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Fault Lines
Winner of the Prix Femina, one of France’s most prestigious literary prizes, and a finalist for the Prix Goncourt, Nancy Huston’s Fault Lines is a brilliant, affecting novel about the deep secret lying behind one family’s origins.
A best seller in France, with over 400,000 copies sold, and currently being translated into eighteen languages, Fault Lines is the new novel from internationally-acclaimed and best-selling author Nancy Huston, a Canadian-born writer who has lived in France for twenty-five years. Huston’s novel is a profound and poetic story that traces four generations of a single family from present-day California to WW II-era Germany.
Fault Lines begins with Sol, a gifted, terrifying child whose mother believes he is destined for greatness partly because he has a birthmark like his dad, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother. When Sol’s family makes an unexpected trip to Germany, secrets begin to emerge about their history during World War II. It seems birthmarks are not all that’s been passed down through the bloodlines.
Closely observed, lyrically told, and epic in scope, Fault Lines is a touching, fearless, and unusual novel about four generations of children and their parents. The story moves from the West Coast of the United States to the East, from Haifa to Toronto to Munich, as secrets unwind back through time until a devastating truth about the family’s origins is reached. In her award-winning, bestselling novel, Nancy Huston tells a riveting, vigorous tale in which love, music, and faith rage against the shape of evil.
A best seller in France, with over 400,000 copies sold, and currently being translated into eighteen languages, Fault Lines is the new novel from internationally-acclaimed and best-selling author Nancy Huston, a Canadian-born writer who has lived in France for twenty-five years. Huston’s novel is a profound and poetic story that traces four generations of a single family from present-day California to WW II-era Germany.
Fault Lines begins with Sol, a gifted, terrifying child whose mother believes he is destined for greatness partly because he has a birthmark like his dad, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother. When Sol’s family makes an unexpected trip to Germany, secrets begin to emerge about their history during World War II. It seems birthmarks are not all that’s been passed down through the bloodlines.
Closely observed, lyrically told, and epic in scope, Fault Lines is a touching, fearless, and unusual novel about four generations of children and their parents. The story moves from the West Coast of the United States to the East, from Haifa to Toronto to Munich, as secrets unwind back through time until a devastating truth about the family’s origins is reached. In her award-winning, bestselling novel, Nancy Huston tells a riveting, vigorous tale in which love, music, and faith rage against the shape of evil.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
156 people are currently reading
3,265 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Huston
136books302followers(from Wikipedia)
Huston lived in Calgary until age fifteen, at which time her family moved to Wilton, New Hampshire, USA. She studied at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where she was given the opportunity to spend a year of her studies in Paris. Arriving in Paris in 1973, Huston obtained a Master's Degree from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, writing a thesis on swear words under the supervision of Roland Barthes.
(Actes Sud)
Née à Calgary (Canada), Nancy Huston, qui vit à Paris, a publié de nombreux romans et essais chez Actes Sud et chez Leméac, parmi lesquels Instruments des ténèbres (1996, prix Goncourt des lycéens et prix du livre Inter), L'empreinte de l'ange (1998, grand prix des lectrices de ElleJ et Lignes de faille (2006, prix Femina).
Huston lived in Calgary until age fifteen, at which time her family moved to Wilton, New Hampshire, USA. She studied at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where she was given the opportunity to spend a year of her studies in Paris. Arriving in Paris in 1973, Huston obtained a Master's Degree from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, writing a thesis on swear words under the supervision of Roland Barthes.
(Actes Sud)
Née à Calgary (Canada), Nancy Huston, qui vit à Paris, a publié de nombreux romans et essais chez Actes Sud et chez Leméac, parmi lesquels Instruments des ténèbres (1996, prix Goncourt des lycéens et prix du livre Inter), L'empreinte de l'ange (1998, grand prix des lectrices de ElleJ et Lignes de faille (2006, prix Femina).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews
December 16, 2024
Leí esta novela por primera vez allá por 2008. Le puse cinco estrellas. Dieciséis años después mi memoria de pez me ha permitido disfrutar de ella nuevamente como si fuera la primera vez y con el mismo o mayor grado de satisfacción: cinco estrellas.
