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<book id="667483">
  <title><![CDATA[The Balcony]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0802150349]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780802150349]]></isbn13>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176940168m/667483.jpg</image_url>
    <work>
  <best_book_id type="integer">667483</best_book_id>
  <books_count type="integer">16</books_count>
  <default_description>&lt;div&gt;&amp;#8220;The Balcony is probably the most stunning subversive work of literature to be created since the writings of the famous Marquis.... A major dramatic achievement.&amp;#8221; &amp;#8211;&amp;#8211; Robert Brustein, The New Republic&lt;/div&gt;</default_description>
  <id type="integer">1506004</id>
  <media_type nil="true"></media_type>
  <original_language_id type="integer" nil="true"></original_language_id>
  <original_publication_day type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">1958</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>The Balcony</original_title>
  <rating_dist>total:229|5:67|4:79|3:70|2:11|1:2|</rating_dist>
  <ratings_count type="integer">229</ratings_count>
  <ratings_sum type="integer">885</ratings_sum>
  <reviews_count type="integer">325</reviews_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
</work>

  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.86]]></average_rating>
  <ratings_count><![CDATA[203]]></ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[7]]></text_reviews_count>
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/667483.The_Balcony]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="29952">
      <name><![CDATA[Jean Genet]]></name>
      <role><![CDATA[]]></role>
      <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29952.Jean_Genet]]></url>
      <average_rating><![CDATA[4.01]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[2366]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[210]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
      </authors>
    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="325">
    <review id="45969409">
    <user id="1499834">
    <name><![CDATA[Rachel]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1499834-rachel]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Feb 10 15:16:02 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 15 09:13:18 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>Once</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This play has much in common with the Artaudian &quot;Theatre of Cruelty&quot; concepts, with its ritualistic, highly staged portrayals of violent sexuality serving to illuminate the larger struggles of the world as a whole. This heightened awareness of the lies of theatricality - the prostitutes of...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45969409">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45969409]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="55484714">
    <user id="1425673">
    <name><![CDATA[Alex]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Rwanda]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1425673-alex]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 09 10:37:51 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 10 06:53:23 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is a weird, weird play. In a funny sort of  way it reminded me of an anti- version of Lysistrata in its treatment of gender, sexuality and power. I'm afraid I couldn't really engage with it though, and to be honest I found the whole brothel acting/reality metaphor a bit obvious. But I'm no dram...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55484714">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55484714]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="57742462">
    <user id="300895">
    <name><![CDATA[Leif Erik]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/300895-leif-erik]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="french-lit" />
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri May 29 09:12:45 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri May 29 09:12:45 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was one of my favorite things about my very brief journey into the CSUS English department.  An Absurdist view of political morality and simultaneously a meditation on the possibility of authority co-existing with virtue (spoiler alert:  they can't)  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57742462]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="15008248">
    <user id="534016">
    <name><![CDATA[tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Pittsburgh, PA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/534016-tentatively-a-convenience]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Feb 09 16:01:17 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 09 16:10:50 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Genet, ever the expert observor of social relations as determined by power roles, takes a look at them here in the context of a brothel where people can enact their sexual fantasies by donning the garb of a bishop or a general, etc.  Meanwhile, outside the brothel, a rebellion rages.  Genet manages ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15008248">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15008248]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="67568479">
    <user id="2571190">
    <name><![CDATA[porno for marx]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2571190-porno-for-marx]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2002</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Aug 15 21:36:17 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Aug 15 21:44:51 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Someday soon we could storm the brothel, but we must guard against becoming its new managers.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67568479]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="6945319">
    <user id="141852">
    <name><![CDATA[emily]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Berkeley, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/141852-emily]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Sep 28 09:17:50 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Sep 28 09:17:50 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this while I was studying in paris, for a course on Genet and Heinrich Muller.  my final paper was an examination of the theoretical commonalities between this play and foucault's &quot;surveiller et punir.&quot;  also saw a brilliant performance of it at the Athenée theater.  just brilliant...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6945319">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6945319]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="242968">
    <user id="24796">
    <name><![CDATA[Corinne]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Providence, RI]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/24796-corinne-wahlberg]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="plays" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[those who love french literature]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 12 13:42:41 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 12 13:46:11 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read &quot;The Maids&quot; a while back and was more impressed by this lesser-known work from Genet.  I adore Genet.  Maybe because he's French.  Maybe because his plays are about sex and power and violence (&quot;these are a few of my favorite things&quot;).  In any case, it's worth my time to fi...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/242968">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/242968]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="24157785">
    <user id="225906">
    <name><![CDATA[Susan!]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Sugar Land, TX]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/225906-susan]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="2008read" />
        <shelf name="theater" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[people who like mirrors, disguises, plays, lies, brothels, and revolutions]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jun 10 11:35:07 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 22 16:35:09 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I found this play by accident, but strangely it is perfect for me, and uses most of the themes that I gravitate toward in art.  I wish I could see this performed live (or even the movie) though because I always find it very hard to read plays and judge them.  The ending monologue by Irma is now one ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24157785">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24157785]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="38778781">
    <user id="1755911">
    <name><![CDATA[Meg]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chicago, IL]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1755911-meg]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 27 19:30:15 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 27 19:31:45 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[my favorite play to read and re-read, since I always catch something i missed within genet's rich symbolism.  and okay, okay...its got kinky sex in it!]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38778781]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="33411442">
    <user id="947209">
    <name><![CDATA[Scroutch]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/947209-scroutch]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="drama" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Dominatrixes and Leather Daddies]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Sep 21 01:29:35 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Feb 12 15:17:15 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[One of those plays that you definitely need to see staged to appreciate. As a text, I found it uninteresting. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/33411442]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="2321556">
    <user id="4693">
    <name><![CDATA[علی]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[3050, Denmark]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4693]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jun 24 02:03:58 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jun 24 02:05:56 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Together with The Maids, The Balcony is one of Gene's masterpieces]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2321556]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="13392840">
    <user id="296357">
    <name><![CDATA[Eliza T.]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Brighton, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/296357-eliza-t-williamson]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 24 09:05:00 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 11 07:30:09 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This play was a toughie--]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13392840]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="11533612">
    <user id="735618">
    <name><![CDATA[Peter]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/735618-peter]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 03 09:18:24 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jan 03 09:18:39 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[rotten with genius]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11533612]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="79646407">
    <user id="2518745">
    <name><![CDATA[Gypsy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New Hope, PA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2518745-gypsy-ryan]]></url>
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      <rating>0</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Dec 02 09:41:35 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 02 09:41:35 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79646407]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="79151674">
    <user id="60058">
    <name><![CDATA[Kate]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Astoria, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/60058-kate]]></url>
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      <rating>0</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 27 16:51:28 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Nov 28 18:07:22 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79151674]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78743406">
    <user id="2973577">
    <name><![CDATA[Melissa]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Berlin, 16, Germany]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2973577-melissa]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Nov 23 09:32:36 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Nov 23 09:32:36 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78743406]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78636420">
    <user id="2927182">
    <name><![CDATA[Ellen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Waukesha, WI]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2927182-ellen-seagull]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 22 10:45:52 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 22 10:45:52 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78636420]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78400111">
    <user id="2194682">
    <name><![CDATA[Bardamu]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Istanbul, 34, Turkey]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2194682-bardamu]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 19 23:32:34 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 19 23:32:42 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78400111]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78335077">
    <user id="2552291">
    <name><![CDATA[Val]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Boulder, CO]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2552291-val-killpack]]></url>
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      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 19 11:57:30 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 19 11:57:30 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78335077]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="77911287">
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    <name><![CDATA[Rani]]></name>
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