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7th out of 20 books
—
8 voters
The Necrophiliac
Translated for the first time into English, this masterpiece of French literature is striking, not only for its astonishing subject matter but for the poetic beauty of the late author’s subtle, intricate prose. As the haunting protagonist Lucien grapples with a taboo desire, the novel goes far beyond mere gothic horror to explore the melancholy in the loneliest depths of t...more
Paperback, 92 pages
Published
May 1st 2011
by ECW Press
(first published 2001)
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Suzanne, my beautiful Lily the joy of my soul and of my flesh, had started to marbeleise with violet patches. I multiplied the bags of ice. I had wanted to keep Suzanne forever. I kept her for almost two weeks, barely sleeping, feeding myself with what I found in the fridge, drinking too much at times. The tick-tock of the pendulums, the creaking of the woodwork had adopted a particular quality, just like each time Death is present. She is the great mathematician who gives the exact value to th...more
Повесть неистовой Габриэль является великолепным образцом стилистики, а также тотального несогласия по поводу представлений о литературе. На протяжении всего своего литературного творчества (а оно у нее было достаточно длительным, пока она сама не прекратила свою жизь, совершив добровольный акт самоубийства в 2002 году) она преодолевала границы и табу литературы в смысле глоссария тем и способов вещания на публику. Для кого, а для нее не существовало понятия запрета, и именно поэтому даже такие...more
Título original: Le nécrophile
De la traducción: Joaquín Jordá, 1995
Editorial: Tusquets
Pág.: 43 Word
Lo leí en diciembre de 2007
PE: 1995
LE: España
Este tema que es tabú en nuestras sociedades, es llevado, en esta novela, a un cariz sumamente nuevo, porque rompe con el prejuicio que sobre esta ‘parafilia’ poseemos. Hay fragmentos de una exquisitez literaria que abandona lo narrativo para entrar de lleno en lo poético. Lucien considera que su forma de amar es pura y una de las más sublimes pues otor...more
Mar 10, 2012
Victoria
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-fiction
This book is weird to say the least. The idea of writing and imagining something like this seems weird enough already. It is well written. Most of the time it's disgusting, but still easy-peasy for reading it in a few hours or so. The problem is that I don't really understand the point of this book. Why did Wittkop want to write something like this? Why would anyone want to? Also, the final chapters were rather tiring. The initial feeling of disgust was replaced by pure boredom.
All in all, it i...more
All in all, it i...more
Despite its occasional bits of the utterly disgusting, there's so much lyricism running through the language here that it becomes so very lovely to read. There's no tangent of empathy developed via psychology, so it's the language that carries the little novella through; language and narrative. I love bits with the sea, was brought to mind Andre Pieyre de Mandiargues for some reason, The Girl Beneath The Lion, perhaps in a twinned lyricism.
But really, even the diary format was very suitable, th...more
But really, even the diary format was very suitable, th...more
This strange novella caught my attention after an article in the Guardian. I’ve never seen a book about necrophilia, much less a story told from the perspective of a necrophiliac – why not? Well, as you might expect it’s an odd tale.
Lucien is an antique dealer, a French gentleman, and a necrophiliac. The book is told from the first person perspective in diary form as we follow Lucien’s dark adventures robbing graves and taking back the recently interred back to his home where his actions with t...more
Lucien is an antique dealer, a French gentleman, and a necrophiliac. The book is told from the first person perspective in diary form as we follow Lucien’s dark adventures robbing graves and taking back the recently interred back to his home where his actions with t...more
short but sweet, detailed erotica pertaining to one Lucien, a Parisian antiquarian and necrophile. In journal form he recounts his experiences with the dead, robbing graves and anecdotes of his chance encounters with other necrophiles, curious cleaning ladies, giving insight to an outsider perspective on a variety of subjects, the recurring bombyx-like odor, Cypripedium, Caius Petronius Arbiter, the catacombs of San Gennaro. If one can endure Jean Genet, Wittkop's Necrophiliac is no less taboo.
Despite a pretty strange topic and plot, it is extremely poetic and romantic book for one evening. Descriptions are so emotional and beautiful, that you start thinking that we "ordinary" people do not have such emotional relationships, such passion in our lives.
Book is full of sensual sexuality and dignified experience of disgusting moments.
I'm sure not all who read it can enjoy it, as still, book is about a freak.
Book is full of sensual sexuality and dignified experience of disgusting moments.
I'm sure not all who read it can enjoy it, as still, book is about a freak.
1 like · like · see review
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Very interesting concept-- diaries of a necrophiliac in Paris. At times the writing was beautiful and haunting, other times clunky, though perhaps that has to do with it being translated from French. Very atmospheric, and quite short- at 90 pages, I got through it fairly quickly on a short flight.
You cannot help but feel as though you carry Lucien's dirty little secret with you as you read. It is beautifully written, sparing no detail.
The novella is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea which, in some ways, makes it all the more appealing. It is a must read for fans of De Sade.
The novella is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea which, in some ways, makes it all the more appealing. It is a must read for fans of De Sade.
Repulsed, entranced, sick to my stomach, caressed, and more, all at the same time. I can't think of another book that has messed with my brain and my other insides more. I was thoroughly disgusted and couldn't put it down.
i read this about a month ago. it was subtle, warm and cold. it keeps calling me back, minutely- asking me to re-read it again and again. the more it asks the more i like it. i recommend.
Particular. Solo para personas de mente abierta. Me resulto muy interesante pero sé que hay personas que podrian creerlo de mal gusto.
This book is a volume of pure poetry. From the get go the narrator, Lucien, writes in his diary of his indulgence in necrophilia, whether he's based in France or Italy. The way Wittkop depicts such a strange fetish is a real treat to read if you're into gothicism or macabre things. The morbid nature of the book sucks you in, and when I began the book, I finished it too soon. It's a very quick read, only 90 or so pages, and I completed it within an hour or two. The book is a dark gem among mortal...more
Den här boken fick mig bokstavligen att må illa, den är så obehaglig. Samtidigt är den välskriven med ett ytterst precist och vackert språk.
Absolutely utterly terribly disgusting, and so beautifully written that I could not stop reading.
well, it was certainly something else.
Un peu à la manière de Lolita, le nécrophile confie avec poésie son amour pour les cadavres. Beau et drôle.
Rövidke beteg könyv :D
Curiously beautiful and poetic prose. I'm glad it wasn't too long as I can imagine it would become uncomfortable but the subject matter is just a backdrop for the author to describe the depth of a human soul. I really liked this book... make of that what you will.
Having sex with dead bodies is just kind of gross you know, because of all the biological processes that happen, but who am I to judge
Read it Spanish. Liked it very much.
dark, humorous, sad and unexpectedly poetic
Jun 18, 2013
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Lordghoul
marked it as to-read
Jun 14, 2013
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marked it as to-read
Jun 14, 2013
Sara Weather
marked it as to-read
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