discusses Dementia Praecox and goes on to explain how a patient slowly becomes indifferent to his situation, with an example that "the announcement of a misfortune is greeted tranquilly or even with irony," which seems to be linked to Camus's opening line of The Stranger as well as the distinct mentality the main character has throughout the novel. Finally, Grenier discusses the limitless beauty the landscape provides, the sun and sea, and how rich one can feel having such treasures in life. Camus experienced this gifts first hand growing up in Algeria and no doubt would of wrote about them on his own, but I found it beautiful that Grenier also wrote about the endless pleasures that can be derived from the sun and sea.
A fantastic book to read whether you are well versed in Albert Camus or not. Islands stands strong on its own with a wonderful collection of essays that leave the reader wanting more from this insightful human being.
Scattered throughout this book you can see hints of what Camus would later latch onto and cultivate into his various written works. These include a small section discussing natural death and a philosophical death which could be reminiscent of Camus's first novel, A Happy Death, in which he divides the two chapters into a natural death and a conscious death. There is also a page that discusses Dementia Praecox and goes on to explain how a patient slowly becomes indifferent to his situation, with an example that "the announcement of a misfortune is greeted tranquilly or even with irony," which seems to be linked to Camus's opening line of The Stranger as well as the distinct mentality the main character has throughout the novel. Finally, Grenier discusses the limitless beauty the landscape provides, the sun and sea, and how rich one can feel having such treasures in life. Camus experienced this gifts first hand growing up in Algeria and no doubt would of wrote about them on his own, but I found it beautiful that Grenier also wrote about the endless pleasures that can be derived from the sun and sea.
A fantastic book to read whether you are well versed in Albert Camus or not. Islands stands strong on its own with a wonderful collection of essays that leave the reader wanting more from this insightful human being.
October 1, 2017
"Mi sento un uomo, vale a dire un essere mutilato. So che m'incepperò prima della fine della commedia e che a una domanda che mi porrà il mio interlocutore, dimenticherò la mia battuta e resterò senza parole." (p. 45)
"E io pensavo che se il mondo sensibile non è che un leggero tessuto d'apparenze, un velo di mutevoli chimere che la notte laceriamo e che il nostro dolore tenta invano di cacciar via, sono sempre uomini coloro che, primi a patirne, tornano a tessere questo velo, ricostruiscono queste apparenze e fanno riprendere la vita universale che senza questo slancio quotidiano s'inaridirebbe da qualche parte come sorgente sperduta nella campagna." (pp. 84, 85)
"E io pensavo che se il mondo sensibile non è che un leggero tessuto d'apparenze, un velo di mutevoli chimere che la notte laceriamo e che il nostro dolore tenta invano di cacciar via, sono sempre uomini coloro che, primi a patirne, tornano a tessere questo velo, ricostruiscono queste apparenze e fanno riprendere la vita universale che senza questo slancio quotidiano s'inaridirebbe da qualche parte come sorgente sperduta nella campagna." (pp. 84, 85)
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February 28, 2007Taking my time, searching for that spot to sit and settle in and take notes.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews