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Matin Brun
Charlie et son copain vivent une époque trouble, celle de la montée d'un régime politique extrême : l'Etat Brun. Dans la vie, ils vont d'une façon bien ordinaire : entre bière et belote. Ni des héros, ni de purs salauds. Simplement, pour éviter les ennuis, ils détournent les yeux. Sait-on assez où risquent de nous mener collectivement les petites lâchetés de chacun d'entre nous ?
18 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
September 7, 2021
Why is it so hard to go against the grain, to contest the dominant ideas in society that one doesn’t share, to express one’s doubts, to act against or to resist authoritarianism?
With Matin Brun (Brown Morning), a parable on dogs and cats Franck Pavloff, who wrote this short piece in 1998 for a conference on fascism, reminiscences the renown poem First they came of pastor Martin Niemöller, exposing the dangers of conformism, indifference and narrowmindedness in a totalitarian state.
For everyone who assumes nothing can be done as an individual but to simply swallow politics of Gleichschältung and oppression, this story rekindles a lesson in Timothy Snyder’s powerful pamphlet On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century:
Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.
The story can be read in the original in French here and in English here.
With Matin Brun (Brown Morning), a parable on dogs and cats Franck Pavloff, who wrote this short piece in 1998 for a conference on fascism, reminiscences the renown poem First they came of pastor Martin Niemöller, exposing the dangers of conformism, indifference and narrowmindedness in a totalitarian state.
For everyone who assumes nothing can be done as an individual but to simply swallow politics of Gleichschältung and oppression, this story rekindles a lesson in Timothy Snyder’s powerful pamphlet On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century:
Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.
The story can be read in the original in French here and in English here.
February 15, 2024
No one is completely innocent
What would you do if one day you were ordered to get rid of your pets because of their color? Would you comply with the decree or find the stamina to stand out and defy it?
Faced with such a moral dilemma, the two protagonists of Brown Morning decide to conform to the new reality. After all, they are allowed to have brown pets. No one wants to put at least them to trouble.
If our two friends think that they are now, after complying with the order, safe, they will soon be disabused. When they realize the extent of danger, it will be too late.
In the best or rather worst Orwellian tradition (remember his notoriously famous thoughtcrime), you may be punished even for your past activities. Your, now dead, pets that were considered ‘defective’ may be the reason for your arrest. By owning a white cat or black dog even in the times when it was not officially prohibited, you have offended your community and its sense of right and wrong. Almost no one cares about the fate of others, the sauve-qui-peut mode has been inaugurated.
The situation very quickly escalates and leaves no room for qualms and doubts. Hesitations are now luxuries that cannot be afforded. Neighbors seem ready to denounce each other to the authorities.
What happens to the two hapless friends at the end could be summed up in the following line taken from the poem written by Martin Niemöller.
This very short story can be read online in English and French.
What would you do if one day you were ordered to get rid of your pets because of their color? Would you comply with the decree or find the stamina to stand out and defy it?
Faced with such a moral dilemma, the two protagonists of Brown Morning decide to conform to the new reality. After all, they are allowed to have brown pets. No one wants to put at least them to trouble.
If our two friends think that they are now, after complying with the order, safe, they will soon be disabused. When they realize the extent of danger, it will be too late.
In the best or rather worst Orwellian tradition (remember his notoriously famous thoughtcrime), you may be punished even for your past activities. Your, now dead, pets that were considered ‘defective’ may be the reason for your arrest. By owning a white cat or black dog even in the times when it was not officially prohibited, you have offended your community and its sense of right and wrong. Almost no one cares about the fate of others, the sauve-qui-peut mode has been inaugurated.
The situation very quickly escalates and leaves no room for qualms and doubts. Hesitations are now luxuries that cannot be afforded. Neighbors seem ready to denounce each other to the authorities.
What happens to the two hapless friends at the end could be summed up in the following line taken from the poem written by Martin Niemöller.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
This very short story can be read online in English and French.
October 3, 2022
A hard-hitting novella that delivers a powerful message without going overboard on the verbosity.
Written in the first person, the narrator begins in a conversational style, casually speaking of government dictates about the colour ‘brown’ and how easy it had been to adapt his lifestyle towards the new regulations. His friend Charlie, for instance, got rid of his black Labrador and the narrator himself, of his black and white cat. Easy changes after all. The modifications don’t stop here and the narrator’s world is slowly turned more “brown”, but he still isn’t much worried. The government is catching OTHERS, so “everything was ok”. As you can guess, the almost Orwellian rules don’t stay without impacting everyone, and by the time the narrator realises the magnitude of the changes, it is too late.
Originally written in French, this allegory against the fascist government was penned for a conference on fascism in 1998 when the Rhone-Alps region of France leaned to the politics of the extreme right. The story was published by a small independent publisher. Matin Brun (translating to “Brown Morning”) sold more than 20000 copies within three years, mainly through word of mouth publicity. After a radio broadcaster spoke about it in 2001, the book came back in the public eye and has gone on to sell more than 500000 copies in Europe and has been translated into several languages.
I had a slight sense of déjà vu while reading this little twelve-page novella. It reminded me of some short story I had read where an old couple has suffered losses through their dystopian rulers and knows that death is inevitable. (I wish I could remember which story this was and where I had read it. If I recollect it, I will update my review.) At the same time, it also has shades of the famous poem by Martin Niemöller. Titled ”First They Came”, it speaks of how the narrator stays silent when others are affected, until he realises that there is no left to speak for him. A common human tendency, right? “As long as it doesn’t affect me, I will not open my mouth” syndrome.
Within just a few pages, the book, with its simplistic prose and straightforward delivery, creates a strong impact, highlighting the importance of speaking up at the right time before it too late. After all, if common citizens stay silent allowing the injustice to be widespread, it can’t be reigned in until later, sometimes never.
If you are looking for a short yet meaningful read, do give this title a try.
4.25 stars.
I came across this title through the review of a Goodreads friend, Nika. Check out her brilliant review on this title. Thanks for the lovely recommendation, Nika. Would have missed out on this gem otherwise.
The book can be read online in both English and French through the below link:
https://issuu.com/obrienpress/docs/br...
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Written in the first person, the narrator begins in a conversational style, casually speaking of government dictates about the colour ‘brown’ and how easy it had been to adapt his lifestyle towards the new regulations. His friend Charlie, for instance, got rid of his black Labrador and the narrator himself, of his black and white cat. Easy changes after all. The modifications don’t stop here and the narrator’s world is slowly turned more “brown”, but he still isn’t much worried. The government is catching OTHERS, so “everything was ok”. As you can guess, the almost Orwellian rules don’t stay without impacting everyone, and by the time the narrator realises the magnitude of the changes, it is too late.
Originally written in French, this allegory against the fascist government was penned for a conference on fascism in 1998 when the Rhone-Alps region of France leaned to the politics of the extreme right. The story was published by a small independent publisher. Matin Brun (translating to “Brown Morning”) sold more than 20000 copies within three years, mainly through word of mouth publicity. After a radio broadcaster spoke about it in 2001, the book came back in the public eye and has gone on to sell more than 500000 copies in Europe and has been translated into several languages.
I had a slight sense of déjà vu while reading this little twelve-page novella. It reminded me of some short story I had read where an old couple has suffered losses through their dystopian rulers and knows that death is inevitable. (I wish I could remember which story this was and where I had read it. If I recollect it, I will update my review.) At the same time, it also has shades of the famous poem by Martin Niemöller. Titled ”First They Came”, it speaks of how the narrator stays silent when others are affected, until he realises that there is no left to speak for him. A common human tendency, right? “As long as it doesn’t affect me, I will not open my mouth” syndrome.
Within just a few pages, the book, with its simplistic prose and straightforward delivery, creates a strong impact, highlighting the importance of speaking up at the right time before it too late. After all, if common citizens stay silent allowing the injustice to be widespread, it can’t be reigned in until later, sometimes never.
If you are looking for a short yet meaningful read, do give this title a try.
4.25 stars.
I came across this title through the review of a Goodreads friend, Nika. Check out her brilliant review on this title. Thanks for the lovely recommendation, Nika. Would have missed out on this gem otherwise.
The book can be read online in both English and French through the below link:
https://issuu.com/obrienpress/docs/br...
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
December 13, 2009
Everyone has heard that quote about, "First they came for the Jews and I said nothing..... and then they came for me and there was no one left to say anything." This book is a slightly longer version of that quote.
Instead of Jews, the government has scientific studies that a)there are too many cats and dogs and b) that brown cats and dogs are superior, they eat less, are smarter and just better, so c) all non-brown cats and dogs have to be killed. This absurdity moves on to banning books that mention non-brown cats and dogs, and to making it criminal to have ever even owned a non-brown cat or dog or to even have a family member who ever owned a non-brown cat or dog. Thus most likely making everyone a criminal awaiting the brown-shirted secret police to come knocking at your front door.
No one really raised a complaint at the start of this absurdity, because life was good for them, they were safe and comfortable, and well entertained... and besides it was just cats and dogs.
Apparently this book is a best-seller in France, especially in the rise of some ultra-right politics there in the past fifteen years or so. It's kind of sad that a) that there is a rise of ultra-right borderline fascist politics in a country that really should know better (why do I think the French as a whole are smarter than us? I have no idea, they just should be, or maybe it's all just romanticizing the idea of the role of the intellectual in France), and b) that a book like this is needed to open anyone's eyes to the dangers of government, especially in the area of giving up personal liberties in exchange for a comfortable life.
