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Belle De Jour: A Novel
Severine Serizy is a wealthy and beautiful Parisian housewife. She loves her husband, but she cannot share physical intimacy with him, and her vivid sadomasochistic fantasies drive her to seek employment at a brothel. By day, she enacts her customers' wildest fantasies under the pseudonym “Belle de Jour†?; in the evenings, she returns home to her chaste marriage and oblivious husband. Famous for its unflinching eroticism, Joseph Kessel’s novel continues to offer an eye-opening glance into a unique female psyche.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1928
73 people are currently reading
2484 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Kessel
308 books197 followersJoseph Kessel was a French journalist and novelist. He was born in Villa Clara, Entre Ríos, Argentina, because of the constant journeys of his father, a Lithuanian doctor of Jewish origin. Kessel lived the first years of his childhood in Orenburg, Russia, before the family moved to France. He studied in Nice and Paris, and took part in the First World War as an aviator.
Kessel wrote several novels and books that were later represented in the cinema, notably Belle de Jour (by Luis Buñuel in 1967). He was also a member of the Académie française from 1962 to 1979. In 1943 he and his nephew Maurice Druon translated Anna Marly's song Chant des Partisans into French from its original Russian. The song became one of the anthems of the Free French Forces.
Joseph Kessel died in Avernes, Val-d'Oise. He is buried in the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris.
Kessel wrote several novels and books that were later represented in the cinema, notably Belle de Jour (by Luis Buñuel in 1967). He was also a member of the Académie française from 1962 to 1979. In 1943 he and his nephew Maurice Druon translated Anna Marly's song Chant des Partisans into French from its original Russian. The song became one of the anthems of the Free French Forces.
Joseph Kessel died in Avernes, Val-d'Oise. He is buried in the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris.
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January 14, 2018
Argentine born French journalist and novelist Joseph Kessel penned several books in his lifetime that later were represented in cinema, the most recognizable being Luis Buñuel's 1967 film adaptation starring a Catherine Deneuve at the top of her game. I don't want to get drawn into the film so much (after all, this is book review), but it's going to be impossible for me not to mention it briefly. After Buñuel was approached about the idea of making the movie, he described Kessel's novel as 'cheap fiction' and didn't really think much of it, however, there was something in there that did attract him, and in the end with a few changes to the original story he went on to make one of the best European films of the 60's. Even those closest to Kessel said he thought the film a lot better than his own novel. The film is quite remarkable, the book isn't, but that's not to say it's no good, I still thought it a decent read.
The novel, first published in 1928, centres on an upper-class young Parisian wife, Séverine Serizy, who is happily married to her Dr. husband. They are bonded through a mutual love, but the problem for Séverine is sexual intimacy, she restricts herself to elaborate fantasies, possibly as a result of bad childhood memories after being touched inappropriately. Frustrated by his wife's frigidity toward him, he still respects her wishes, and just wants her to be happy. She has everything to be happy: financially well off, a caring husband who worships her, plenty of friends and nice trips away. Still, she does not feel completely fulfilled, especially with regard to sex. Through an acquaintance of her husband she learns that there are working brothels where ladies practice the oldest profession to earn a living. She is drawn to one such place, and this is the beginning of a long descent into hell, and a habit that firmly grips hold, not wanting to let go.
I was charmed by Kessel's writing, if a little flimsy, drawing on a style very close to that of the late nineteenth century, rich vocabulary and phrases that worked well. Séverine's heart aches at every step in the lie, not to mention the deceit regarding her husband through adultery and vice. She is battling the demons, physical pleasure vs emotional pain. In reality, it is the tension between reason and desires that is drawn here with a rare acuteness and a great finesse, Séverine completely yields to her desires, even though she knows she must not. It is the portrait, not of a libertine or a woman of vice as such, which would be amoral. She loves her husband more than anything in the world, wants to protect and to make him happy, but is simply a weak woman, victim of a soft culture, always remorseful for not being able to show tenderness towards him.
From the moment she enters this other world, she is no longer able to get rid of what is fast becoming a habit, a drug, a necessity, it is a truly toxic situation, where the habit is held in more space than the pleasure. She is simply trying to understand her own body, a body which refuses a husband she dearly loves. And to his surprise it is in indifference and disgust that she will find the answer.
Beyond Séverine, this is a universal story, that tells of the relationship between man and woman; the bond between heart and body, desires and reason. Between an immense and tender love and the implacable demand of the senses. An interesting book that I so wish could have been a whole lot better. On the same level as Buñuel's masterpiece, sadly it doesn't come close.
"This conflict, with few exceptions, every man, every woman who loves a long time, carries it in itself. It is perceived or not, it tears or slumbers, but it exists" - Joseph Kessel.
The novel, first published in 1928, centres on an upper-class young Parisian wife, Séverine Serizy, who is happily married to her Dr. husband. They are bonded through a mutual love, but the problem for Séverine is sexual intimacy, she restricts herself to elaborate fantasies, possibly as a result of bad childhood memories after being touched inappropriately. Frustrated by his wife's frigidity toward him, he still respects her wishes, and just wants her to be happy. She has everything to be happy: financially well off, a caring husband who worships her, plenty of friends and nice trips away. Still, she does not feel completely fulfilled, especially with regard to sex. Through an acquaintance of her husband she learns that there are working brothels where ladies practice the oldest profession to earn a living. She is drawn to one such place, and this is the beginning of a long descent into hell, and a habit that firmly grips hold, not wanting to let go.
I was charmed by Kessel's writing, if a little flimsy, drawing on a style very close to that of the late nineteenth century, rich vocabulary and phrases that worked well. Séverine's heart aches at every step in the lie, not to mention the deceit regarding her husband through adultery and vice. She is battling the demons, physical pleasure vs emotional pain. In reality, it is the tension between reason and desires that is drawn here with a rare acuteness and a great finesse, Séverine completely yields to her desires, even though she knows she must not. It is the portrait, not of a libertine or a woman of vice as such, which would be amoral. She loves her husband more than anything in the world, wants to protect and to make him happy, but is simply a weak woman, victim of a soft culture, always remorseful for not being able to show tenderness towards him.
From the moment she enters this other world, she is no longer able to get rid of what is fast becoming a habit, a drug, a necessity, it is a truly toxic situation, where the habit is held in more space than the pleasure. She is simply trying to understand her own body, a body which refuses a husband she dearly loves. And to his surprise it is in indifference and disgust that she will find the answer.
Beyond Séverine, this is a universal story, that tells of the relationship between man and woman; the bond between heart and body, desires and reason. Between an immense and tender love and the implacable demand of the senses. An interesting book that I so wish could have been a whole lot better. On the same level as Buñuel's masterpiece, sadly it doesn't come close.
"This conflict, with few exceptions, every man, every woman who loves a long time, carries it in itself. It is perceived or not, it tears or slumbers, but it exists" - Joseph Kessel.
August 19, 2017
No, I haven't seen the Bunuel movie version with Catheryne Deneuve. I prefer, as much as possible, to start with the written material and only check the silver screen adaptations afterward. That said, the title and the subject matter were very familiar and I guess it's no spoiler to say that the scandal associated with this 1928 short novel stems from the frank and explicit exploration of female sexuality, something a lot of readers still find uncomfortable or even threatening today. The protagonist of the novel leads a double life : by day she is Severine Serizy, a young lady of the high society, happily married and very much in love with the beautiful, succesful and tender Pierre, a famous surgeon in Paris. When her husband is at work though, Severine becomes 'Belle de Jour', a highly sought after prostitute in a house of rendez-vous, a wanton renowned for her preference of dangerous, domineering, even brutal and degrading bed games. There, she becomes involved with the underworld, when a young gangster named Marcel claims her as his 'moll'. As her double life is threatened with exposure, Severine finds herself unable to give up either of her personas.
For those seeking vicarious pleasures in a novel dealing with sexuality – this is not your book! Kessel is not that kind of voyeur – his exploration is one of the desires, dreams and subconscious impulses of Severine, and not of steamy, detailed lovemaking techniques.
His goal, he writes, was to dramatize a common, if tragic, marital predicament: the divorce between "a body and soul", and between "a true, tender, and immense love, and the implacable demands of the senses."
Severine is extraordinary, at least for me, in her sincere and ultimately doomed to failure attempt to reconcile her 'soul', the true love she feels for Pierre, with her 'body', the dark and irresistible drive to be used, dominated and frightened in order to obtain release from what society, then and now, is so quick to label as forbidden urges. As Judith Thurman notes in the preface:
Severine and Pierre may have an idyllic marriage – a union, in other words, with a high index of compatibility – but sex thrives on the thrill of otherness. The social self seeks a consort, the sexual self an accomplice – and how often do they coincide in the same partner?
Severine is helpless in the sense that education and social norms of her times and of her social class denied her the tools for introspection and for a frank conversation with her husband.
Thinking of his beloved face, Severine smiled softly and pushed her reveries no further. But something within her, something dim, tenacious and demanding, was silently waiting to evade Pierre's image and to reach beyond its intangible shape to an unknown horizon. That something troubled her, though she refused to acknowledge its existence.
also, regarding Marcel:
She hoped to watch him in the underworld and revive in herself, if only for a while, the sense of fear which was at the core of her sensuality. She got all the more pleasure from imagining such an evening because she knew it to be impossible. How could she ever get out late at night without Pierre?
But unconsciously she was watching for just such an opportunity. It came, as it always will for those whose secret self is waiting for it.
—«»—«»—«»—
I found the story interesting as a case study that has been reused and reformulated in numerous movies and novels after Kessel, if a little dry at times and still subject to a conformist morality in the outcome. As others have noted, Kessel could have gone further and deeper in the study of this disconnect between the mind and the body. Some would say he was cruel to his main character, and made her pay too dearly for her 'sin' – a compromise the author might have made with his own religious and social upbringing. For me the value of the story rests not so much in the execution as in the challenge to established taboos and rigid thinking, something that I believe we still need to do today.
She wept for him, she wept for her, she wept for the human condition which so irreconcilably separates spirit and flesh, the misery each man bears, but which no one forgives another.
March 8, 2024
No prefácio, Joseph Kessel defendeu-se das acusações de licenciosidade inútil e de pornografia escrevendo que «O que tentei com Bela de Dia foi revelar o terrível divórcio entre o coração e a carne, entre um verdadeiro, imenso e terno amor e a exigência implacável dos sentidos.»
É um livro sobre um tema intemporal na literatura: o adultério.
Séverine é uma jovem parisiense, bonita, rica, ama o seu marido Pierre - médico - com quem não tem (nem deseja) qualquer tipo de intimidade sexual. Tinha «fome carnal» mas repudiava o desejo que o marido tinha de possuí-la. As fantasias sexuais que aparecem nos seus sonhos levam-na a prostituir-se secretamente num bordel das 14 às 15 horas com o nome de Bela de Dia. As tardes, no bordel; as noites na castidade do seu lar.
Durante os primeiros tempos no bordel, - que vivia essencialmente de clientes fiéis - suportou os homens sem perturbação nem prazer saboreando a obediência à cafetina, Mme Anaïs, que destinava o trabalho. A prostituição diária causa-lhe angústia e fadiga. No entanto, não fora à Rue Virène procurar ternura, confiança, doçura (isso proporcionava-lhe o marido). O que ela realmente buscava era algo que ele não lhe podia dar: aquela alegria bestial proporcionada por desconhecidos grosseiros, chulos e aquele «direito que possui qualquer animal de conhecer o espamo sagrado que, na Primavera, agita a terra com um húmido tremor.»
Em breve, Séverine deixou de notar que a sua vida era dupla sem equacionar que aquela luxúria anónima podia resultar num enamoramento.
Conseguirá corrigir o curso do destino? Será descoberta? Sofrerá de chantagem?
