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Under the Roofs of Paris
by
Henry Miller
In 1941, Henry Miller, the author of Tropic of Cancer, was commissioned by a Los Angeles bookseller to write an erotic novel for a dollar a page. Under the Roofs of Paris (originally published as Opus Pistorum) is that book. Here one finds Miller’s characteristic candor, wit, self-mockery, and celebration of the good life. From Marcelle to Tania, to Alexandra, to Anna, and
...morePaperback, 272 pages
Published
January 18th 1994
by Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
(first published 1936)
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Apparently he wrote this one chapter at a time and sold them to a pornographer who compiled them into a full book. What can I say? It's just porn porn porn. He seems to try to find the raunchiest, most scandalous scenarios to write about. My roommate kept egging me on telling me it was leading somewhere so I kept reading. Apparently he was dicking me around because the story didn't go anywhere and I felt like I'd wasted my time reading it. There's plenty of better stuff out there to spend your t...more
Dirtiest book I have read. Ever.
Jouissance!
I read an article during my freshman year of college, or perhaps even before, that the New York Times published about the English language's poor treatment/approach to sex, along with most authors' inability to land more squarely in the middle between too scientific or too corny. Struggling is not uncommon, for most, but Miller shows no sign of it.
This book is a struggle for most readers, I imagine. It's exhausting, in fact. Like many other reviews I read, it was m...more
I read an article during my freshman year of college, or perhaps even before, that the New York Times published about the English language's poor treatment/approach to sex, along with most authors' inability to land more squarely in the middle between too scientific or too corny. Struggling is not uncommon, for most, but Miller shows no sign of it.
This book is a struggle for most readers, I imagine. It's exhausting, in fact. Like many other reviews I read, it was m...more
this book gets really tedious and boring towards the middle, which is hard to believe since he's talking about double-timing midgets and banging mother-daughter teams. nevertheless, it gets old really quick. the beginning and end are interesting/good, the beginning in its ability to shock and the end is well-written. apparently, though, most of the book is ghost-written by Caresse Crosby, which might have something to do with why it's just mostly boring.
content of book summed up in a single sentence: I may be a baby fucker, but who the Hell cares .... Snuggles is a damned fuckable baby.
there is no real plot to speak of, just page after page of women / girls / babies / midgets / satanists getting HONK HONKed in their dripping HONK HONKs. the word 'abricot-fendu' is thrown around liberally, in addition to synonyms 'fig' and 'figlet'. i read this next to some orthodox jewish guy on train and felt v. uncomfortable
one thing ...more
there is no real plot to speak of, just page after page of women / girls / babies / midgets / satanists getting HONK HONKed in their dripping HONK HONKs. the word 'abricot-fendu' is thrown around liberally, in addition to synonyms 'fig' and 'figlet'. i read this next to some orthodox jewish guy on train and felt v. uncomfortable
one thing ...more
I knew Henry Miller was one of the greats of twentieth century American fiction so I thought I would give this one a go. I didn't realise it was completely smut! To be fair, it's extremely well written smut. But, my God, the sex scences (which is pretty much every scence - honestly!) make the ones in American Psycho look tame. Not really one for the train in the morning but a humorous and enjoyable read nonetheless.
This is absolutely one of the most depraved and satirical book I have ever read. It almost approaches the level of debauchery achieved by the Marquis de Sade. The opening scene has to be one of the wildest things I have ever read, it is insane even for Miller. It's graphic nature notwithstanding, it has some extremely humorous moments and descriptions of events.
Opus Pistorium is also more raunch than art. I guess that since people were buying his novels (which were mailed in plain brown wrappers)to use as a sexual turn on, he decided to write for the market??? However, unlike Under the Roofs of Paris, it does achieve artistic success--in my humble opinion.
This is one of those books I liked very much...but I'm not sure that I should admit that. It's a somewhat guilty pleasure. Henry Miller is one of my favorite authors, and this is not his best book, but it's arresting and memorable.
Das Buch ist mit das Abartigste, das ich von Henry Miller gelesen habe...und ich hab Einiges von Henry Miller gelesen. Was das jetzt wohl über mich aussagt?
It is porn.
From what I read, this isn't his best. Sadly, I haven't had the chance to read anything else by the man yet. I didn't know about this "novel's" back story when I picked it up, but now I know he wrote it for a dollar a page when he needed money (and I'm seeing a rumor that he wrote it for some rich old pervert). So I'm not going to let this crap bias me against reading his other books.
It's a terrible book. Just fiendishly awful. Yes, it's dirty and obscene (rape, pedoph...more
It's a terrible book. Just fiendishly awful. Yes, it's dirty and obscene (rape, pedoph...more
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It is stated that Henry Miller was paid a dollar per page for this book, provided that he included some aspect pertaining to sex on every page.
For those whom have read this book (or others by said author), you know that he went far above and beyond that which was requested. This book is not for the easily offended or the faint of heart; it paints a vivid picture of the most hedonistic acts that can still be considered extreme and mind numbing to this day. Henry Miller has always ...more
For those whom have read this book (or others by said author), you know that he went far above and beyond that which was requested. This book is not for the easily offended or the faint of heart; it paints a vivid picture of the most hedonistic acts that can still be considered extreme and mind numbing to this day. Henry Miller has always ...more
A total guilty pleasure and I will say it is down right pornographic in content. Miller denied writing this book and its still up for debate to this day. Read some of his other works before you read this one and you be the judge. In the end I would highly recommend this to the open minded reader, everyone else stay away.
I gave this book two stars not because I didn't enjoy it or because it offended me (which it didn't, but really should have, but because for a work of Henry Miller, I feel its level of literary merit was dubious. It had all the hallmarks of Miller: a rather dry wit, scathing observations, an utter and complete disregard for most women... but whereas Miller's other works are literature peppered with pornography, this books is, well, just straight porn. Page after page of it. Whoever paid Miller a...more
I'm dropping this at the half way point. I wished I never had picked this up, since it's damaged my feelings for Miller. I'm just hoping he was exaggerating for the sake of erotic fiction? Does anyone know if these stories are true? Rape and Pedophilia are not smut btw. Damn it Henry.
Though many view this novel as obscene, I see it as a beautiful piece of art. Sometimes it's difficult to get through, the monologue during certain scenes drowns out the setting and when Alf zones back in I'm left thinking, "Wait. What's going on?"
The use of rape and pedophilia is prevalent, Miller doesn't hide this, nor his thoughts of disgust and piqued interest. He bears his character's soul and touches on taboo topics.
This novel isn't for everyone. There are...more
The use of rape and pedophilia is prevalent, Miller doesn't hide this, nor his thoughts of disgust and piqued interest. He bears his character's soul and touches on taboo topics.
This novel isn't for everyone. There are...more
Decisamente pornografico. Un insieme di racconti uniti da una trama non ben definita. Ma si fa leggere, se non altro per il divertimento di sentir parlare di certi argomenti in maniera così "alternativa", se poi pensiamo che è stato scritto più di 60 anni fa...
Seriously one of the most disgusting books I have ever read. I think that kind of goes without saying, though. From the first sentence to the last word I was literally in a state of "WHAT THE #$%#".
This is a book that was recently published (posthumously) and is more pornography than the wonderful sexually inundated prose that makes up most of Miller's work. Supposedly, it was authenticated by family and friends. The story is that he wrote it at the request of some rich Hollywood producer(for said gentleman's private titillation) and that he only made two copies.
Perhaps his estate needed money. In any case, Under the Roofs of Paris is unworthy of the author who is now consid...more
Perhaps his estate needed money. In any case, Under the Roofs of Paris is unworthy of the author who is now consid...more
A melhor escrita hard-core de sempre. Este livro tem a 1ª página mais pornográfica da história da literatura !
Well, I have to admit I haven't finished the book. Simply, it was too much for me.
Very very Provocative - took a long time to get through and parts were quite disturbing.
i like to skip to the good parts and use this as kind of an erotic novel. very sexy.
Tommy
is currently reading it
Great pure porn so far...Henry stretches the limits!
Tonya Holwadel
added it
Provacative, racy, jaw dropping, but so real
Oh my... this is a raunchy raucous book.
What can I say - the man needed money...
Sterling Schildt
added it
What can I say, the man needed money...
wow. This author was a poor writer in the late 30s into the 40s (if memory serves me), and was commissioned to write the dirtiest novel he could think of for $1 per page. This is what he came up with and it must've been insane at the time because it still holds up today- those crazy French! It's not for the faint of heart or for the Sunday school teacher. I came across this book as a recommendation from a teacher in one of my writing workshops...needless to say, all of us students were flabberga...more
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Henry Miller sought to reestablish the freedom to live without the conventional restraints of civilization. His books are potpourris of sexual description, quasi-philosophical speculation, reflection on literature and society, surrealistic imaginings, and autobiographical incident.
After living in Paris in the 1930s, he returned to the United States and settled in Big Sur, Calif. Mille...more
More about Henry Miller...
After living in Paris in the 1930s, he returned to the United States and settled in Big Sur, Calif. Mille...more
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