What kind of cave would one have to be living in that a work like this would be eye-opening? Is our historical memory so short that a book like this is enlightening to the dangers of xenophobic thinking, blind acceptance of government pseudoscience and facts? I'm just glad I don't live in a country where a book like this is needed, or in a society where people would be willing to sacrifice the liberty of some for the illusion of safety for the many.
Instead of Jews, the government has scientific studies that a)there are too many cats and dogs and b) that brown cats and dogs are superior, they eat less, are smarter and just better, so c) all non-brown cats and dogs have to be killed. This absurdity moves on to banning books that mention non-brown cats and dogs, and to making it criminal to have ever even owned a non-brown cat or dog or to even have a family member who ever owned a non-brown cat or dog. Thus most likely making everyone a criminal awaiting the brown-shirted secret police to come knocking at your front door.
No one really raised a complaint at the start of this absurdity, because life was good for them, they were safe and comfortable, and well entertained... and besides it was just cats and dogs.
Apparently this book is a best-seller in France, especially in the rise of some ultra-right politics there in the past fifteen years or so. It's kind of sad that a) that there is a rise of ultra-right borderline fascist politics in a country that really should know better (why do I think the French as a whole are smarter than us? I have no idea, they just should be, or maybe it's all just romanticizing the idea of the role of the intellectual in France), and b) that a book like this is needed to open anyone's eyes to the dangers of government, especially in the area of giving up personal liberties in exchange for a comfortable life.
What kind of cave would one have to be living in that a work like this would be eye-opening? Is our historical memory so short that a book like this is enlightening to the dangers of xenophobic thinking, blind acceptance of government pseudoscience and facts? I'm just glad I don't live in a country where a book like this is needed, or in a society where people would be willing to sacrifice the liberty of some for the illusion of safety for the many.
March 14, 2016
En 12 pages à peine, cet apologue sarcastique relève deux caractéristiques majeures de nos sociétés. Premièrement, cette lâcheté flagrante et unanime vis à vis des abus atroces du pouvoir et cette manipulation sans égale de notre liberté de vivre, de parler, de réagir, de vivre tout court. Deuxièmement, comment les dictatures exécutent doucement et progressivement leurs plans de servitude en usant de l'appui des scientifiques, des politiciens des médias .... Bref, c'est à force d'accepter l'inacceptable et de supporter l'insupportable qu'on devient esclave à la moderne.
"C'est lorsque le pouvoir est associé à une peur chronique qu'il devient formidable." Eric Hoffer
"C'est lorsque le pouvoir est associé à une peur chronique qu'il devient formidable." Eric Hoffer
May 31, 2020
Καλαίσθητο πεντάλεπτο σφηνάκι, ιδανικό για να απολαμβάνουμε τις ήσυχες Κυριακές μας στα καθαρά, πράσινα, ασφαλή και COVID-free προάστια του νέου - βιοπολιτικού - ολοκληρωτισμού που είναι κιόλας εδώ!
February 9, 2023
Στο σύντομο διήγημα του Γάλλου συγγραφέα, ακτιβιστή και ψυχολόγου Παβλόφ, διαβάζουμε μια αλληγορική ιστορία για τους κινδύνους του αυταρχισμού. Όλα ξεκινούν όταν, διά νόμου, οι κατοικίδιοι σκυλοι και γάτες πρέπει να είναι καφέ. Όλα τα υπόλοιπα ζώα οδηγούνται στην ευθανασία. Στη συνέχεια, τα μόνα βιβλία που επιτρέπεται να βρίσκονται στα ράφια των βιβλιοπωλείων είναι τα καφέ. Εφημερίδες σταματούν να κυκλοφορούν, εκτός από τα Καφέ νέα. Κι εκεί που ο ήρωας διασφαλίζει κάθε καφέ οπτική της ζωής του για να ζει με ασφάλεια, ξαφνικά οι νόμοι αλλάζουν, ξανά, εξετάζοντας την καφετότητα του παρελθόντος κάθε πολίτη.
Μέσα σε ελάχιστες αράδες, ο Παβλόφ ασκεί δριμεία κριτική στην αδιαφορία των πολιτών προς το πολιτικό γίγνεσθαι, στην παγίδα της απολιτίκ στάσης τους καθώς και στην ολισθηρή πλαγιά που διαβαίνει ο απολυταρχισμός όταν δεν βρίσκει εμπόδια. Χρησιμοποιώντας το χρώμα καφέ σε αντίστιξη με τα υπόλοιπα χρώματα, έρχεται συμβολικά να αποδώσει στο διήγημα τη λευκή υπεροχή και τη σκληρότητα του ρατσισμού σε θεσμικό επίπεδο αλλά και σε επίπεδο καθημερινότητας, μέσα από τη γυρισμένη πλάτη των φοβισμένων προνομιούχων. Ένα βιβλίο που μας θυμίζει όλο το βατερλό που ζήσαμε και στην Ελλάδα με τη χούντα και το πρόσφατο πολιτικό μόρφωμα που αποτελούσε βιτρίνα μιας καλά οργανωμένης εγκλειματικης σπείρας. Μπορεί στην αρχή να υποτιμούμε μια τέτοια πολιτική δύναμη, τί γίνεται όμως όταν φτάνουμε να ��ρηνούμε νεκρούς και να κινδυνεύουμε κι εμείς οι ίδιες/οι;
Ένα εξαιρετικό μικράκι, με φανταστική εικονογράφηση σε μια καλαίσθητη έκδοση, που αξίζει να διαβαστεί!
Μέσα σε ελάχιστες αράδες, ο Παβλόφ ασκεί δριμεία κριτική στην αδιαφορία των πολιτών προς το πολιτικό γίγνεσθαι, στην παγίδα της απολιτίκ στάσης τους καθώς και στην ολισθηρή πλαγιά που διαβαίνει ο απολυταρχισμός όταν δεν βρίσκει εμπόδια. Χρησιμοποιώντας το χρώμα καφέ σε αντίστιξη με τα υπόλοιπα χρώματα, έρχεται συμβολικά να αποδώσει στο διήγημα τη λευκή υπεροχή και τη σκληρότητα του ρατσισμού σε θεσμικό επίπεδο αλλά και σε επίπεδο καθημερινότητας, μέσα από τη γυρισμένη πλάτη των φοβισμένων προνομιούχων. Ένα βιβλίο που μας θυμίζει όλο το βατερλό που ζήσαμε και στην Ελλάδα με τη χούντα και το πρόσφατο πολιτικό μόρφωμα που αποτελούσε βιτρίνα μιας καλά οργανωμένης εγκλειματικης σπείρας. Μπορεί στην αρχή να υποτιμούμε μια τέτοια πολιτική δύναμη, τί γίνεται όμως όταν φτάνουμε να ��ρηνούμε νεκρούς και να κινδυνεύουμε κι εμείς οι ίδιες/οι;
Ένα εξαιρετικό μικράκι, με φανταστική εικονογράφηση σε μια καλαίσθητη έκδοση, που αξίζει να διαβαστεί!
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November 23, 2025" Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking, so as not to offend the imbeciles "
This quote is falsely attributed to Dostoevsky. There is no evidence he ever wrote or said it.
But...
If that day will come, I fear we will no longer call it " tolerance", but fear disguised as virtue.
I don't claim to be one of the intelligent ones. But I do know what it feels like to hesitate before speaking, not out of cruelty, but out of caution. The world has grown sensitive in ways that make conversation feel like walking on glass. I have seen discomfort mistaken for harm, disagreement mistaken for hate. It is hard to know where the line is anymore..
I don't think tolerance should mean pretending we all agree. It should mean we can disagree without fear. And we can ask hard questions and still sit at the same table. But it is not fear of being wrong, it's fear of being misunderstood, or worse - misrepresented. This isn't a complaint about censorship, but about mistaken tolerance for silence, and respect for avoidance. Disagreement is not disrespect. Complexity is not cruelty. True tolerance means trusting that people can handle ideas that challenge them. If we forget that, we risk creating a culture where no one is offended, but no one is honest either.
I still believe in dialogue. The kind that makes room for complexity. If we want a society that's truly tolerant, we have to stop treating disagreement like a threat. We have to stop assuming bad intent every time someone speaks plainly. Protecting feelings should never come at the cost of silencing minds. Sometimes, the truest things are the ones I only find afterward, in the hush of l'esprit d'escalier.
This quote is falsely attributed to Dostoevsky. There is no evidence he ever wrote or said it.
But...
If that day will come, I fear we will no longer call it " tolerance", but fear disguised as virtue.
I don't claim to be one of the intelligent ones. But I do know what it feels like to hesitate before speaking, not out of cruelty, but out of caution. The world has grown sensitive in ways that make conversation feel like walking on glass. I have seen discomfort mistaken for harm, disagreement mistaken for hate. It is hard to know where the line is anymore..