Senti um desconforto durante a leitura; parece haver machismo, sadismo e perversidade no modo como o autor abordou a sexualidade e desejo femininos e o final, salvo melhor opinião, não deixa de ser castigador. Há algo de patológico nesta mulher (que o autor recusa no citado Prefácio - insistindo que se trata do amor de Séverine por Pierre e a sua tragédia) e um trauma que conhecemos no Prólogo.
O livro foi escrito nos anos 20 e adaptado ao cinema em 1967 com Catherine Deneuve no papel principal.
«A volúpia, pensavam ambos, é apenas uma chama fugidia. Nós temos em comum um bem mais raro e mais seguro.»
É um livro sobre um tema intemporal na literatura: o adultério.
Séverine é uma jovem parisiense, bonita, rica, ama o seu marido Pierre - médico - com quem não tem (nem deseja) qualquer tipo de intimidade sexual. Tinha «fome carnal» mas repudiava o desejo que o marido tinha de possuí-la. As fantasias sexuais que aparecem nos seus sonhos levam-na a prostituir-se secretamente num bordel das 14 às 15 horas com o nome de Bela de Dia. As tardes, no bordel; as noites na castidade do seu lar.
Durante os primeiros tempos no bordel, - que vivia essencialmente de clientes fiéis - suportou os homens sem perturbação nem prazer saboreando a obediência à cafetina, Mme Anaïs, que destinava o trabalho. A prostituição diária causa-lhe angústia e fadiga. No entanto, não fora à Rue Virène procurar ternura, confiança, doçura (isso proporcionava-lhe o marido). O que ela realmente buscava era algo que ele não lhe podia dar: aquela alegria bestial proporcionada por desconhecidos grosseiros, chulos e aquele «direito que possui qualquer animal de conhecer o espamo sagrado que, na Primavera, agita a terra com um húmido tremor.»
Em breve, Séverine deixou de notar que a sua vida era dupla sem equacionar que aquela luxúria anónima podia resultar num enamoramento.
Conseguirá corrigir o curso do destino? Será descoberta? Sofrerá de chantagem?
Senti um desconforto durante a leitura; parece haver machismo, sadismo e perversidade no modo como o autor abordou a sexualidade e desejo femininos e o final, salvo melhor opinião, não deixa de ser castigador. Há algo de patológico nesta mulher (que o autor recusa no citado Prefácio - insistindo que se trata do amor de Séverine por Pierre e a sua tragédia) e um trauma que conhecemos no Prólogo.
O livro foi escrito nos anos 20 e adaptado ao cinema em 1967 com Catherine Deneuve no papel principal.
«A volúpia, pensavam ambos, é apenas uma chama fugidia. Nós temos em comum um bem mais raro e mais seguro.»
January 21, 2017
_Belle de jour_
ΜΩΡΗ ΠΑΛΙΟΠΕΤΟΥΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΦΑΓΕΣ ΤΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟ.
A few things in english and the rest in Greek cz i want to use greek slang for this one cz FUCK formalities, i feel frustrated. Belle de jour by Joseph Kessel was first published in 1928 and it features the masochistic tendancies of Séverine Serizy. I've read pornography before and i must admit i enjoy this kind of books, but in this one there are not extended sex scenes and nothing stands out as too much. And that's a good thing. I gave it 4 stars cz of the writing, lyrical and dark, fitted the book perfectly and quite frankly, i enjoyed every page of it. Do i hate Séverine? No, but i don't like her either. Though, she did something in the end that i could never forgive and she made me angry and i had so much rage inside of me. There is a movie with Catherine Deneuve portraying Séverine and i suggest watching that after reading the book.
Μωρή σαλαμάνδρα, είναι δυνατόν αυτό το πράγμα; Μισό να το πιάσω απ' την αρχή. Το γράψιμο εξαιρετικό, ο Κεσέλ εξαιρετικός, πολύ εκφραστικός, ζωντανός κτλ. Γενικά καταλαβαίνω ότι είναι άλλη εποχή, καταλαβαίνω την ανάγκη της Σεβερίν για διαφορετικού είδους σεξ και πως αυτός ο άγιος ο άντρας της δεν μπορεί να της το προσφέρει. Κάνει ο,τι κάνει για ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα, συνεχίζει και συνεχίζει φανερώνοντας μία απληστία και μία τρομακτική και πηγαία ανάγκη. Δεν την κατηγορώ για αυτό. Και ναι, η σκηνή στην αρχή μπορεί να παίζει ρόλο, αλλά ρε γαμώτο, δεν μπορείς να φέρεσαι έτσι. Στο τέλος έκανε δύο τραγικά λάθη, δύο λάθη που άλλαξαν άρδην τη ζωή της και που ναι μεν το πρώτο, άντε, να της το δώσω (;), απελπισμένη ήταν, δεν λέω τίποτα. Εκεί που θύμωσα και νευρίασα και έβριζα ήταν στο τέλος, όταν αποφασίζει να κάνει κάτι με γνώμονα το δικό της καλό, το δικό της συμφέρον, ήθελε η δική της ψυχή να ξαλαφρώσει και αυτό το καταλαβαίνω, αλλά δεν μπορείς, κυρία μου, να φορτώνεις το δικό σου το χάος σε έναν άνθρωπο στον οποίο έχεις ήδη κάνει αρκετά, σε έναν άνθρωπο που σ' αγαπάει πιο πολύ κι απ' τη ζωή του. Οχι. Εκεί φαίνεται η θυσία. Κράτα το μέσα σου να υποφέρεις μόνη σου.
ΜΩΡΗ ΠΑΛΙΟΠΕΤΟΥΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΦΑΓΕΣ ΤΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΟ.
A few things in english and the rest in Greek cz i want to use greek slang for this one cz FUCK formalities, i feel frustrated. Belle de jour by Joseph Kessel was first published in 1928 and it features the masochistic tendancies of Séverine Serizy. I've read pornography before and i must admit i enjoy this kind of books, but in this one there are not extended sex scenes and nothing stands out as too much. And that's a good thing. I gave it 4 stars cz of the writing, lyrical and dark, fitted the book perfectly and quite frankly, i enjoyed every page of it. Do i hate Séverine? No, but i don't like her either. Though, she did something in the end that i could never forgive and she made me angry and i had so much rage inside of me. There is a movie with Catherine Deneuve portraying Séverine and i suggest watching that after reading the book.
Μωρή σαλαμάνδρα, είναι δυνατόν αυτό το πράγμα; Μισό να το πιάσω απ' την αρχή. Το γράψιμο εξαιρετικό, ο Κεσέλ εξαιρετικός, πολύ εκφραστικός, ζωντανός κτλ. Γενικά καταλαβαίνω ότι είναι άλλη εποχή, καταλαβαίνω την ανάγκη της Σεβερίν για διαφορετικού είδους σεξ και πως αυτός ο άγιος ο άντρας της δεν μπορεί να της το προσφέρει. Κάνει ο,τι κάνει για ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα, συνεχίζει και συνεχίζει φανερώνοντας μία απληστία και μία τρομακτική και πηγαία ανάγκη. Δεν την κατηγορώ για αυτό. Και ναι, η σκηνή στην αρχή μπορεί να παίζει ρόλο, αλλά ρε γαμώτο, δεν μπορείς να φέρεσαι έτσι. Στο τέλος έκανε δύο τραγικά λάθη, δύο λάθη που άλλαξαν άρδην τη ζωή της και που ναι μεν το πρώτο, άντε, να της το δώσω (;), απελπισμένη ήταν, δεν λέω τίποτα. Εκεί που θύμωσα και νευρίασα και έβριζα ήταν στο τέλος, όταν αποφασίζει να κάνει κάτι με γνώμονα το δικό της καλό, το δικό της συμφέρον, ήθελε η δική της ψυχή να ξαλαφρώσει και αυτό το καταλαβαίνω, αλλά δεν μπορείς, κυρία μου, να φορτώνεις το δικό σου το χάος σε έναν άνθρωπο στον οποίο έχεις ήδη κάνει αρκετά, σε έναν άνθρωπο που σ' αγαπάει πιο πολύ κι απ' τη ζωή του. Οχι. Εκεί φαίνεται η θυσία. Κράτα το μέσα σου να υποφέρεις μόνη σου.
June 14, 2021
Woaw, ce poveste!
June 20, 2025
Vi la película de Buñuel hace un porrón de años y reconozco que no la entendí del todo. O para ser más exacto: a quien no entendí del todo fue a la protagonista. ¿Disfrutaba o no disfrutaba? La interpretación de Catherine Deneuve tampoco es que ayudase demasiado; cuando un francés pone cara de lechuga no le pidas que te la explique. La novela, en cambio, es bastante clara. Lo que le pasa a Severine, la protagonista, es que un buen día descubre que prefiere el sexo cuando va asociado a su poquito de suciedad, imposición y urgencia, y aunque adora a su marido, con él no puede tener todo eso. En definitiva, la clásica escisión entre sexo y amor. Hoy por hoy, en la era de la hipersexualización, el enfoque del libro puede resultar un poco anticuado pero que tire el primer gel frío-calor quien no haya sentido nunca que sus hormonas han decidido montar una fiesta a la que no está invitada su pareja.
November 25, 2015
This is the original novella that became the movie, which features Catherine Deneuve. It seems there are a few other books with similar titles, so please be careful.
This small book defies easy definition and categorization. Let's start with what this book is NOT about. The protagonist is not a bored housewife. She loves her husband very much--to the painful level. And it's not just sex with other men that she wants. If that were all she wanted, the ending doesn't make sense. And if you want to read about sex, you'd be better off reading other books -- there are many erotica and romances out there.
Then what does she want? I guess it's a freedom of sort. Here is the unsettling question: When you love your spouse, do all the desires that do not fit nicely in marriage disappear? Well . . . we wish.
The sad thing about this protagonist is that she knows acting out is not the same with freedom. If she was stupid enough to confuse the two, the story would have been so shallow, and I won't be reviewing it. A rich housewife having a lot of sex while her husband is at work. Duh. Boring.
As you read, you might feel tempted to write off what this book presents, saying things like, "She is sick. She needs therapy." or "The French are weird." You'd be safe that way. Surely, it has nothing to do with you, right?
If, however, you prefer big, hard-to-answer questions to neat answers, this book is for you. I, for one, like huge questions -- it gives me hope that there are things I don't know yet.
I read this in Japanese translation and have lost my copy. I'll get a hold of the English translation. I've also watched the movie. I don't like the way the movie ended -- I think the change was judgmental and made the story petty. The way the novella ends is much better -- chilling. Having said this, the movie is worth checking out; Catherine Deneuve is drop-dead gorgeous. Her acting is excellent, too -- it almost hurts to watch her.
Update: I've got the English translation. I think it reads beautiful and slightly awkward at the same time.
This small book defies easy definition and categorization. Let's start with what this book is NOT about. The protagonist is not a bored housewife. She loves her husband very much--to the painful level. And it's not just sex with other men that she wants. If that were all she wanted, the ending doesn't make sense. And if you want to read about sex, you'd be better off reading other books -- there are many erotica and romances out there.
Then what does she want? I guess it's a freedom of sort. Here is the unsettling question: When you love your spouse, do all the desires that do not fit nicely in marriage disappear? Well . . . we wish.
The sad thing about this protagonist is that she knows acting out is not the same with freedom. If she was stupid enough to confuse the two, the story would have been so shallow, and I won't be reviewing it. A rich housewife having a lot of sex while her husband is at work. Duh. Boring.
As you read, you might feel tempted to write off what this book presents, saying things like, "She is sick. She needs therapy." or "The French are weird." You'd be safe that way. Surely, it has nothing to do with you, right?
If, however, you prefer big, hard-to-answer questions to neat answers, this book is for you. I, for one, like huge questions -- it gives me hope that there are things I don't know yet.
I read this in Japanese translation and have lost my copy. I'll get a hold of the English translation. I've also watched the movie. I don't like the way the movie ended -- I think the change was judgmental and made the story petty. The way the novella ends is much better -- chilling. Having said this, the movie is worth checking out; Catherine Deneuve is drop-dead gorgeous. Her acting is excellent, too -- it almost hurts to watch her.
Update: I've got the English translation. I think it reads beautiful and slightly awkward at the same time.
August 15, 2016
H νέα,όμορφη,καλοπαντρεμένη και φαινομενικά ευτυχισμένη Σεβερίν βασανίζεται απο ανομολόγητα πάθη τα οποία δεν μπορεί να μοιραστεί με τον αγαπημένο της σύζυγο.Θα προσπαθήσει να βρει μια διέξοδο απο τις μαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις που την κατατρέχουν,δουλεύοντας σε έναν οίκο ανοχής ως πόρνη με το ψευδώνυμο Ωραια της ημέρας αλλά τα πράγματα πηγαίνουν απο το κακό στο χειρότερο καθώς το πάθος της γίνεται εξάρτηση και εμμονή ενώ οι τύψεις για αυτό που κανει στον άντρα της και ο φόβος οτι όλα θα αποκαλυφθούν κοντεύουν να την τρελάνουν.Το πάθος της Σεβερίν θα καταστρεψει και την ίδια και τους άντρες που την αγάπησαν.
Στην εποχή του σόκαρε,απαγορεύτηκε,κατηγορήθηκε ακόμα και ως πορνογραφικό παρόλο που δεν έχει ερωτικές σκηνές.Στη δική μας εποχή το μόνο που με σόκαρε ήταν που εκδόθηκε ως "ερωτική λογοτεχνία" :P Εγώ θα το χαρακτήριζα μελόδραμα.Δεν μπορώ να πω οτι μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ,αλλά το διάβασα με ενδιαφέρον.
Στην εποχή του σόκαρε,απαγορεύτηκε,κατηγορήθηκε ακόμα και ως πορνογραφικό παρόλο που δεν έχει ερωτικές σκηνές.Στη δική μας εποχή το μόνο που με σόκαρε ήταν που εκδόθηκε ως "ερωτική λογοτεχνία" :P Εγώ θα το χαρακτήριζα μελόδραμα.Δεν μπορώ να πω οτι μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα ,αλλά το διάβασα με ενδιαφέρον.
January 22, 2020
Dünyanın en kabul edilemez çelişkisine hapsolmuşsun Gündüz Güzeli, geçmiş olsun!
Geçenlerde Mişima’nın ‘Aşka Susamış’ını okudum ve onun anlaşılması hayli zor Etsuko isimli kadın karakteriyle meşgul oldum. Ona paralel okuduğum ‘Gündüz Güzeli’ ise başka bir zor kadınla Severine ile tanıştırdı beni. Çok benzersiz bir yandan da o kadar sıradan bir ruh halinin sunumu bu eser. Yayımlandığı sene 1928’de büyük tartışmalara sebep olmasını anlamak güç değil. Kessel’in romanını ve Severini savunduğu yazılarını hüzünle okudum. Keşke zamanın ilerisine göz atabilseydi de Severine’nin biraz anlaşıldığını görebilseydi. Sevgi ve şehvet aslında modernizmle birlikte birbiriyle çok iyi örtüştürülür hale geldi. Fakat yüzyıllar süren oturmuş edebi yazına baktığımızda bunun çelişkisini çok net görebiliriz. Seksin hayvani tarafı, insanın eylem sırasında içine girdiği ruh hali çok kereler sevgiden çok uzak ele alınmıştır. Kessel de bu ikiliği, ayrımı anlatmak istemiş. Severine’ni de benden başka kimse sevmeyecek diye üzülmüş. Ama öyle değil, artık anlayabildiğimiz bir kadın Severine. Bovary’in tam zıddı olduğu halde peşinden gittiği güdüsel tarafı ve en saf aşkın filizlendiği korunaklı tarafı o kadar birbiriyle örtüşmüyor ki aslında her bireyin zaman zaman bu zıtlığı yaşamamak adına bir şeylerden fedakârlıkta bulunduğunu hatırlatıyor bize. Çünkü en başta dediğim gibi dünyanın en kabul edilmez çelişkisi bu. İki tarafta olmaya ne toplum izin veriyor ne de bireyin personası. Ama 20.yy’ın ikinci yarısında bu çizgiler silikleşti. Romanı bugünden okuduğumuzda Severine’i yargılamak çok kolay, o yüzden haksızlık yapmak istemiyorum. Bu yüzden sevgisine de, şehvetine de, cesaretine de hayran olduğumu söylemek istiyorum. Romanda Husson karakterini ise ayrıca sevdiğimi söylemek istiyorum. Benim zaman zaman anlatılardaki en sorunlu karaktere sempati besleme, onu anlama ve kucaklama alışkanlığım vardır. Uzun zamandır çok hoşlandığım yanlış bir karakterle karşılaşmamıştım; Husson o boşluğu doldurdu. Kendime yakın buldum herhalde:) Neyse büyük klasik, elbette okumanızı tavsiye ederim. Sonra da Luis Bunuel’in muhteşem filmi “Belle de Jour”u izlerseniz tadından yenmez. İyi okumalar diliyorum.
Geçenlerde Mişima’nın ‘Aşka Susamış’ını okudum ve onun anlaşılması hayli zor Etsuko isimli kadın karakteriyle meşgul oldum. Ona paralel okuduğum ‘Gündüz Güzeli’ ise başka bir zor kadınla Severine ile tanıştırdı beni. Çok benzersiz bir yandan da o kadar sıradan bir ruh halinin sunumu bu eser. Yayımlandığı sene 1928’de büyük tartışmalara sebep olmasını anlamak güç değil. Kessel’in romanını ve Severini savunduğu yazılarını hüzünle okudum. Keşke zamanın ilerisine göz atabilseydi de Severine’nin biraz anlaşıldığını görebilseydi. Sevgi ve şehvet aslında modernizmle birlikte birbiriyle çok iyi örtüştürülür hale geldi. Fakat yüzyıllar süren oturmuş edebi yazına baktığımızda bunun çelişkisini çok net görebiliriz. Seksin hayvani tarafı, insanın eylem sırasında içine girdiği ruh hali çok kereler sevgiden çok uzak ele alınmıştır. Kessel de bu ikiliği, ayrımı anlatmak istemiş. Severine’ni de benden başka kimse sevmeyecek diye üzülmüş. Ama öyle değil, artık anlayabildiğimiz bir kadın Severine. Bovary’in tam zıddı olduğu halde peşinden gittiği güdüsel tarafı ve en saf aşkın filizlendiği korunaklı tarafı o kadar birbiriyle örtüşmüyor ki aslında her bireyin zaman zaman bu zıtlığı yaşamamak adına bir şeylerden fedakârlıkta bulunduğunu hatırlatıyor bize. Çünkü en başta dediğim gibi dünyanın en kabul edilmez çelişkisi bu. İki tarafta olmaya ne toplum izin veriyor ne de bireyin personası. Ama 20.yy’ın ikinci yarısında bu çizgiler silikleşti. Romanı bugünden okuduğumuzda Severine’i yargılamak çok kolay, o yüzden haksızlık yapmak istemiyorum. Bu yüzden sevgisine de, şehvetine de, cesaretine de hayran olduğumu söylemek istiyorum. Romanda Husson karakterini ise ayrıca sevdiğimi söylemek istiyorum. Benim zaman zaman anlatılardaki en sorunlu karaktere sempati besleme, onu anlama ve kucaklama alışkanlığım vardır. Uzun zamandır çok hoşlandığım yanlış bir karakterle karşılaşmamıştım; Husson o boşluğu doldurdu. Kendime yakın buldum herhalde:) Neyse büyük klasik, elbette okumanızı tavsiye ederim. Sonra da Luis Bunuel’in muhteşem filmi “Belle de Jour”u izlerseniz tadından yenmez. İyi okumalar diliyorum.
March 28, 2021
Στη βιβλιοθήκη μου έχω τέσσερα από τα πέντε βιβλία του Ζοζέφ Κεσέλ που έχουν μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά (μου λείπει μονάχα το "Το λιοντάρι", που τόσα χρόνια ψάχνω χωρίς αποτέλεσμα), και αποφάσισα να γνωρίσω το έργο του με τούτο το βιβλίο, που είναι από τα πιο πολυδιαβασμένα του και που αποτελεί τη βάση για την κλασική ομότιτλη ταινία του Λουίς Μπουνιουέλ, με πρωταγωνίστρια τη θεά Κατρίν Ντενέβ. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι ήθελα επιτέλους να δω την ταινία, οπότε αναπόφευκτα θα έπρεπε να διαβάσω το βιβλίο πρώτα, γιατί έτσι πρέπει.
Λοιπόν, το βιβλίο μου άρεσε. Δεν ήταν απλά μια αγγαρεία που έπρεπε να φύγει από τη μέση για να δω μια τόσο κλασική ταινία, αντίθετα ήταν μια ιστορία πολύ καλογραμμένη και ενδιαφέρουσα, με αρκετά προκλητικό και προχωρημένο περιεχόμενο για την εποχή που γράφτηκε. Η πλάκα είναι ότι το βιβλίο δεν είναι καθόλου πορνογραφικό, δεν περιγράφονται δηλαδή με λεπτομέρεια σεξουαλικές πράξεις ή φαντασιώσεις. Το ζουμί είναι αλλού: Ο Κεσέλ ασχολήθηκε περισσότερο με την ψυχοσύνθεση της πρωταγωνίστριας και με το δράμα που περνούσε όντας μια γυναίκα με διάφορες σεξουαλικές και σαδομαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις που όμως δεν βρίσκουν ικανοποίηση μέσα στον γάμο της, και ενώ από τη μια πάει σε οίκο ανοχής για να μετατρέψει το σώμα της σε εργαλείο ηδονής, από την άλλη αγαπάει πραγματικά τον άντρα της και τουλάχιστον στον κοινωνικό κύκλο στον οποίο ανήκει θέλει να είναι υπόδειγμα γυναίκας. Υπάρχει γενικά μια σύγκρουση μέσα της, ανάμεσα στα συναισθήματα της, το σεξουαλικό της ένστικτο και τις κοινωνικές νόρμες.
Η γραφή είναι πολύ καλή, οξυδερκής και με κρυφά νοήματα, αναμφίβολα υπάρχει μια ποιότητα και μια κλάση στις περιγραφές, τις σκέψεις και τους διαλόγους, που συνήθως συναντάει κανείς σε βιβλία παλαιότερων δεκαετιών. Τέλος, ενώ υπάρχουν κάποια πιο αργόσυρτα και λιγάκι μη ενδιαφέροντα σημεία, η πλοκή κατάφερε να με κρατήσει στην τσίτα, ενώ βρήκα την κατάληξη του όλου δράματος πραγματικά υποδειγματική. Σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα το βιβλίο, προσωπικά όμως το βρήκα πολύ ωραίο και ενδιαφέρον.
Λοιπόν, το βιβλίο μου άρεσε. Δεν ήταν απλά μια αγγαρεία που έπρεπε να φύγει από τη μέση για να δω μια τόσο κλασική ταινία, αντίθετα ήταν μια ιστορία πολύ καλογραμμένη και ενδιαφέρουσα, με αρκετά προκλητικό και προχωρημένο περιεχόμενο για την εποχή που γράφτηκε. Η πλάκα είναι ότι το βιβλίο δεν είναι καθόλου πορνογραφικό, δεν περιγράφονται δηλαδή με λεπτομέρεια σεξουαλικές πράξεις ή φαντασιώσεις. Το ζουμί είναι αλλού: Ο Κεσέλ ασχολήθηκε περισσότερο με την ψυχοσύνθεση της πρωταγωνίστριας και με το δράμα που περνούσε όντας μια γυναίκα με διάφορες σεξουαλικές και σαδομαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις που όμως δεν βρίσκουν ικανοποίηση μέσα στον γάμο της, και ενώ από τη μια πάει σε οίκο ανοχής για να μετατρέψει το σώμα της σε εργαλείο ηδονής, από την άλλη αγαπάει πραγματικά τον άντρα της και τουλάχιστον στον κοινωνικό κύκλο στον οποίο ανήκει θέλει να είναι υπόδειγμα γυναίκας. Υπάρχει γενικά μια σύγκρουση μέσα της, ανάμεσα στα συναισθήματα της, το σεξουαλικό της ένστικτο και τις κοινωνικές νόρμες.
Η γραφή είναι πολύ καλή, οξυδερκής και με κρυφά νοήματα, αναμφίβολα υπάρχει μια ποιότητα και μια κλάση στις περιγραφές, τις σκέψεις και τους διαλόγους, που συνήθως συναντάει κανείς σε βιβλία παλαιότερων δεκαετιών. Τέλος, ενώ υπάρχουν κάποια πιο αργόσυρτα και λιγάκι μη ενδιαφέροντα σημεία, η πλοκή κατάφερε να με κρατήσει στην τσίτα, ενώ βρήκα την κατάληξη του όλου δράματος πραγματικά υποδειγματική. Σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλα τα γούστα το βιβλίο, προσωπικά όμως το βρήκα πολύ ωραίο και ενδιαφέρον.
March 7, 2013
I bought this because of the title, and because it reminded me of the other Belle de Jour, the call girl's diary (I've only read the second one, but wow, I stopped after thirty pages, it was that aimless - eventually I'll give the other one a try). I'm a fan of the melodramatic and the freaky, so this was appealing, and I bought it for 50p.
Initially it is quite hard to get into, but, once Severine is installed at the brothel, and I let go of the hope of there ever being a sex scene (there aren't any, to the point that I wondered if the characters were doing it at all) I found it increasingly enjoyable.
As the drama amped up, and hapless Severine tried everything to keep her husband from finding out about her alter-ego, my enjoyment increased. Severine isn't painted as a lust driven harlot or party-girl turned pro, she's a woman with two sides - he love she has for her husband, and the desire she feels for strong 'manly' men. A dichotomy even more relevant today than it was then.
The ending of the novel had me stunned, the brittle cruelty of its last line will never be out of my memory.
All in all - not a sexy prostitute romp - but a cool look at relationships, truth and sex - and how love is mutually exclusive to them all.
Initially it is quite hard to get into, but, once Severine is installed at the brothel, and I let go of the hope of there ever being a sex scene (there aren't any, to the point that I wondered if the characters were doing it at all) I found it increasingly enjoyable.
As the drama amped up, and hapless Severine tried everything to keep her husband from finding out about her alter-ego, my enjoyment increased. Severine isn't painted as a lust driven harlot or party-girl turned pro, she's a woman with two sides - he love she has for her husband, and the desire she feels for strong 'manly' men. A dichotomy even more relevant today than it was then.
The ending of the novel had me stunned, the brittle cruelty of its last line will never be out of my memory.
All in all - not a sexy prostitute romp - but a cool look at relationships, truth and sex - and how love is mutually exclusive to them all.
March 2, 2024
Nachtrag
October 22, 2025
écrire un personnage féminin quand on est un homme en 1928 challenge. j'arrive pas trop à voir ou veut aller l'auteur, et vu la préface qu'il a écrite après la parution, on dirait que lui non plus, qu'il n'y a pas d'intention psychologique. pourquoi parler de VSS sur enfant dans le premier chapitre ? pour justifier le comportement du personnage principal? que derrière chaque tds il y a une blessure "originelle" ?
du coup si on retire tout ça, il reste une femme mariée qui va chercher la passion dans un bordel, mais elle aime tant son mari, mais elle aime le danger, mais son mari, mais le sexe, mais son mari, mais.... bref. si vous voulez lire sur le Tds c'est vraiment pas le livre à lire.
du coup si on retire tout ça, il reste une femme mariée qui va chercher la passion dans un bordel, mais elle aime tant son mari, mais elle aime le danger, mais son mari, mais le sexe, mais son mari, mais.... bref. si vous voulez lire sur le Tds c'est vraiment pas le livre à lire.
January 30, 2014
Not an easy read. Severine's self-destruction is painful and real. Even though she's highly imperfect and makes some selfish, misguided decisions, you can't help but mourn for her and Pierre's fate.
Some of the other reviewers who paint her as a bored housewife fail to take into account that Severine was raped by a plumber when she was 8 years old. This fact is revealed in the prologue and for me it echoed throughout the entire book. How can a woman reconcile sexual pleasure with pure love when her first sexual encounter, at such a young age, was so violent?
I know Kessel wants readers to see a universal theme in the body/soul dichotomy of Severine, but I can't imagine he included the detail of her childhood trauma by accident.
Some of the other reviewers who paint her as a bored housewife fail to take into account that Severine was raped by a plumber when she was 8 years old. This fact is revealed in the prologue and for me it echoed throughout the entire book. How can a woman reconcile sexual pleasure with pure love when her first sexual encounter, at such a young age, was so violent?
I know Kessel wants readers to see a universal theme in the body/soul dichotomy of Severine, but I can't imagine he included the detail of her childhood trauma by accident.
October 19, 2020
Αυτό το βιβλίο που γράφτηκε το 1928 και μιλάει για τη γυναικεία σεξουαλικοτητα χωρίς να προβάλει τη γυναικα ως ανήθικη με εξέπληξε ευχάριστα. Ο Κεσελ, δεν προσπαθεί να προκαταβαλει κανένα συναισθημα, δε χαρακτηρίζει τους ήρωες του, αναγνωρίζει στις γυναίκες το δικαίωμα στη σεξουαλικη ελευθερία. Είναι γραμμένο με τη ρομαντική διάθεση της εποχής, λίγο ωραιοποιημενο θα έλεγα, αλλα αξίζει να διαβαστεί.
(αν μπορούσα θα εβαζα 3.5 αστεράκια)
(αν μπορούσα θα εβαζα 3.5 αστεράκια)
February 2, 2019
Η συνεχιζόμενη ασυμμετρία της ενασχόλησης με την σεξουαλικότητα ανάμεσα σε άνδρα- γυναίκα είναι χαρακτηριστικό της σημερινής ζωής. Πόσο μάλλον, όσον αφορά το 1920-30 την περίοδο που γράφτηκε το βιβλίο.
Η συναισθηματική ή συζυγική σχέση εξακολουθεί να θεωρείται ως κανονικό πλαίσιο της γυναικείας σεξουαλικότητας, λειτουργώντας και ως άξονας του βιβλίου.
Διάβασα σε κάποια περίληψη, πριν την προσωπική μου ανάγνωση, ότι περιγράφεται η «καταστροφική δύναμη μιας ελεύθερης σεξουαλικότητας».
Ναι, τα γεγονότα που θα ακολουθήσουν είναι καταστροφικά, όχι όμως ως αποτέλεσμα της σεξουαλικής απελευθέρωσης, αλλά ως προϊόν καταπιεσμένης σεξουαλικής έκφρασης.
Η ενοχική αγάπη της Σεβερίν για τον σύζυγό της, η τραγική κατάληξη μετά από την συναισθηματική κορύφωση και την ένταση της πλοκής των τελευταίων σελίδων, το πορτραίτο μιας γυναίκας που αναζητώντας την ταυτότητά της καταλήγει και θύμα και θύτης.
Αναρωτιέται ο Κεσέλ: « Θα είμαι άραγε ο μόνος που θα λυπάμαι για την Σεβερίν και θα την αγαπώ;»
Αναρωτιέμαι και εγώ αν λυπάμαι περισσότερο για την Σεβερίν ή την κάθε Σεβερίν, ή για το ότι κάτι δεδομένο και σύνηθες για έναν άνδρα θεωρείται πολλές φορές σκανδαλώδες για μια γυναίκα.
Η συναισθηματική ή συζυγική σχέση εξακολουθεί να θεωρείται ως κανονικό πλαίσιο της γυναικείας σεξουαλικότητας, λειτουργώντας και ως άξονας του βιβλίου.
Διάβασα σε κάποια περίληψη, πριν την προσωπική μου ανάγνωση, ότι περιγράφεται η «καταστροφική δύναμη μιας ελεύθερης σεξουαλικότητας».
Ναι, τα γεγονότα που θα ακολουθήσουν είναι καταστροφικά, όχι όμως ως αποτέλεσμα της σεξουαλικής απελευθέρωσης, αλλά ως προϊόν καταπιεσμένης σεξουαλικής έκφρασης.
Η ενοχική αγάπη της Σεβερίν για τον σύζυγό της, η τραγική κατάληξη μετά από την συναισθηματική κορύφωση και την ένταση της πλοκής των τελευταίων σελίδων, το πορτραίτο μιας γυναίκας που αναζητώντας την ταυτότητά της καταλήγει και θύμα και θύτης.
Αναρωτιέται ο Κεσέλ: « Θα είμαι άραγε ο μόνος που θα λυπάμαι για την Σεβερίν και θα την αγαπώ;»
Αναρωτιέμαι και εγώ αν λυπάμαι περισσότερο για την Σεβερίν ή την κάθε Σεβερίν, ή για το ότι κάτι δεδομένο και σύνηθες για έναν άνδρα θεωρείται πολλές φορές σκανδαλώδες για μια γυναίκα.
May 6, 2020
Патология на страстта
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/202...)
„Да се изложи драмата на душата и плътта, без да се говори еднакво свободно и за двете, ми се струва невъзможно.“
През 1928 година тези думи на Кесел са значели далеч повече, предвид възраженията на читателите след публикуването на този роман. По своята същност той е еротичен и ясно обрисува щенията на тялото и терзанията на душата, сложно преплетени в битка за страстта. А страстта е машината на живота, която не изписва красиви символи, а наставлява с почти патологична ярост. Това е борба, наситена с чувства и емоции, чиято мощ може да възражда или срива. Идеята на Кесел в „Дневна красавица“ („Фама“, 2018, с превод на Мария Коева) е брилянтна, ако говорим за слабостта на тялото и ума, а онагледяването на това състояние няма как да бъде поднесено невинно. Точно затова романът има модерно звучене, макар езикът да е в плен на епохата си. Ако се вгледаме в детайлите, всичко говори за едно своеобразно болестно състояние – признак за слабостта на човешкото и силата на животинското, макар двете да имат общ корен.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/202...)
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/202...)
„Да се изложи драмата на душата и плътта, без да се говори еднакво свободно и за двете, ми се струва невъзможно.“
През 1928 година тези думи на Кесел са значели далеч повече, предвид възраженията на читателите след публикуването на този роман. По своята същност той е еротичен и ясно обрисува щенията на тялото и терзанията на душата, сложно преплетени в битка за страстта. А страстта е машината на живота, която не изписва красиви символи, а наставлява с почти патологична ярост. Това е борба, наситена с чувства и емоции, чиято мощ може да възражда или срива. Идеята на Кесел в „Дневна красавица“ („Фама“, 2018, с превод на Мария Коева) е брилянтна, ако говорим за слабостта на тялото и ума, а онагледяването на това състояние няма как да бъде поднесено невинно. Точно затова романът има модерно звучене, макар езикът да е в плен на епохата си. Ако се вгледаме в детайлите, всичко говори за едно своеобразно болестно състояние – признак за слабостта на човешкото и силата на животинското, макар двете да имат общ корен.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/202...)
August 4, 2022
Il romanzo, uscito nel 1928, è incentrato su una giovane donna parigina dell'alta borghesia, Séverine. felicemente sposata con un medico che l’ama profondamente. Pur amando il marito, per Severine il problema è l'intimità sessuale, con lui è frigida. Quando viene a sapere di una casa di appuntamenti, sente una misteriosa e confusa attrazione per questa realtà tanto lontana dalla sua vita e inizia ad andarci. Dopo l’iniziale disgusto, gli appuntamenti con uomini sconosciuti diventano un’abitudine di cui non è più in grado di liberarsi. Inizia così una doppia vita che condurrà a un finale tragico.
A tratti ho fatto fatica a leggere, per la prosa talvolta contorta e poco chiara, ma devo dare merito a Kessel di aver trattato un tema così scabroso in modo garbato e senza usare nemmeno una parola volgare o sconveniente. Malgrado l’argomento, questo non è un libro erotico, è un libro che scandaglia la disconnessione tra mente e corpo, tra ragione e desideri: da un lato l’amore grande e tenero per il marito, dall’altra l'esigenza dei sensi. Nel 1967, da questo libro Buñuel ha tratto il famosissimo film con Catherine Deneuve.
A tratti ho fatto fatica a leggere, per la prosa talvolta contorta e poco chiara, ma devo dare merito a Kessel di aver trattato un tema così scabroso in modo garbato e senza usare nemmeno una parola volgare o sconveniente. Malgrado l’argomento, questo non è un libro erotico, è un libro che scandaglia la disconnessione tra mente e corpo, tra ragione e desideri: da un lato l’amore grande e tenero per il marito, dall’altra l'esigenza dei sensi. Nel 1967, da questo libro Buñuel ha tratto il famosissimo film con Catherine Deneuve.
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February 3, 20233.5
O carte de ficțiune destul de bună, deși finalul mi s-a părut de a dreptul tragic și nu am putut să o iert pe Séverine pentru cât a trebuit Pierre să plătească, cand tot ce a facut a fost sa fie un soț devotat și iubitor, purtand o dragoste candida față de soția sa.
A trebuit să înțeleg într-un final, că numai așa se putea încheia totul pentru a arata cu adevarat autodistrugerea la care s-a supus Séverine involuntar de a lungul intregii carti și cât de reală este acea luptă între corp și suflet, care s-a făcut clară odată ce am citit prologul și am aflat că Séverine fusese violată la 8 ani.
Modul de scriere mi-a plăcut nespus și mi-a plăcut de asemenea și tema abordata, conflictul acela înte suflet și corp, între o iubire neprihănită și pură și între nevoile lăuntrice ale trupului, acele nevoi sălbatice și carnale care se trag dintr-o traumă adânc înrădăcinată în subconștient . Frica aceea ce inundă sufletul atunci cand realizezi ca îți place și că îți dorești ceva ce nu ar trebui, acea frustrare pe care nu o înțelege nimeni atunci cand iți expui tumultul de emotii care te macina în fața celor apropiați, emotii si motive care par insignifiante pentru alții, dar pe tine te sugrumă, facandu te sa simți că te înstrainezi de persoana care erai înainte, neînțelegând de ce simți asta, simțind rușine datorită mandriei si orgoliului propriu căruia te-ai supus toată viața.Dorinta de a ieși, de a fugi, odata ce ești pe punctul de a comite ceva ce credeai că te va elibera, ca va stavili emoțiile si voluptatea pe care o simțeai si care te presa constant, dorindu-ți să te intorci acasa, la starea ta normala, înapoi în zona ta de confort, in adapostul tau in care esti perceput asa cum ai fost întotdeauna de către toți. După ce ai comis o astfel de ,,crimă", ai impresia că întorcandu-te la statutul tău inițial, totul va fi răvășit și complet schimbat, avand impresia ca descoperind o nouă latură a ta care a fost zidita si inchisa in tine tot acel timp, vechea ta persoană si identitate va fi zdrobită, ne mai ramanand nimic odată ce ai comis acel ceva ce contrastează cu totul între corpul și sufletul tău care sunt ireconciliabile.
O carte de ficțiune destul de bună, deși finalul mi s-a părut de a dreptul tragic și nu am putut să o iert pe Séverine pentru cât a trebuit Pierre să plătească, cand tot ce a facut a fost sa fie un soț devotat și iubitor, purtand o dragoste candida față de soția sa.
A trebuit să înțeleg într-un final, că numai așa se putea încheia totul pentru a arata cu adevarat autodistrugerea la care s-a supus Séverine involuntar de a lungul intregii carti și cât de reală este acea luptă între corp și suflet, care s-a făcut clară odată ce am citit prologul și am aflat că Séverine fusese violată la 8 ani.
Modul de scriere mi-a plăcut nespus și mi-a plăcut de asemenea și tema abordata, conflictul acela înte suflet și corp, între o iubire neprihănită și pură și între nevoile lăuntrice ale trupului, acele nevoi sălbatice și carnale care se trag dintr-o traumă adânc înrădăcinată în subconștient . Frica aceea ce inundă sufletul atunci cand realizezi ca îți place și că îți dorești ceva ce nu ar trebui, acea frustrare pe care nu o înțelege nimeni atunci cand iți expui tumultul de emotii care te macina în fața celor apropiați, emotii si motive care par insignifiante pentru alții, dar pe tine te sugrumă, facandu te sa simți că te înstrainezi de persoana care erai înainte, neînțelegând de ce simți asta, simțind rușine datorită mandriei si orgoliului propriu căruia te-ai supus toată viața.Dorinta de a ieși, de a fugi, odata ce ești pe punctul de a comite ceva ce credeai că te va elibera, ca va stavili emoțiile si voluptatea pe care o simțeai si care te presa constant, dorindu-ți să te intorci acasa, la starea ta normala, înapoi în zona ta de confort, in adapostul tau in care esti perceput asa cum ai fost întotdeauna de către toți. După ce ai comis o astfel de ,,crimă", ai impresia că întorcandu-te la statutul tău inițial, totul va fi răvășit și complet schimbat, avand impresia ca descoperind o nouă latură a ta care a fost zidita si inchisa in tine tot acel timp, vechea ta persoană si identitate va fi zdrobită, ne mai ramanand nimic odată ce ai comis acel ceva ce contrastează cu totul între corpul și sufletul tău care sunt ireconciliabile.
February 21, 2016
Ένα τέτοιο σενάριο αν ήταν γραμμένο σήμερα απλά θα το προσπερνούσα. Πώς μπορείς, όμως, να το κάνεις αυτό όταν ο συγγραφέας, και μάλιστα άνδρας, το 1920 τόλμησε να γράψει και να πει δημόσια για το δικαίωμα της γυναίκας στη σεξουαλική της έκφραση και στην πραγμάτωση των φαντασιώσεών της όταν ακόμα και σήμερα υπάρχουν άρρενες που αν το συζητήσουν θα είναι για να χαρακτηρίσουν τη γυναίκα πουτάνα!
October 11, 2020
Llegué a Belle de Jour por una edición preciosa en un mercadillo de libros de segunda mano. No sabía que Buñuel se había basado en un libro para su película y tuve que comprarlo automáticamente.
Me ha encantado, y es muy curioso como este libro de 1928 ahonda en temas complejos sin despegarse de la mentalidad de la época.
Me ha encantado, y es muy curioso como este libro de 1928 ahonda en temas complejos sin despegarse de la mentalidad de la época.
May 26, 2020
Séverine, héroïne du roman, est une jeune femme bourgeoise, bien élevée, sûre de ses privilèges et qualités. Mariée à Pierre, chirurgien travaillant à l'Hotel-Dieu, qu'elle aime purement et platoniquement, elle se retrouve, volontairement, à être une des pensionnaires d'une maison close ("maison de rendez-vous"). Sans doute marquée par un souvenir d’enfance traumatique qu’évoque l'auteur dans le prologue de son roman, elle est poussée par un désir de luxure avec des hommes de classes sociales inférieures. Dans la maison close de Mme Anaïs, elle va vendre son corps à différents hommes mais tout cela va, évidemment, mal se terminer.
Impressions très partagées sur la lecture de ce roman. C'est une histoire sulfureuse, qui fit grand bruit au moment de sa publication (en 1928), l'auteur étant accusé de licence pornographique (en réalité, c'est très chaste dans la rédaction). Il se justifie dans la préface en indiquant qu'il voulait "montrer le divorce terrible entre le cœur et la chair, entre un vrai immense et tendre amour et l'exigence implacable des sens. Ce conflit, à quelques rares exceptions près, chaque homme, chaque femme qui aime longtemps, le porte en soi". Voilà pourquoi l'héroïne du roman, qui aime plus que tout son mari et ne souhaite que son bonheur, se retrouve à donner son corps à des inconnus "virils", rustres et parfois violents.
C'est là que je ne partage ni la thèse ni les manières utilisées par l'auteur. A l'en croire et en résumant à gros traits, chaque femme (et chaque homme) fantasmerait sur des relations sexuelles brutales et dénuées de sentiments. Voilà pourquoi Séverine en viendrait à être dans une maison close (c'est évidemment l'extrême). Pour y arriver, l'auteur lui prête des fantasmes, pensées dont on ne sait où les tire. Elle aime son mari mais se complaît (et ne peut avoir de plaisir) que dans ses relations brutales avec des hommes-clients.
Le roman est très bien écrit, la plume de Kessel étant très belle. En revanche, quasiment 100 ans plus tard où l'histoire n'est plus aussi subversive, je suis gêné par le regard porté sur l'héroïne et les fantasmes que l'auteur lui créent (sont-ce vraiment les siens ou ceux que projette un homme sur une femme ? Faut-il vraiment écrire que presque chaque femme est gouvernée par "l'exigence implacable des sens" ? Au nom de cette exigence, peut-on justifier tous les penchants sexuels ?). Le récit est parfois affligeant d'un "male gaze" (le terme n'existait évidemment pas à l'époque) et d'un érotisme soft par et pour les hommes.
Selon certaines sources, de nombreuses lettres et témoignages de femmes seraient parvenus chez l’éditeur, félicitant Kessel d’avoir si bien compris leurs penchants inavoués (ces lettres n'ont jamais été publiées). Même en remettant le roman dans le contexte de son époque (et en tenant compte des réactions évoquées supra), il m'a été difficile d'adhérer au parti-pris de l'auteur. Une belle écriture, sans aucun doute, mais un mélodrame un peu caricatural à mon sens.
Impressions très partagées sur la lecture de ce roman. C'est une histoire sulfureuse, qui fit grand bruit au moment de sa publication (en 1928), l'auteur étant accusé de licence pornographique (en réalité, c'est très chaste dans la rédaction). Il se justifie dans la préface en indiquant qu'il voulait "montrer le divorce terrible entre le cœur et la chair, entre un vrai immense et tendre amour et l'exigence implacable des sens. Ce conflit, à quelques rares exceptions près, chaque homme, chaque femme qui aime longtemps, le porte en soi". Voilà pourquoi l'héroïne du roman, qui aime plus que tout son mari et ne souhaite que son bonheur, se retrouve à donner son corps à des inconnus "virils", rustres et parfois violents.
C'est là que je ne partage ni la thèse ni les manières utilisées par l'auteur. A l'en croire et en résumant à gros traits, chaque femme (et chaque homme) fantasmerait sur des relations sexuelles brutales et dénuées de sentiments. Voilà pourquoi Séverine en viendrait à être dans une maison close (c'est évidemment l'extrême). Pour y arriver, l'auteur lui prête des fantasmes, pensées dont on ne sait où les tire. Elle aime son mari mais se complaît (et ne peut avoir de plaisir) que dans ses relations brutales avec des hommes-clients.
Le roman est très bien écrit, la plume de Kessel étant très belle. En revanche, quasiment 100 ans plus tard où l'histoire n'est plus aussi subversive, je suis gêné par le regard porté sur l'héroïne et les fantasmes que l'auteur lui créent (sont-ce vraiment les siens ou ceux que projette un homme sur une femme ? Faut-il vraiment écrire que presque chaque femme est gouvernée par "l'exigence implacable des sens" ? Au nom de cette exigence, peut-on justifier tous les penchants sexuels ?). Le récit est parfois affligeant d'un "male gaze" (le terme n'existait évidemment pas à l'époque) et d'un érotisme soft par et pour les hommes.
