A luminous collection of interwoven stories, Once in Europa is a portrait of two worlds−a small Alpine village bound to the earth...
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reviews
Dec 15, 2010
Diana
rated it: 
John Berger's writing bleeds invisibly. This is one of the first books that has made me cry in a very long time. It is simple and beautiful, unscathed by the presence of today's technology. It shows the death of culture and the pain industrialization and factories have brought society. The imagery is beautiful. Animals and different types of trees are significant and important.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Men aren't beautiful. Nothing has to stay in them. Nothing More...
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Men aren't beautiful. Nothing has to stay in them. Nothing More...
Feb 18, 2010
Kirsten
rated it:
The second in Berger's "Into their Labors" trilogy. More stories of life and love in a French alpine village that fall somewhere between fiction and nonfiction. Some of the narrator's attitudes are dated and sort of embarrassing (about the nature of man and woman), but I love these stories. Horrible things happen to these laborers in the fields and the new factories that are encroaching on their land and way of life, but the stories' insistence on the beauty and mystery of the experien
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Nov 05, 2007
Christopher
rated it: 
In the 1970s the English novelist and art critic John Berger moved to a rural community in the French Alps. Berger wanted to see peasant society firsthad, and to take part in their work as to better understand the challenges they face and the traditions they maintain. While there, he began writing a trilogy called "Into Their Labours" ("Others have laboured and ye are entered into their labours" - John 4:38). PIG EARTH, published in 1979, was the first volume. ONCE IN EUROPA
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Nov 01, 2010
Daniel
rated it: 
Longing. That's what I get from this. I'm sure some will say it is about love. But love is so many things it becomes hard to even say what it is. Saying a book is about love is saying that the book is something of a cliche. Sad, but often the case. Berger is not writing about love as cliche. Longing is something else.
Longing can be momentary or lifelong. Even a momentary thing can shape our lives, turn us into something else, something we didn't see before.
Short fic More...
Longing can be momentary or lifelong. Even a momentary thing can shape our lives, turn us into something else, something we didn't see before.
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Oct 18, 2011
Andrea
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The Second book in his Into Their Labours trilogy. Berger brought about an illumination of God for me through his writing. The beauty in life lies in the living and no one describes it so well as this author. To read Berger is to read and fall in love with a way of life!
Jul 05, 2009
Justin
rated it:
"A woman, she thought, washes herself quite differently from a man; a man washes his body like he washes down a wheelbarrow; it's not by washing himself that a man learns to caress."
Just one nugget from the best of the "Into Their Labour" trilogy.
Just one nugget from the best of the "Into Their Labour" trilogy.
Mar 20, 2011
Cody
rated it: 
wanted to get G but strand didnt have it so i got this instead. it's ok. will hold out for G.
Aug 19, 2010
Kenneth
rated it:
The last book in the trilogy. Not my favorite but a worthy conclusion.
Apr 28, 2008
Ellie
rated it:
I love Berger's slimmed down narrative in this collection of short stories. The premise of each -- hardened characters scrapping to get by in tiny European farming villages -- reflected the narrative style perfectly. Charming.
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