I don't think tolerance should mean pretending we all agree. It should mean we can disagree without fear. And we can ask hard questions and still sit at the same table. But it is not fear of being wrong, it's fear of being misunderstood, or worse - misrepresented. This isn't a complaint about censorship, but about mistaken tolerance for silence, and respect for avoidance. Disagreement is not disrespect. Complexity is not cruelty. True tolerance means trusting that people can handle ideas that challenge them. If we forget that, we risk creating a culture where no one is offended, but no one is honest either.
I still believe in dialogue. The kind that makes room for complexity. If we want a society that's truly tolerant, we have to stop treating disagreement like a threat. We have to stop assuming bad intent every time someone speaks plainly. Protecting feelings should never come at the cost of silencing minds. Sometimes, the truest things are the ones I only find afterward, in the hush of l'esprit d'escalier.
April 25, 2025
”Pourtant, autour de moi les clients du bistrot continuaient leur vie comme avant: j’avais sûrement tort de m’inquiéter„
Folgorante racconto distopico sui pericoli del conformismo e dei regimi autoritari.
La quinta stella se l'è aggiudicata unicamente perché avevo anch'io un cane. Bianco.
Folgorante racconto distopico sui pericoli del conformismo e dei regimi autoritari.
La quinta stella se l'è aggiudicata unicamente perché avevo anch'io un cane. Bianco.
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April 26, 2025Spaventosamente profetico. Talmente spaventoso che non mi sento di mettere un giudizio.
C'è un ragionamento che mi frullava in testa già ieri, e adesso questo breve racconto lo ha fatto ripartire a mille: per trecentosessantaquattro giorni all'anno, ogni volta che uno/a esprime perplessità su qualcosa, viene subito tacciato/a di disfattismo, di pessimismo, di essere polemico/a e via discorrendo quanto di più negativo ci possa essere.
Ad esempio:
-hai manifestato incertezze riguardo il vaccino? Disfattista, non ti fidi della scienza!
-Oppure: non sei d'accordo a far passare un'autostrada o una ferrovia nel tuo giardino? Disfattista, ti opponi al progresso!
-Scegli di non andare a votare? Non partecipi!
-Scegli di abitare in un luogo isolato? Eremita e musone!
-Non fai figli? Egoista!
- Esprimi dubbi su una cosa qualsiasi? Pessimista! L'ottimismo è il profumo della vita!
E così via discorrendo, dicevo, per trecentosessantaquattro giorni l'anno.
Poi arriva il 25 aprile e dicono che "la Resistenza è tutti i giorni". Giuro che a me non tornano i conti.
C'è un ragionamento che mi frullava in testa già ieri, e adesso questo breve racconto lo ha fatto ripartire a mille: per trecentosessantaquattro giorni all'anno, ogni volta che uno/a esprime perplessità su qualcosa, viene subito tacciato/a di disfattismo, di pessimismo, di essere polemico/a e via discorrendo quanto di più negativo ci possa essere.
Ad esempio:
-hai manifestato incertezze riguardo il vaccino? Disfattista, non ti fidi della scienza!
-Oppure: non sei d'accordo a far passare un'autostrada o una ferrovia nel tuo giardino? Disfattista, ti opponi al progresso!
-Scegli di non andare a votare? Non partecipi!
-Scegli di abitare in un luogo isolato? Eremita e musone!
-Non fai figli? Egoista!
- Esprimi dubbi su una cosa qualsiasi? Pessimista! L'ottimismo è il profumo della vita!
E così via discorrendo, dicevo, per trecentosessantaquattro giorni l'anno.
Poi arriva il 25 aprile e dicono che "la Resistenza è tutti i giorni". Giuro che a me non tornano i conti.
March 7, 2015
"On aurait du dire non. Résister d'avantage"
Short, very easy to read and much much more than just a story!
This book isn't just the words on the paper. Actually this book is mostly the words in between the lines, words that are heavy with meaning and most definitely are shouted. Shouted because everyone should hear them, shouted for the sake of freedom and peace, shouted for what is right and what we believe is right, I think so at least. I believe the message in this story is that we must stand up for what we believe should be the case, what we believe is the right thing, that we should stay with our beliefs and not let anyone else's crush them because otherwise we lose our freedom and the situation can only get worse from there.
I recommend this to everyone!!!
Short, very easy to read and much much more than just a story!
This book isn't just the words on the paper. Actually this book is mostly the words in between the lines, words that are heavy with meaning and most definitely are shouted. Shouted because everyone should hear them, shouted for the sake of freedom and peace, shouted for what is right and what we believe is right, I think so at least. I believe the message in this story is that we must stand up for what we believe should be the case, what we believe is the right thing, that we should stay with our beliefs and not let anyone else's crush them because otherwise we lose our freedom and the situation can only get worse from there.
I recommend this to everyone!!!
July 14, 2019
Here is a terse, powerful story about selfishness and narrow-mindedness.
July 3, 2024
La plus courte nouvelle jamais lue et d'une brûlante actualité.
January 13, 2016
Ce livre est toujours autant d'actualité et montre comment le fascisme se fait passer pour une idéologie "acceptable" au fil du temps.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
Κι αν μια μέρα έβγαινε ένα διάταγμα του Κράτους που απαγόρευε -με κάποιο επιστημονικό πρόσχημα- την κατοχή σκύλου ή γάτας άλλου χρώματος εκτός από καφέ; Κι αν έπρεπε να πίνεις καφέ, να διαβάζεις τα Καφέ Νέα και να ακούς Ράδιο Καφέ; Μπορεί να σκεφτόσουν να προσαρμοστείς, να έχεις το κεφάλι σου ήσυχο. Αν όμως το Κράτος το παρατράβαγε; Αν η Καφέ Πολιτοφυλακή σου χτυπούσε την πόρτα την ώρα που δεν έχει ακόμα ξημερώσει και έξω είναι όλα καφέ; Θα άνοιγες; Σύντομο, όσο ένα εσπρεσάκι κι εξίσου δυνατό φουντ φορ θοτ...
October 12, 2014
This tiny book reveals, in a casual style as powerful as greats like Bukowski and Vonnegut, exactly the travesty of the surveillance culture of the 21st Century. Which continues, basically unchecked. I love this book and while it trumpets truth and summarizes one of the worst aspects of modern life, in just a few pages, the truth isn't enough ... it's the reader who must take action or be swept along in an increasingly dystopian world.
June 20, 2015
A simplistic anti-facist allegory that is, in my humble opinion, nothing to write home about. Or maybe it is that the cliche that is Niemöller-esque works is no longer relevant in the 2010s, when the threats to freedom are from far more subtle than hostile takeovers.
February 9, 2018
J'ai peut-être râté un truc, mais ce très court livre, à peine une nouvelle en fait, m'a paru d'une inutilité terrible.
November 19, 2024
Comme une impression de déjà-vu… et qu’on verra sûrement encore.
June 18, 2018
shit book for an even shittier class
June 29, 2024
Court et efficace
February 21, 2025
Dix pages, c’est court et en même temps c’est pile ce qu’il faut. Toujours tellement d’actualité. 🫶
January 27, 2025
let the matura preparation begin
January 24, 2017
Zuerst dachte ich, das sein eine Leseprobe, aber nein - dieses "Buch" hat tatsächlich nur 18 Seiten. Dafür ist die Geschichte dahinter sehr aktuell, aber auch sehr erschreckend. Der deutsche Titel lautet "Brauner Morgen" und stammt aus den 1990er Jahren, wenn ich mich recht erinnere. Es geht um ein Regime, das Menschen abohlen und verschwinden lässt, die Hunde und Katzen als Haustiere haben, die nicht braun sind. Irgendwann macht man sich auch schuldig, wenn man vorher nicht-braune Haustiere hatte.
Hat mich ein bisschen an 1984 erinnert, und war trotz seiner Kürze genauso erschauernd.
Hat mich ein bisschen an 1984 erinnert, und war trotz seiner Kürze genauso erschauernd.
May 8, 2009
You know those books that make you shiver after you've finished it. Yeah...my teeth were chattering.
July 26, 2011
One of the shortest books you will ever read and fantastic.
February 17, 2017
This is a well-written, brief book about a couple of easy-going, rather mindless chums, and how their world changes as the Browns - the fascists and their evil regulations - creep up on them. The two buddies occasionally get together for a coffee or a drink, and seem to have no problem with the initial new laws decreed by the Browns. They have rationalized the regime's arbitrary and hateful regulations and the clampdown on the free press. They are willing to believe the phony excuses for the new laws, since they are so easy-going, and more or less live in the world of sensation or sensory pleasure. They are a bit heartless that way, but have more or less adjusted to the world, especially the new fascist world, by avoiding controversy, following the law, and not questioning. They have totally accepted the new laws, but then the protagonist realizes that his chum, Charlie, has been arrested because of an arbitrary "infraction" of the "rules" they were never told about - and then the protagonist realizes that the extension of the laws means that almost anybody can be arrested at any time, but he understands this too late, since at that very moment, the Browns are knocking at his door in the pre-dawn darkness (Matin Brun - the French title of the book, means Brown Morning).
It only takes less than an hour to read the book and the accompanying essay, yet the power of the book is instantaneous. No wonder it became a world-wide best-seller.
There were also some extremely effective black and white litho style (or possibly litho or other graphic art medium) illustrations, that heightened the emotional impact of the turning points of the narrative - such as when the protagonist's cat was unknowingly eating the cyanide pellets distributed by the Browns to residents who had the wrong color cats (i.e. anything but brown cats).
Oddly enough, the chums' attitude toward creeping fascism reminded me of the mindlessness of the chums Raymond and Meursault in Camus' The Stranger which I just read. I could imagine these characters as those - they had a similar devotion to the moment, to having a good time, and not thinking too much about things, rationalizing, justifying unjustifiable actions. The chums in The Stranger didn't try to intervene to help Salamano's dog, just as Meursault didn't help the Arab girl when Raymond was beating her up. In Matin Brun, the first victims were non-brown dogs, but the chums could somehow carry on as if nothing had happened. They rationalized the loss of their pets (one chum lost a dog, the other a cat) by saying they're only dogs and cats, that the replacement brown pets would be just as good. They laughed off the injustice and were willing to live with it. Their callousness, obliviousness, and becoming "well-adjusted" to an absurd, unjust world - maybe their attitude links the chums of the two novels together.
The book exactly captures the attitude of "adjustment" - willing to get used to arbitrary incomprehensible laws, that then creep up on the population, until it's too late. The chums are willing to laugh off losing their pets - they've become monsters - they've rationalized their actions, they've accepted the propaganda of the fascist regime, and think life just goes on, as they sip their coffee at the outdoor cafe. They don't think much, or say much - only follow sports, the races, playing cards, having a good time - apolitical perhaps, and certainly law-abiding. They are willing to go along with the new laws even if it means they must do away with their non-brown pets, only because the pets are not brown, and the fascist regime has deemed (lied) that brown pets are healthier, live longer, and eat less. In other words, the people believe or trick themselves into believing, unjust laws, life still seems "normal" - but they've turned into monsters in the process. It's the imperceptible process of self-deception, rationalization, going with the flow, adapting and adjusting to the changes/restrictions/laws - the book gives an uncanny description of a regime of arbitrary and cruel laws closing in on the population, because the population is willing to go along with the laws (the Brown party or group is however feared, so there's the implicit threat of violence enforcing the arbitrary laws). These people have probably always obeyed the law, so why shouldn't they obey the new laws, even if the new laws are absurd or in the end, murderous? This is a description of how one shouldn't act if fascism sets in. Most people do not resist though - like the chums in Matin Brun, they just go along with the unending and ever-restrictive regulations until it's too late to resist. Like the chums, most people tell themselves things are alright even when they aren't because it's difficult for most people to leave their comfort zone and resist. This book gives the steps and the rationalizations, leading eventually to the end for the chums - the new regulations pile up so quickly, the effect is like that of slipping on the top step by accident and then being unable to gain traction or balance again, as one tumbles down the flight of stairs, perhaps to one's doom. That's how uncanny the effect of the fascist regime is: First a law about pets that if one's heart was hardened enough, the person could "accept" - then a newspaper is closed because it disagreed with the pet law, then the publishing house associated with the banned paper is also shut down, then the books in the libraries published by the closed publishing house are removed and destroyed. The chums can adjust to every change, every new law, every new restrictions - they rationalize everything and continue pursuing amusements, sports, games, the track. They finally realize that the new laws are so designed that anybody can be arrested and detained for any reason, but by then, their cooperativeness and the chums' easy-going, law-abiding attitude, means it is too late when the Browns come for them.
It only takes less than an hour to read the book and the accompanying essay, yet the power of the book is instantaneous. No wonder it became a world-wide best-seller.
There were also some extremely effective black and white litho style (or possibly litho or other graphic art medium) illustrations, that heightened the emotional impact of the turning points of the narrative - such as when the protagonist's cat was unknowingly eating the cyanide pellets distributed by the Browns to residents who had the wrong color cats (i.e. anything but brown cats).
Oddly enough, the chums' attitude toward creeping fascism reminded me of the mindlessness of the chums Raymond and Meursault in Camus' The Stranger which I just read. I could imagine these characters as those - they had a similar devotion to the moment, to having a good time, and not thinking too much about things, rationalizing, justifying unjustifiable actions. The chums in The Stranger didn't try to intervene to help Salamano's dog, just as Meursault didn't help the Arab girl when Raymond was beating her up. In Matin Brun, the first victims were non-brown dogs, but the chums could somehow carry on as if nothing had happened. They rationalized the loss of their pets (one chum lost a dog, the other a cat) by saying they're only dogs and cats, that the replacement brown pets would be just as good. They laughed off the injustice and were willing to live with it. Their callousness, obliviousness, and becoming "well-adjusted" to an absurd, unjust world - maybe their attitude links the chums of the two novels together.
The book exactly captures the attitude of "adjustment" - willing to get used to arbitrary incomprehensible laws, that then creep up on the population, until it's too late. The chums are willing to laugh off losing their pets - they've become monsters - they've rationalized their actions, they've accepted the propaganda of the fascist regime, and think life just goes on, as they sip their coffee at the outdoor cafe. They don't think much, or say much - only follow sports, the races, playing cards, having a good time - apolitical perhaps, and certainly law-abiding. They are willing to go along with the new laws even if it means they must do away with their non-brown pets, only because the pets are not brown, and the fascist regime has deemed (lied) that brown pets are healthier, live longer, and eat less. In other words, the people believe or trick themselves into believing, unjust laws, life still seems "normal" - but they've turned into monsters in the process. It's the imperceptible process of self-deception, rationalization, going with the flow, adapting and adjusting to the changes/restrictions/laws - the book gives an uncanny description of a regime of arbitrary and cruel laws closing in on the population, because the population is willing to go along with the laws (the Brown party or group is however feared, so there's the implicit threat of violence enforcing the arbitrary laws). These people have probably always obeyed the law, so why shouldn't they obey the new laws, even if the new laws are absurd or in the end, murderous? This is a description of how one shouldn't act if fascism sets in. Most people do not resist though - like the chums in Matin Brun, they just go along with the unending and ever-restrictive regulations until it's too late to resist. Like the chums, most people tell themselves things are alright even when they aren't because it's difficult for most people to leave their comfort zone and resist. This book gives the steps and the rationalizations, leading eventually to the end for the chums - the new regulations pile up so quickly, the effect is like that of slipping on the top step by accident and then being unable to gain traction or balance again, as one tumbles down the flight of stairs, perhaps to one's doom. That's how uncanny the effect of the fascist regime is: First a law about pets that if one's heart was hardened enough, the person could "accept" - then a newspaper is closed because it disagreed with the pet law, then the publishing house associated with the banned paper is also shut down, then the books in the libraries published by the closed publishing house are removed and destroyed. The chums can adjust to every change, every new law, every new restrictions - they rationalize everything and continue pursuing amusements, sports, games, the track. They finally realize that the new laws are so designed that anybody can be arrested and detained for any reason, but by then, their cooperativeness and the chums' easy-going, law-abiding attitude, means it is too late when the Browns come for them.
October 15, 2024
un livre court mais clair.
j'aime bien le côté un peu absurde, et pourtant si vrai dans certains pays, de l'uniformité obligatoire, de ce devoir d'obéir à des règles très strictes (ici, avoir des animaux de couleur brune, ajouter "brun" ou "brune" à tout les mots par peur de représailles) parce qu'il a été décidé ainsi et pas autrement. parce que, sinon, la milice vient chez vous et vous embarque. dans Matin Brun, il est aussi question de censure, de contrôle... bref de plein de choses et il faut que vous lisiez.
j'aime bien le côté un peu absurde, et pourtant si vrai dans certains pays, de l'uniformité obligatoire, de ce devoir d'obéir à des règles très strictes (ici, avoir des animaux de couleur brune, ajouter "brun" ou "brune" à tout les mots par peur de représailles) parce qu'il a été décidé ainsi et pas autrement. parce que, sinon, la milice vient chez vous et vous embarque. dans Matin Brun, il est aussi question de censure, de contrôle... bref de plein de choses et il faut que vous lisiez.
April 18, 2025
«Je n'ai pas dormi de la nuit. J'aurais dû me méfier des Bruns dès qu'ils nous ont imposé leur première loi sur les animaux. Après tout, il était à moi mon chat, comme son chien pour Charlie, on aurait dû dire non. Résister davantage, mais comment ? Ça va si vite, il y a le boulot, les soucis de tous les jours. Les autres aussi baissent les bras pour être un peu tranquilles, non ?»
Livre sur la non résistance et le laisser faire des régimes totalitaires, un beau livre qui permet de comprendre un peu plus les mentalités sous ce régime
Livre sur la non résistance et le laisser faire des régimes totalitaires, un beau livre qui permet de comprendre un peu plus les mentalités sous ce régime
December 31, 2020
L'état décide que la possession d'un chat ou d'un chien nécessite que leurs couleurs soit brune. Drôle d'idée non?!
Les individus se trouvant non concernés et tranquilles acceptent vu que les arguments présentés étaient appuyés sur des articles scientifiques, politiques... Mais après, cette manipulation ne s'arrête pas ici, mais pousse les individus à céder à de nouvelles décision, à cause du petit truc qui était "acceptable".
Les individus se trouvant non concernés et tranquilles acceptent vu que les arguments présentés étaient appuyés sur des articles scientifiques, politiques... Mais après, cette manipulation ne s'arrête pas ici, mais pousse les individus à céder à de nouvelles décision, à cause du petit truc qui était "acceptable".
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