Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Le relazioni pericolose

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Le relazioni pericolose by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

9 reviews

mazzoccatoadele's review against another edition

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dark funny tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i love reading about rich people ruining each other's lives

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kate_lemer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book might just be my new most favourite book of all time. Or at least it will proudly stand next to Anna Karenina (need to re-read that one). Yes, there are many faults in the book, hence my 4.5 and not 5 rating. Mdm de Merteuil is presented as the ultimate evil, the ultimate failing as a woman just because she refused to succumb to what society expected of her. The author presents this as bad, I see it as something incredibly admirable. Of course, how she goes about her intrigues is a bit despicable, though she only fights fire with fire.

I needed a last one Valmont/Merteuil letter. It can’t end with a “let there be war” declaration, it just can’t! And yet, it did. Their “love” story, because it is one, could have been one, or rather reminds me of a divorced couple that cannot get back together but will do anything to prevent the other from keeping any sort of happiness. Their pride and need for one-upping each other becomes their downfall. A masterful recreation of the greek tragedy, the ending I did not see coming at all.

For book written in the 1780s or so, there is a surprising lack of self-consciousness about all sorts of sexualities. I am aware that this was meant as a “show of the disgusting behaviour of the aristocracy”, I pointedly ignore this interpretation. I loved it, the fluidity of it, the innuendos. Just another example that writing does not need to be explicit to create tension.

What I could do without was the last few letters. It tied all loose ends quite nicely, yes, but as I said, give me some last letters from Valmont/Merteuil from beyond the grave.

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janeloney's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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bookish_5280's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I read this book in French (not my native language). I think this partly played into the reading experience, which I thought was unpleasant. But while I did not enjoy all the time that I spent reading it, I did enjoy reflecting on it and discussing it afterwards. I think it's important in multiple different ways. In a historical sense, it was a brazen book to write, and it played a critical role in the French Revolution, serving as a biting critique of the bourgeoisie and providing an incredibly progressive perspective on the rights and education of women. I also loved the style (after I got past not being able to understand parts of it :)), and the irony and sarcasm that Laclos used were really enjoyable. He was a genius in the sense that he was able to use the epistolary format to create a world in which the reader always has the upper hand, while also being able to show the world the hypocrisy and cruelty of the culture of "libertinage". I still can't decide what rating to give to this book, just because I was so miserable while reading it, but I do have to admit that it was a fascinating story to discuss and learn about. Maybe I should just reread it in English :).

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shelfofunread's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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ezhelyanne's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny lighthearted tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

First half quite light-hearted, liked the sass and sarcasm. Huge manipulative dickheads as main characters i was like "WOW WHAT A BITCH" but you know, in a funny way ?
Second half was darker. They're really manipulative douchebags. Still enjoyed it tho !

sad ending tho :(

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