1. Along the way > Likes and Comments

1. Use this thread for general comments while you read "along the way" or to discuss topics not covered by other threads.

As a little girl, I remember growing up surrounding by François Mauriac's books throughout our house. My mother was an avid reader: Mauriac and George Bernanos were her usual reading choices. Even though these authors, both devout Catholics, wrote about difficult issues, including murder, adultery, corruption, hatred, vengeance and the darkness of the soul, they imbued their stories with unmistakeable good vs. bad doctrine and the absolute hope for redemption. The Viper's Nest (or Noeud de vipères in its original French) is the quest of a desperate soul in search of ultimate salvation. Not an easy read, but a fascinating one. Bonne lecture à tous !!

I have finished. This is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have enjoyed this book, and it grabbed me from the start. I want to read more by Mauriac (The knot of vipers was my first book).

Comparing with Bernanos, I found Bernanos’ writing more difficult to follow. It was as if some things were unsaid, and supposed to be understood by the reader, but I felt I didn’t get them.

So many sad commentaries on a merely formal religiosity (reserved for weak women) that leaves the heart untouched. Janine confesses, "Our thoughts, our desires, our actions struck no roots in that faith to which we adhered with our lips."

Each spouse felt unlovable, even unmarriageable. I think Isa genuinely loved Louis at first, but he couldn't receive that.

Clearly it's never too late, but he doesn't follow up on his expressed wish to start over with his estranged wife, even in the midst of writing these reflections.