Selon certaines sources, de nombreuses lettres et témoignages de femmes seraient parvenus chez l’éditeur, félicitant Kessel d’avoir si bien compris leurs penchants inavoués (ces lettres n'ont jamais été publiées). Même en remettant le roman dans le contexte de son époque (et en tenant compte des réactions évoquées supra), il m'a été difficile d'adhérer au parti-pris de l'auteur. Une belle écriture, sans aucun doute, mais un mélodrame un peu caricatural à mon sens.
May 17, 2022
Publié en 1928 la même année que "L'amant de Lady Chatterly", "Belle de Jour" aborde le même sujet; c'est-à-dire, le malheur d'une femme des classes supérieures dont le mari est incapable de la faire jouir. De nous jours, les deux romans paraissaient très vieux. Leur thématique appartient à la crépuscule de la phallocratie occidentale où la seule vocation ouverte à la femme était d'être épouse.
À mon avis Kessel réussit beaucoup moins bien avec le thématique que Lawrence. Le problème chez les Chatterlys est la résultat une blessure de la première grande guerre ce que le lecteur accepte facilement. Les maux de Séverine, la protagoniste, de "Belle de Jour" ont pour racine une agression sexuelle subie par elle pendant son enfance ce qui est possible mais qui exigent plus d'explications qu'offre Kessel. La solution de Lady Chatterly est prendre le garde-chasse de son mari comme amant ce qui surprend peu. À sa place, Séverine décide de devenir une prostituée durant les après-midis ce qui est parfaitement étonnant.
J'ai trouvé le film de Buñuel absurde quand je l'ai vu en 1973 quand j'étais étudiant au Victoria College. Margaret Atwood y avait complète ses études quelques années avant. Les filles représentaient déjà le quart des inscrits aux facultés de droit, gestion et médecine. L'héroïne de "Belle de Jour" cependant n'avait d'ambition que de trouver une manière de bien jouir. Le romand et le film ne sont pas devenus plus pertinents pendant les cinquante années qui ont suivi.
À mon avis Kessel réussit beaucoup moins bien avec le thématique que Lawrence. Le problème chez les Chatterlys est la résultat une blessure de la première grande guerre ce que le lecteur accepte facilement. Les maux de Séverine, la protagoniste, de "Belle de Jour" ont pour racine une agression sexuelle subie par elle pendant son enfance ce qui est possible mais qui exigent plus d'explications qu'offre Kessel. La solution de Lady Chatterly est prendre le garde-chasse de son mari comme amant ce qui surprend peu. À sa place, Séverine décide de devenir une prostituée durant les après-midis ce qui est parfaitement étonnant.
J'ai trouvé le film de Buñuel absurde quand je l'ai vu en 1973 quand j'étais étudiant au Victoria College. Margaret Atwood y avait complète ses études quelques années avant. Les filles représentaient déjà le quart des inscrits aux facultés de droit, gestion et médecine. L'héroïne de "Belle de Jour" cependant n'avait d'ambition que de trouver une manière de bien jouir. Le romand et le film ne sont pas devenus plus pertinents pendant les cinquante années qui ont suivi.
June 12, 2024
"Η Ωραία Της Ημέρας" είναι ένα από τα πλέον κλασσικά δείγματα ερωτικής λογοτεχνίας, δια χειρός ενός εκ των σημαντικότερων Γάλλων συγγραφέων, του Joseph Kessel, το οποίο και πρωτοκυκλοφόρησε σε εφημερίδα της εποχής ως ιστορία σε συνέχειες, το 1928. Φυσικά το περιεχόμενο ήταν τέτοιο που για τα δεδομένα της εποχής θεωρήθηκε προκλητικό, με μια μεγάλη μερίδα κοινού και κριτικών να μην διστάσουν να το χαρακτηρίσουν, πορνογραφικό. Αυτός είναι ίσως και ο βασικότερος λόγος για τον οποίο το εν λόγω μυθιστόρημα δεν κατόρθωσε να κυκλοφορήσει στην αγγλική γλώσσα πριν το 1960, καταφέρνοντας ωστόσο από εκείνη την στιγμή κι έπειτα να αναγνωριστεί, όχι μόνο εξαιτίας της αμφιλεγόμενου του θέματός του που αναμφίβολα προκάλεσε πολλές και ποικίλες συζητήσεις γύρω από αυτό αλλά, και για την σπουδαιότητα που κρύβεται στα βαθύτερα νοήματα του βιβλίου, εκείνα που προσπαθούν να προσεγγίσουν την ανθρώπινη ψυχοσύνθεση, τις αδυναμίες και τα πάθη που πολλές φορές μας κατευθύνουν χωρίς να τα ελέγχουμε.
Κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου είναι η 24χρονης Σεβερίν Σερεζί, μια γυναίκα σύγχρονη και ανεξάρτητη, η οποία είναι παντρεμένη με έναν όμορφο και πετυχημένο γιατρό του Παρισιού, ζώντας μια ζωή μέσα στις ανέσεις και την πολυτέλεια. Παρά όμως το γεγονός ότι αγαπάει βαθιά, ειλικρινά και απόλυτα τον άντρα της, ο οποίος σπεύδει να ικανοποιήσει κάθε της επιθυμία και ανάγκη, δεν τα καταφέρνει να ικανοποιήσει αυτήν που πραγματικά η Σεβερίν έχει ανάγκη και ποθεί. Όσο κι αν το θέλει, η σεξουαλική επαφή μαζί του δεν την ικανοποιεί ενώ το μυαλό της τρέχει σε φαντασιώσεις όπου ούτε ο δικός της άντρας, ούτε κανένας άντρας του κύκλου τους θα μπορούσε ποτέ να της προσφέρει όλα όσα έχει ανάγκη. Αυτός είναι και ο λόγος που η Σεβερίν θα βρεθεί να εργάζεται σε ένα παριζιάνικο πορνείο με το ψευδώνυμο, η Ωραία της Ημέρας, χωρίς κανείς να ξέρει την πραγματική της ταυτότητα και πως ο λόγος που την έσπρωξε στα κρεβάτια του πορνείου δεν είναι τα χρήματα αλλά, η αναζήτηση της λαγνείας.
Ο Joseph Kessel, εκτός από συγγραφέας, υπήρξε κατά το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της ζωής του ένας σπουδαίος δημοσιογράφος, μια ιδιότητα την οποία και αξιοποίησε στο έπακρο κατά την συγγραφή του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου. Η αφήγηση της ιστορίας θα μπορούσε κατά μία έννοια να αποτελεί ένα σύντομο ημερολόγιο στο οποίο η ίδια η Σεβερίν καταγράφει τις σκέψεις, τα συναισθήματα και τις σαδομαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις της αλλά από την άλλη, θα μπορούσε να αποτελεί την παρακολούθηση της εν λόγω ιστορίας από κάποιον που λειτουργεί ως παρατηρητής και καταγράφει με δημοσιογραφικό τρόπο τα σημαντικότερα στοιχεία και περιστατικά, προσπαθώντας να κατανοήσει τα βαθύτερα κίνητρά τους. Μπορεί η παρατήρησή μου αυτή να μην ακούγεται λογική όμως, αν διαβάσει κανείς και μελετήσει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο ξεδιπλώνεται το νήμα της ιστορίας, νομίζω ότι θα καταλάβει, τόσο την τοποθέτησή μου, όσο και τις προθέσεις του ίδιου του δημιουργού.
Ουσιαστικά "Η Ωραία Της Ημέρας" είναι μια ιστορία που μιλάει για ανθρώπινα πάθη, γι' αυτό που γεννιούνται βαθιά στο υποσυνείδητό μας και καταφέρνουν να καλλιεργηθούν, να αναπτυχθούν και τελικά, να κατακλύσουν όλο μας το είναι επιβάλλοντάς μας να ακολουθήσουμε ακόμα και τα πιο αρρωστημένα ένστικτά μας γιατί μόνο τότε θα βρούμε την ολοκλήρωση που τόσο απελπισμένα αναζητούμε και μέσω αυτής, την ίδια τη λύτρωση. Επιπλέον, ακόμα και χωρίς να διαβάσουμε το σημείωμα του συγγραφέα, αντιλαμβανόμαστε ότι ο ίδιος αγαπά την Σεβερίν, δεν θέλει να την κυλήσει στον βούρκο, ούτε να την κάνει έναν δακτυλοδεικτούμενο αυτουργό. Για εκείνον, η Σεβερίν είναι τόσο θύμα όσο και θύτης. Στην πραγματικότητα δεν απατά τον άντρα της αφού, άσχετα με το τι κάνει το σώμα, στο μυαλό και στην καρδιά του είναι πάντα πιστή και απόλυτα, ολοκληρωτικά δοσμένη. Αυτό είναι ίσως και το πιο ενδιαφέρον στοιχείο του μυθιστορήματος, ο διαχωρισμός ψυχής και σάρκας, τα διαφορετικά μέσα και ερεθίσματα που οδηγούν το καθένα σε πράξεις και εκείνες με την σειρά τους σε αποτελέσματα.
Με πολύ απλά λόγια, η ιστορία του Kessel βασίζεται στον διαχωρισμό των επιθυμιών της καρδιάς και της ψυχής και των απαιτήσεων της σάρκας που όχι λίγες, αλλά πολλές φορές στην πραγματικότητα, συγκρούονται εξαιτίας κολασμένων διαφορών. Στην πραγματικότητα πρόκειται για μια μάχη ανάμεσα στις ανήθικες αισθήσεις, που προσωπικά δεν τις βρίσκω τόσο ανήθικες, και στην ηθική λογική των συναισθημάτων. Μπορεί όμως στην πραγματικότητα κάποιος να είναι ευτυχισμένος όταν στερείται ένα από τα δύο πάθη που τον ολοκληρώνουν; Μπορεί ο θύτης να είναι την ίδια στιγμή το μεγάλο θύμα; Έχει την ικανότητα η αγάπη της καρδιάς να μένει αλώβητη, να μην φθείρεται μπροστά στα σαρκικά πάθη; Μια ηρωίδα που μοιράζεται ανάμεσα σε δύο ζωές αναζητώντας από την κάθε μία το κομμάτι εκείνο που μπορεί να την ολοκληρώσει και να την βγάλει από την θλίψη, οδηγώντας την μέσα από άπλετο ερωτισμό, σαδομαζοχιστικούς υπαινιγμούς, πάθη, αγάπη, μυστήριο, αγωνία, δράση και συγκαλυμμένο χιούμορ σε μια αλήθεια που ίσως ήταν πάντα εκεί και δεν ήθελε να δει. Μην διστάσετε να το διαβάσετε για το πρόστυχο του πράγματος. Άλλωστε, το τι είναι ή όχι πρόστυχο, έχει αλλάξει πολύ από την δεκαετία του '30 μέχρι σήμερα, ευτυχώς!
Κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου είναι η 24χρονης Σεβερίν Σερεζί, μια γυναίκα σύγχρονη και ανεξάρτητη, η οποία είναι παντρεμένη με έναν όμορφο και πετυχημένο γιατρό του Παρισιού, ζώντας μια ζωή μέσα στις ανέσεις και την πολυτέλεια. Παρά όμως το γεγονός ότι αγαπάει βαθιά, ειλικρινά και απόλυτα τον άντρα της, ο οποίος σπεύδει να ικανοποιήσει κάθε της επιθυμία και ανάγκη, δεν τα καταφέρνει να ικανοποιήσει αυτήν που πραγματικά η Σεβερίν έχει ανάγκη και ποθεί. Όσο κι αν το θέλει, η σεξουαλική επαφή μαζί του δεν την ικανοποιεί ενώ το μυαλό της τρέχει σε φαντασιώσεις όπου ούτε ο δικός της άντρας, ούτε κανένας άντρας του κύκλου τους θα μπορούσε ποτέ να της προσφέρει όλα όσα έχει ανάγκη. Αυτός είναι και ο λόγος που η Σεβερίν θα βρεθεί να εργάζεται σε ένα παριζιάνικο πορνείο με το ψευδώνυμο, η Ωραία της Ημέρας, χωρίς κανείς να ξέρει την πραγματική της ταυτότητα και πως ο λόγος που την έσπρωξε στα κρεβάτια του πορνείου δεν είναι τα χρήματα αλλά, η αναζήτηση της λαγνείας.
Ο Joseph Kessel, εκτός από συγγραφέας, υπήρξε κατά το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της ζωής του ένας σπουδαίος δημοσιογράφος, μια ιδιότητα την οποία και αξιοποίησε στο έπακρο κατά την συγγραφή του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου. Η αφήγηση της ιστορίας θα μπορούσε κατά μία έννοια να αποτελεί ένα σύντομο ημερολόγιο στο οποίο η ίδια η Σεβερίν καταγράφει τις σκέψεις, τα συναισθήματα και τις σαδομαζοχιστικές φαντασιώσεις της αλλά από την άλλη, θα μπορούσε να αποτελεί την παρακολούθηση της εν λόγω ιστορίας από κάποιον που λειτουργεί ως παρατηρητής και καταγράφει με δημοσιογραφικό τρόπο τα σημαντικότερα στοιχεία και περιστατικά, προσπαθώντας να κατανοήσει τα βαθύτερα κίνητρά τους. Μπορεί η παρατήρησή μου αυτή να μην ακούγεται λογική όμως, αν διαβάσει κανείς και μελετήσει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο ξεδιπλώνεται το νήμα της ιστορίας, νομίζω ότι θα καταλάβει, τόσο την τοποθέτησή μου, όσο και τις προθέσεις του ίδιου του δημιουργού.
Ουσιαστικά "Η Ωραία Της Ημέρας" είναι μια ιστορία που μιλάει για ανθρώπινα πάθη, γι' αυτό που γεννιούνται βαθιά στο υποσυνείδητό μας και καταφέρνουν να καλλιεργηθούν, να αναπτυχθούν και τελικά, να κατακλύσουν όλο μας το είναι επιβάλλοντάς μας να ακολουθήσουμε ακόμα και τα πιο αρρωστημένα ένστικτά μας γιατί μόνο τότε θα βρούμε την ολοκλήρωση που τόσο απελπισμένα αναζητούμε και μέσω αυτής, την ίδια τη λύτρωση. Επιπλέον, ακόμα και χωρίς να διαβάσουμε το σημείωμα του συγγραφέα, αντιλαμβανόμαστε ότι ο ίδιος αγαπά την Σεβερίν, δεν θέλει να την κυλήσει στον βούρκο, ούτε να την κάνει έναν δακτυλοδεικτούμενο αυτουργό. Για εκείνον, η Σεβερίν είναι τόσο θύμα όσο και θύτης. Στην πραγματικότητα δεν απατά τον άντρα της αφού, άσχετα με το τι κάνει το σώμα, στο μυαλό και στην καρδιά του είναι πάντα πιστή και απόλυτα, ολοκληρωτικά δοσμένη. Αυτό είναι ίσως και το πιο ενδιαφέρον στοιχείο του μυθιστορήματος, ο διαχωρισμός ψυχής και σάρκας, τα διαφορετικά μέσα και ερεθίσματα που οδηγούν το καθένα σε πράξεις και εκείνες με την σειρά τους σε αποτελέσματα.
Με πολύ απλά λόγια, η ιστορία του Kessel βασίζεται στον διαχωρισμό των επιθυμιών της καρδιάς και της ψυχής και των απαιτήσεων της σάρκας που όχι λίγες, αλλά πολλές φορές στην πραγματικότητα, συγκρούονται εξαιτίας κολασμένων διαφορών. Στην πραγματικότητα πρόκειται για μια μάχη ανάμεσα στις ανήθικες αισθήσεις, που προσωπικά δεν τις βρίσκω τόσο ανήθικες, και στην ηθική λογική των συναισθημάτων. Μπορεί όμως στην πραγματικότητα κάποιος να είναι ευτυχισμένος όταν στερείται ένα από τα δύο πάθη που τον ολοκληρώνουν; Μπορεί ο θύτης να είναι την ίδια στιγμή το μεγάλο θύμα; Έχει την ικανότητα η αγάπη της καρδιάς να μένει αλώβητη, να μην φθείρεται μπροστά στα σαρκικά πάθη; Μια ηρωίδα που μοιράζεται ανάμεσα σε δύο ζωές αναζητώντας από την κάθε μία το κομμάτι εκείνο που μπορεί να την ολοκληρώσει και να την βγάλει από την θλίψη, οδηγώντας την μέσα από άπλετο ερωτισμό, σαδομαζοχιστικούς υπαινιγμούς, πάθη, αγάπη, μυστήριο, αγωνία, δράση και συγκαλυμμένο χιούμορ σε μια αλήθεια που ίσως ήταν πάντα εκεί και δεν ήθελε να δει. Μην διστάσετε να το διαβάσετε για το πρόστυχο του πράγματος. Άλλωστε, το τι είναι ή όχι πρόστυχο, έχει αλλάξει πολύ από την δεκαετία του '30 μέχρι σήμερα, ευτυχώς!
June 20, 2021
შეიძლება სული ნათელი შეინარჩუნო როცა სხეული ბნელ საქმეს აკეთებს?
ეკრანიზაცია არ ვიცი, მაგრამ მომეწონა წიგნი.
re-read-ის კანდიდატია. 👍🏻
ეკრანიზაცია არ ვიცი, მაგრამ მომეწონა წიგნი.
re-read-ის კანდიდატია. 👍🏻
May 14, 2023
C'était vraiment très joliment écrit. Le style m'a fait pensé à la pudeur bourgeoise de celui d'Aragon. Ce portrait de femme était fort et fascinant. Un vrai classique en ce que je n'oublierais pas ce roman ni le caractère qu'il y dessine, mais il m'a manqué personnellement quelque chose pour m'en emparer comme d'un chef-d'œuvre.
March 23, 2023
WARNING ⚠️ THIS NOVEL CONTAINS SEX SCENES (ANALYZING PROSTITUTION, AND NYMPHOMANIA)
Ladies, and gentlemen as I am accumulating the books read, and I am running out of criticism went on to talk about this book "Belle de Jour" that was adapted to the cinema by the Aragonese Spanish director Luis Buñuel, being the film as controversial as the book. I think that when we talked about "In Praise of the Stepmother" we talked about this book, and it was commented that it was a Taboo subject (if in the case of the "Praise of the stepmother" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... were incest (despite there being no consanguinity between the protagonists), in addition to pedophilia. In this case what the nymphomania of the protagonist Severine is about.
The first thing I must do is to say thank you, because the rating of this novel has had many likes in @goodreads (not the critics), which I huildemente offer to Goodreads users in four languages (since I will add English, Spanish, and Polish French, which always favors the mediocrity of my reviews).
This novel generated much controversy in its time, (Regarding Kessel is that his first novels are based on stories of when he was fighting with the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. He is the son of a Russian born in Argentina, and who fought in the aviation of the French army. I always felt sympathy for these people, who fought for the White Russians in the Russian Civil War) received much criticism in the newspaper Gringoire, (since this novel was published in installments, as if it were a pamphlet) where he was publishing it, and was forced to publish an apologetic prologue in which he tried to justify the behavior of his protagonist, And he explained the moral of the story.
Saying, that the protagonist is not a monster (the word monster is enormously strong in my opinion, but it is the one used by the author. I think it's a woman addicted to sex. Partly because of a rape. Like many women. It is very typical of the Hollywood industry, although the strategy to combat these abuses I do not think, that it has been the most appropriate, turning it into a struggle of power, and of sexes, and in many occasions accusing innocent people). The prologue is perfect to explain this work, although perhaps it would have been better, that instead of being in the headline, or at the forefront of the book it would have been in the final part. That is to say that it was an epilogue.
It is the story of a charming woman, who loves her husband Pierre Syrize, but does not enjoy sex with him. It's not very clear to me, when Severine starts showing her addiction to sex. I don't know if it's because of his lung disease. Or when her friend Renee tells her that an acquaintance of both dedicated herself clandestinely to the world of prostitution without her husband's knowledge (behind her back) (this book was not intended to be read at this time, but once I finished "Restoration" by Rose Tremain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... of which I will write a review very soon I wanted to move forward, and I knew that in a day I could not finish with "The New Science" by Giambattista Vico https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... that it is a stimulating read, exciting, but very complicated, since it is a basic book for the creation of History as a social science. So I opted for this book, although I wanted to read it later, as previously stated.)
Severine had also been tempted by an acquaintance of her husband named Henri Hossu (who will be decisive in this story). At first this story deceives us, because seeing the beginning where Severine, and Pierre seem so happy, (skiing, and playing in the snow) and happy as Cyril Conolly said https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... of "A handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (with that terrifying ending he was sometimes selected to be part of anthologies of the horror genre. In fact, the ending was a standalone story, bearing the title "The Man Who Read Dickens" which is almost a spoiler of this Wavian novel.) Here the same thing happens, that you do not expect that such an idyllic, beautiful, almost bucolic beginning watching the scenes of Pierre, and his wife playing in the snow takes the channel that in the end ends up taking. When Henri Hossu tries to seduce Severine there is a part of her being that seems to like Hossu's almost animal sordidness. The protagonist has something of Ana Karenina https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1.... Also either out of curiosity, or to taste the forbidden pleasure ends up trying his experience in a brothel ruled by Madame Anais, who apart from her has two other prostitutes Charlotte, and Mathilda. The second performs this performance out of necessity the first for pleasure. There are scenes of lesbianism between the two prostitutes as if it were John Cleland's "Fanny Hill." https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (in fact it would be very appropriate to say, that these are women of pleasure. Belle de Jour is the pseudonym, which Madame Anais gives to Severine, who does not want to reveal her name, and which as most people will know means beauty of the afternoon) At first Severine seems to back down, and want to run away from her new performance. But his addiction, and the desire to try the forbidden (previously decides not to sleep with Monsieur Adolphe). But the truth is that he then sleeps with all the clients (including the same Adolphe whom he initially rejected).
From here it could be said that there is a second part, which no longer explores so much the addiction to sex, or the nymphomania of the protagonist, and that it has a more conventional aspect (although there is no division in the whole novel due to its brief extension). The novel revolves around noir, or Hard Boiled, or the underworld detective novel. One thing must be taken into account. Diego Blanco Albarova sums it up perfectly (I recommend watching his videos on YouTube, and reading his books. I will announce one thing in my next review. Not in this one that is a bit sordid) when talking about Game of Thrones https://www.goodreads.com/series/4379.... The reader of the novel knows that Severine has a secret, but the characters of the novel do not know it, and that is that Severine (who has not told the truth to Madame Anais, and her two co-workers. Although Mathilde knows that the protagonist has a secret, or hides something, but she does not get it out.
On prostitution, and its nefarious influence I recommend the book "A slavery of our time" by Maxence van der Meersch https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... (it was the character of Simone Heubel, who is one of the choral characters of the sublime, and great "Bodies, and souls" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... Simone Heubel was based on a real case that made Maxence van der Meersch https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... write this book against prostitution, and which I highly recommend, which is very much in line with the teachings of Pope Francis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ). The secret is that Severine has a husband whom she loves, but does not enjoy him like Kitty Fane of the "Painted Veil" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... that although she ends up falling in love, or at least admiring her husband, despite finding Charles Townsend repulsive she still enjoys sex with him. The same thing happens to Severine, the more chungo, and dangerous is the character with whom she sleeps the more she enjoys sex, and as the work she does leads her more and more to deal with sordid individuals (as my boss Juan del Río Hortega says, perhaps before the decline of humanity, perhaps I came to discover the mystery of these things of love, and that of sexual attraction, and because they are not always related). This leads her to deal with Apaches, criminals, or members of a criminal gang such as Hippolyte the Syrian, and Maurice Goldenmouth called the Angel (such as the Jean Ange from Mika Waltari's "Shadow Angel" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or the fearsome death angel of Beau Ideal, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... that she was also a prostitute like Severine.) It is here when the novel enters the field of the detective, or crime novel in the style of the novels of Simenon https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or the Rififi of Auguste L. Breton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..., also has a touch although it is not French of the novels of Giorgio Scerbanenco with his Duca Lamerti https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... The protagonist finds herself in a love triangle Severine-Pierre-Maurice. Hippolyte does not like the situation, but he owes his life to Maurice, and knows that he only finds relief in brothels, and his debt of honor leads him to swallow. There is also a paternal-filial component between Hyppolite, and the angel with the golden mouth. Severine becomes increasingly involved in Maurice's affairs. But when the least suitable person discovers Severine's double life, she will do anything, even resort to crime to hide her double life from her husband. Paying a very high price. All in all, the ending is not a fatalistic, self-destructive ending, as it might seem. Here without appearing the religious question, if the theme of confession appears, and penance. In any case, I believe that the protagonist, despite the gloomy outlook ahead, is very lucky (it is a coincidence that no one spoke, and it is not known how the issue of Maurice will be resolved). I liked this work. It reads very fast, it is very pleasant, and if you do not like the erotic part you will enjoy the police part. Seeing how the protagonists react to the catastrophe. Definitely not bad at all. My grade is (3'5/5).
