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Gringoland
Las d'assister passivement à la déconfiture de l'humanité devant sa télé, le jeune narrateur part vérifier qu'un autre monde est possible. Sur les routes de l'Amérique latine et des Etats-Unis, il croise des travellers égarés, des rebelles zapatistes, des stars d'Hollywood, des chamans douteux et se demande s'il existe un ordre caché dans ce chaos. Premier roman.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 14, 2008
This book describes the trials and tribulations of a 20 something white Western male as he attempts to make sense of this life. Finding a job isn't exactly his priority. He spends his days lying in bed, watching TV with his dog, depressed for no other reason than the way world works. He's already given up on living without even trying... that is, until his dog dies and he books a flight ticket for South America to make sure that the rest of the world really does exist and that there is an alternative to our society of consumption which would have us, settle down, get married and have kids.
I've fairly enjoyed this quick read, in part because the protagonist's main concerns echo some of mine. In fact, I think it echoes a lot of my generation's concerns. We're stuck, we see the unfairness of the system but we're in too deep. We're given the illusion of free will, that we can be and do anything, but really, we're limited by the norms imposed by society. Being successful means recognition from your peers, financial success, blooming personal life symbolized by mariage and kids... a part of us, wants that because society's been breeding that into our brains since we were born but we also aspire to something else and we can't quite put our finger on it.
Anyway, enough rambling, back to the book. It pinpoints all those issues but in the end, remains superficial because if it did have THE answer, well, Julien Blanc-Gras would have been picked up by a French political mouvement. In summary, not an eye opening for me but a quick and interesting read nonetheless.
I've fairly enjoyed this quick read, in part because the protagonist's main concerns echo some of mine. In fact, I think it echoes a lot of my generation's concerns. We're stuck, we see the unfairness of the system but we're in too deep. We're given the illusion of free will, that we can be and do anything, but really, we're limited by the norms imposed by society. Being successful means recognition from your peers, financial success, blooming personal life symbolized by mariage and kids... a part of us, wants that because society's been breeding that into our brains since we were born but we also aspire to something else and we can't quite put our finger on it.
Anyway, enough rambling, back to the book. It pinpoints all those issues but in the end, remains superficial because if it did have THE answer, well, Julien Blanc-Gras would have been picked up by a French political mouvement. In summary, not an eye opening for me but a quick and interesting read nonetheless.
September 25, 2019
L'auteur m'a eu l'air parfaitement antipathique. Ses réactions et réflexions m'ont souvent agacée. J'ai trouvé son humour cynique assez drôle les 50 premières pages et ensuite je n'en ai plus vu la couleur. Quant à la partie voyage ça m'a fait plaisir de le voir passer par des lieux que j'ai connu mais c'est balayé tellement rapidement qu'on ne peut pas parler de roman de voyage a mon avis. Juste un mec paumé qui fait son carnet de bord.
January 29, 2025
Livre tour à tour attachant, intéressant, irritant, passionnant-- avec des moments de grand n'importe quoi, telle la fin du chapitre sur Cuba.
L'auteur n'a certes pas atteint la maîtrise des livres qui suivront mais je recommande cette lecture. C'est souvent édifiant, avec quelques fulgurances stylistiques.
L'auteur n'a certes pas atteint la maîtrise des livres qui suivront mais je recommande cette lecture. C'est souvent édifiant, avec quelques fulgurances stylistiques.
November 13, 2018
Même si la plume est par moment un peu crue, j'aime beaucoup quand Julien Blanc Gras nous fait voyager, en fiction ou en reportage !
October 23, 2023
Racist, generalising, over-simplifying view of an ignorant privledged French guy visiting different countries around the world. Complete trash.
May 1, 2020
Bien, roman sentant furieusement le vécu. Me fait penser un peu à 99 francs de Beigbeder dans l'écriture très brute et directe, parfois limite vulgaire. Cela raconte un voyage en Amériques du Sud au Nord, sans but véritable, juste fuir le confort et rencontrer des gens. Parfois drôle et cocasse, parfois spirituel., plutôt réussi.
October 27, 2015
Un routard en balade du Mexique à Cuba en passant par les États Unis, contant les particularités des contrées visitées avec humour et réalisme, dénonçant aussi bien les absurdités de notre société occidentale que les réalités du quotidien des mexicains et cubains. Un gros bémol pour les nombreuses fautes d'orthographe et/ou coquilles assez gênantes tout le long de la lecture. Dommage.
January 13, 2020
Un roman qui m'a bouleversée. Parce que j'aurais adoré l'écrire, parce que j'aurais choisi les mêmes mots, les mêmes intentions, le même ton.
Tellement vrai, et marrant, et cynique, et bouleversant...
Bref. Mon coup de cœur du moment. Je le garde !
Tellement vrai, et marrant, et cynique, et bouleversant...
Bref. Mon coup de cœur du moment. Je le garde !
May 19, 2014
One of the best novel i did read. i loved his true prosaic style. I loved the travel subject, the people he described, the simplicity into it.
April 17, 2015
Between Jack Kerouac and Frédéric Beigbeder ("99F"). Truly funny.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews