Peter’s review of L'analphabète: récit autobiographique > Likes and Comments
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So relieved that you weren't disappointed, Peter! I think you expressed very well the essence of this small memoir.
Wonderful review, Peter! Long ago I read her 'Notebook trilogy', but I was unaware of her background and that she wrote in her adopted language - thank you for your elucidating, so fascinating. Your reflections on her style and what she achieves maybe despite or because not writing in her mother tongue reminded me of Jhumpa Lahiri's decision not to write in English anymore and in Italian instead, also resulting in a subtle, sober and calm writing style (her case of course different because she didn't need to flee and immersing in Italian was her own choice).
Thank you Ilse! I haven’t read Krystóf’s ‘Notebook Trilogy’ as yet but am looking forward to it enormously. I’ve noticed several very favourable book reviews about works by Jhumpa Lahiri. Is she worth reading? I only ask since you appear to have read many of her books, but you only reviewed a couple of them, and those are somewhat ambiguous as to whether or not you enjoyed them (if you don’t mind me saying so).
Thanks for this info on Ágota Kristó, Peter. I read her Notebook trilogy in French and was very impressed with the writing—it was very clipped which is unusual to find in French but that clipped style turned out to suit the content perfectly.
Thank you Fionnuala, I agree that Ágota Krystóf’s style of writing in French could best be described as ‘clipped’: that was also evident in ‘L’Analphabète’. I shall probably cheat a little and promote her ‘Notebook Trilogy’ up the ranks of my extremely long reading list!
Not a writer that I knew, but will have to take a look. The whole idea of writing in an adopted language is very interesting. Conrad and Beckett come to mind; for that matter, Gibbon's first book was in French.
Linda wrote: "Intriguing review."
Thank you Linda.
Fred wrote: "Not a writer that I knew, but will have to take a look. The whole idea of writing in an adopted language is very interesting. Conrad and Beckett come to mind; for that matter, Gibbon's first book w..."
Fred, I’d recommend strongly that you take a look, Krystóf is pretty special! I wouldn’t hesitate to compare her with Conrad and Beckett. Ok, perhaps not Beckett…
I think I will start here with Kristof
Vladys wrote: "I think I will start here with Kristof"
An excellent starting point if you’re reading Kristóf for the first the first time, Vladys!
So she stands in a row with other famous writers like Joseph Conrad (Konrad Korzeniowski) or Vladimir Nabokov, who chose/had to write in a foreign language. Interesting.
Peter wrote: "So she stands in a row with other famous writers like Joseph Conrad (Konrad Korzeniowski) or Vladimir Nabokov, who chose/had to write in a foreign language. Interesting."
Ja, genau, Peter!
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Nov 25, 2025 03:33AM
So relieved that you weren't disappointed, Peter! I think you expressed very well the essence of this small memoir.
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Wonderful review, Peter! Long ago I read her 'Notebook trilogy', but I was unaware of her background and that she wrote in her adopted language - thank you for your elucidating, so fascinating. Your reflections on her style and what she achieves maybe despite or because not writing in her mother tongue reminded me of Jhumpa Lahiri's decision not to write in English anymore and in Italian instead, also resulting in a subtle, sober and calm writing style (her case of course different because she didn't need to flee and immersing in Italian was her own choice).
Thank you Ilse! I haven’t read Krystóf’s ‘Notebook Trilogy’ as yet but am looking forward to it enormously. I’ve noticed several very favourable book reviews about works by Jhumpa Lahiri. Is she worth reading? I only ask since you appear to have read many of her books, but you only reviewed a couple of them, and those are somewhat ambiguous as to whether or not you enjoyed them (if you don’t mind me saying so).
Thanks for this info on Ágota Kristó, Peter. I read her Notebook trilogy in French and was very impressed with the writing—it was very clipped which is unusual to find in French but that clipped style turned out to suit the content perfectly.
Thank you Fionnuala, I agree that Ágota Krystóf’s style of writing in French could best be described as ‘clipped’: that was also evident in ‘L’Analphabète’. I shall probably cheat a little and promote her ‘Notebook Trilogy’ up the ranks of my extremely long reading list!
Not a writer that I knew, but will have to take a look. The whole idea of writing in an adopted language is very interesting. Conrad and Beckett come to mind; for that matter, Gibbon's first book was in French.
Linda wrote: "Intriguing review."Thank you Linda.
Fred wrote: "Not a writer that I knew, but will have to take a look. The whole idea of writing in an adopted language is very interesting. Conrad and Beckett come to mind; for that matter, Gibbon's first book w..."Fred, I’d recommend strongly that you take a look, Krystóf is pretty special! I wouldn’t hesitate to compare her with Conrad and Beckett. Ok, perhaps not Beckett…
I think I will start here with Kristof
Vladys wrote: "I think I will start here with Kristof"An excellent starting point if you’re reading Kristóf for the first the first time, Vladys!
So she stands in a row with other famous writers like Joseph Conrad (Konrad Korzeniowski) or Vladimir Nabokov, who chose/had to write in a foreign language. Interesting.
Peter wrote: "So she stands in a row with other famous writers like Joseph Conrad (Konrad Korzeniowski) or Vladimir Nabokov, who chose/had to write in a foreign language. Interesting."Ja, genau, Peter!