Ladies, and gentlemen as I am accumulating the books read, and I am running out of criticism went on to talk about this book "Belle de Jour" that was adapted to the cinema by the Aragonese Spanish director Luis Buñuel, being the film as controversial as the book. I think that when we talked about "In Praise of the Stepmother" we talked about this book, and it was commented that it was a Taboo subject (if in the case of the "Praise of the stepmother" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... were incest (despite there being no consanguinity between the protagonists), in addition to pedophilia. In this case what the nymphomania of the protagonist Severine is about.
The first thing I must do is to say thank you, because the rating of this novel has had many likes in @goodreads (not the critics), which I huildemente offer to Goodreads users in four languages (since I will add English, Spanish, and Polish French, which always favors the mediocrity of my reviews).
This novel generated much controversy in its time, (Regarding Kessel is that his first novels are based on stories of when he was fighting with the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. He is the son of a Russian born in Argentina, and who fought in the aviation of the French army. I always felt sympathy for these people, who fought for the White Russians in the Russian Civil War) received much criticism in the newspaper Gringoire, (since this novel was published in installments, as if it were a pamphlet) where he was publishing it, and was forced to publish an apologetic prologue in which he tried to justify the behavior of his protagonist, And he explained the moral of the story.
Saying, that the protagonist is not a monster (the word monster is enormously strong in my opinion, but it is the one used by the author. I think it's a woman addicted to sex. Partly because of a rape. Like many women. It is very typical of the Hollywood industry, although the strategy to combat these abuses I do not think, that it has been the most appropriate, turning it into a struggle of power, and of sexes, and in many occasions accusing innocent people). The prologue is perfect to explain this work, although perhaps it would have been better, that instead of being in the headline, or at the forefront of the book it would have been in the final part. That is to say that it was an epilogue.
It is the story of a charming woman, who loves her husband Pierre Syrize, but does not enjoy sex with him. It's not very clear to me, when Severine starts showing her addiction to sex. I don't know if it's because of his lung disease. Or when her friend Renee tells her that an acquaintance of both dedicated herself clandestinely to the world of prostitution without her husband's knowledge (behind her back) (this book was not intended to be read at this time, but once I finished "Restoration" by Rose Tremain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... of which I will write a review very soon I wanted to move forward, and I knew that in a day I could not finish with "The New Science" by Giambattista Vico https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... that it is a stimulating read, exciting, but very complicated, since it is a basic book for the creation of History as a social science. So I opted for this book, although I wanted to read it later, as previously stated.)
Severine had also been tempted by an acquaintance of her husband named Henri Hossu (who will be decisive in this story). At first this story deceives us, because seeing the beginning where Severine, and Pierre seem so happy, (skiing, and playing in the snow) and happy as Cyril Conolly said https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... of "A handful of Dust" by Evelyn Waugh https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (with that terrifying ending he was sometimes selected to be part of anthologies of the horror genre. In fact, the ending was a standalone story, bearing the title "The Man Who Read Dickens" which is almost a spoiler of this Wavian novel.) Here the same thing happens, that you do not expect that such an idyllic, beautiful, almost bucolic beginning watching the scenes of Pierre, and his wife playing in the snow takes the channel that in the end ends up taking. When Henri Hossu tries to seduce Severine there is a part of her being that seems to like Hossu's almost animal sordidness. The protagonist has something of Ana Karenina https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1.... Also either out of curiosity, or to taste the forbidden pleasure ends up trying his experience in a brothel ruled by Madame Anais, who apart from her has two other prostitutes Charlotte, and Mathilda. The second performs this performance out of necessity the first for pleasure. There are scenes of lesbianism between the two prostitutes as if it were John Cleland's "Fanny Hill." https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (in fact it would be very appropriate to say, that these are women of pleasure. Belle de Jour is the pseudonym, which Madame Anais gives to Severine, who does not want to reveal her name, and which as most people will know means beauty of the afternoon) At first Severine seems to back down, and want to run away from her new performance. But his addiction, and the desire to try the forbidden (previously decides not to sleep with Monsieur Adolphe). But the truth is that he then sleeps with all the clients (including the same Adolphe whom he initially rejected).
From here it could be said that there is a second part, which no longer explores so much the addiction to sex, or the nymphomania of the protagonist, and that it has a more conventional aspect (although there is no division in the whole novel due to its brief extension). The novel revolves around noir, or Hard Boiled, or the underworld detective novel. One thing must be taken into account. Diego Blanco Albarova sums it up perfectly (I recommend watching his videos on YouTube, and reading his books. I will announce one thing in my next review. Not in this one that is a bit sordid) when talking about Game of Thrones https://www.goodreads.com/series/4379.... The reader of the novel knows that Severine has a secret, but the characters of the novel do not know it, and that is that Severine (who has not told the truth to Madame Anais, and her two co-workers. Although Mathilde knows that the protagonist has a secret, or hides something, but she does not get it out.
On prostitution, and its nefarious influence I recommend the book "A slavery of our time" by Maxence van der Meersch https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... (it was the character of Simone Heubel, who is one of the choral characters of the sublime, and great "Bodies, and souls" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... Simone Heubel was based on a real case that made Maxence van der Meersch https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... write this book against prostitution, and which I highly recommend, which is very much in line with the teachings of Pope Francis https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ). The secret is that Severine has a husband whom she loves, but does not enjoy him like Kitty Fane of the "Painted Veil" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... that although she ends up falling in love, or at least admiring her husband, despite finding Charles Townsend repulsive she still enjoys sex with him. The same thing happens to Severine, the more chungo, and dangerous is the character with whom she sleeps the more she enjoys sex, and as the work she does leads her more and more to deal with sordid individuals (as my boss Juan del Río Hortega says, perhaps before the decline of humanity, perhaps I came to discover the mystery of these things of love, and that of sexual attraction, and because they are not always related). This leads her to deal with Apaches, criminals, or members of a criminal gang such as Hippolyte the Syrian, and Maurice Goldenmouth called the Angel (such as the Jean Ange from Mika Waltari's "Shadow Angel" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show..., or the fearsome death angel of Beau Ideal, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... that she was also a prostitute like Severine.) It is here when the novel enters the field of the detective, or crime novel in the style of the novels of Simenon https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or the Rififi of Auguste L. Breton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..., also has a touch although it is not French of the novels of Giorgio Scerbanenco with his Duca Lamerti https://www.goodreads.com/author/show.... The protagonist finds herself in a love triangle Severine-Pierre-Maurice. Hippolyte does not like the situation, but he owes his life to Maurice, and knows that he only finds relief in brothels, and his debt of honor leads him to swallow. There is also a paternal-filial component between Hyppolite, and the angel with the golden mouth. Severine becomes increasingly involved in Maurice's affairs. But when the least suitable person discovers Severine's double life, she will do anything, even resort to crime to hide her double life from her husband. Paying a very high price. All in all, the ending is not a fatalistic, self-destructive ending, as it might seem. Here without appearing the religious question, if the theme of confession appears, and penance. In any case, I believe that the protagonist, despite the gloomy outlook ahead, is very lucky (it is a coincidence that no one spoke, and it is not known how the issue of Maurice will be resolved). I liked this work. It reads very fast, it is very pleasant, and if you do not like the erotic part you will enjoy the police part. Seeing how the protagonists react to the catastrophe. Definitely not bad at all. My grade is (3'5/5).
August 31, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
This book is the psychological case study of a woman who's outwardly perfect and has everything she could ever ask for but who's still dissatisfied, dissatisfied because the desires of her flesh aren't fulfilled.
I went into this book expecting something perverse, made simply for sensory pleasure, but, really, it explores the inner workings of a woman with suppressed desires she doesn't understand herself, though, it's quite clear from the prologue that her desires are rooted in a past trauma, something she'd internalised and shied away from to the point that she has to take such drastic measures to get what she needs.
Severine (whose name I think is a play on the fact that her body and mind are supposedly severed from each other) and Pierre have a great marriage (except the fact that Severine doesn't enjoy sex with him) and so their relationship, while they still do sleep with each other, is more platonic, even somewhat parental rather than in any way romantic. In fact, while reading it I was very much reminded of Nora's relationship with her husband in The Doll's House.
I was very intrigued by their relationship because it genuinely seemed like she didn't want to hurt her husband and yet by doing what she did, leading a double life as a sex worker, she was going to do that eventually. And that's exactly what happens.
But I'm not going to spoil the story because it's genuinely one that is both intriguing and reflective. The rift between Severine's dual desires (to please her husband and to please herself) is something that makes for a very introspective read, especially since we get to see her dilemma, followed by her slow downward spiral. And along the way, we also meet a cast of grey characters that are just as interesting and multifaceted as Severine. I was truly enamoured by the story, so much so, that I had to finish it in two days.
All that being said though, I don't think this is everyone's cup of tea. Though there's no graphic description to speak of in this book, it might be disturbing and even triggering (especially the prologue) to some readers so read it at our own discretion.
Bottom line: If you're expecting something overtly sensual (or sexual) this isn't for you.
This book is the psychological case study of a woman who's outwardly perfect and has everything she could ever ask for but who's still dissatisfied, dissatisfied because the desires of her flesh aren't fulfilled.
I went into this book expecting something perverse, made simply for sensory pleasure, but, really, it explores the inner workings of a woman with suppressed desires she doesn't understand herself, though, it's quite clear from the prologue that her desires are rooted in a past trauma, something she'd internalised and shied away from to the point that she has to take such drastic measures to get what she needs.
Severine (whose name I think is a play on the fact that her body and mind are supposedly severed from each other) and Pierre have a great marriage (except the fact that Severine doesn't enjoy sex with him) and so their relationship, while they still do sleep with each other, is more platonic, even somewhat parental rather than in any way romantic. In fact, while reading it I was very much reminded of Nora's relationship with her husband in The Doll's House.
I was very intrigued by their relationship because it genuinely seemed like she didn't want to hurt her husband and yet by doing what she did, leading a double life as a sex worker, she was going to do that eventually. And that's exactly what happens.
But I'm not going to spoil the story because it's genuinely one that is both intriguing and reflective. The rift between Severine's dual desires (to please her husband and to please herself) is something that makes for a very introspective read, especially since we get to see her dilemma, followed by her slow downward spiral. And along the way, we also meet a cast of grey characters that are just as interesting and multifaceted as Severine. I was truly enamoured by the story, so much so, that I had to finish it in two days.
All that being said though, I don't think this is everyone's cup of tea. Though there's no graphic description to speak of in this book, it might be disturbing and even triggering (especially the prologue) to some readers so read it at our own discretion.
Bottom line: If you're expecting something overtly sensual (or sexual) this isn't for you.
May 24, 2018
This is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The protagonist is one of the most complex women in literature- in my opinion, of course- and I really love her for that reason.
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