“� me alegro de haber nacido niño, porque es mucho menos habitual que sean violados los niños que las niñas, salvo si son católicos, cosa que no somos�“Marcas de nacimiento� es una fabulosa novela en la forma y en el fondo, a pesar del hándicap que siempre supone para mí que el narrador sea un niño, y en este caso son nada más y nada menos que cuatro, todos de 6 años, bisnieto, nieto, hija y madre, por este orden y en cuatro momentos distintos, 2004, 1982, 1962 y 1944, desde California hasta Múnich, pasando por Nueva York, Haifa y Toronto. También he de decir que Huston no intenta en ningún momento reproducir la voz de unos niños de tan corta edad. En los cuatro casos se trata de una voz adulta con la que intenta, y consigue, hacernos entender el sentimiento, la curiosidad, el miedo, la crueldad, el desconcierto de unos niños para vislumbrar el comportamiento adulto para el que siempre faltan datos y muchas veces sentido, refutando, de paso, esos lugares comunes sobre la felicidad, la inocencia y la bondad que muchos atribuyen a la niñez.
“Es más fácil enseñar a la gente a ser estúpida que a ser inteligente�No quisiera contar mucho sobre la historia y el misterio que encierra, solo diré que las cuatro generaciones tienen un nexo especial, todas tienen una marca de nacimiento situada en distintas partes de sus cuerpos y que, según para quién, es tanto un amuleto donde refugiarse como un estigma que señala y afrenta.
“Vestirme siempre me hace notar mi maldad, sobre todo en invierno porque hay muchas capas de ropa que ponerse, y la maldad queda enterrada en lo más profundo, pero hay un signo externo que es una fea marca de nacimiento parda del tamaño de una moneda de cinco centavos en la nalga izquierda; prácticamente nadie sabe que la tengo pero nunca logro olvidarla, es como una mancha, y puesto que la tengo a la izquierda no me está permitido tumbarme sobre el lado izquierdo en la cama ni sostener un vaso con la mano izquierda o pisar una grieta en la acera con el pie izquierdo, y si lo hago accidentalmente tengo que susurrar «Perdón» cinco veces seguidas a toda prisa o a saber qué puede pasar. Mami tiene una marca de nacimiento en la cara interna del brazo izquierdo y no le avergüenza porque no es un sitio bochornoso donde tenerla, pero para mí tenerla en la nalga es prueba de mi suciedad�Se resalta así la influencia que puede llegar a tener el pasado de nuestros ascendientes sobre nuestras vidas presentes, mientras que, al mismo tiempo, se subraya el hecho de que ese pasado en las colectividades es muchas veces rápidamente olvidado o carente de relevancia, de tal modo que aquellos que fueron víctimas se convierten en verdugos con una escalofriante facilidad, aplicando a sus víctimas una brutalidad similar a la que ellos mismos fueron sometidos. Ese es el caso del comportamiento que tuvieron en los tramos finales de la SGM los países aliados (recuerden Dresde o Hiroshima y Nagasaki) o, en la actualidad, el caso de los judíos israelitas con el pueblo palestino.
“A veces sencillamente entraban en ciudades árabes y asesinaban a todo el mundo, como en Deir Yassine. Mi padre tenía ocho años en abril de mil novecientos cuarenta y ocho, cuando empezaron a pasearse por Haifa coches judíos con altavoces que gritaban: «¡Deir Yassine! ¡Deir Yassine!», y de fondo una grabación de la gente de Deir Yassine gritando y llorando al ser asesinados. Eso hizo que los palestinos de Haifa fueran presa del pánico y huyeran para salvar la vida. Se marcharon a millares de la ciudad, y los judíos se apoderaron de ella�
P.S. Una parte que me ha hecho especial gracia es la parodia que hace en la primera de sus cuatro partes de esa corriente educacional que sostiene que nunca hay que obligar a los hijos a nada, que son ellos los que irán demandado cuando les llegue su momento: irán al baño cuando estén preparados, dejarán de tomar el pecho cuando lo deseen, comerán verdura cuando lleguen a esa etapa, y, por supuesto, serán elogiados continuamente por sus muchas cualidades y atributos sin transmitirle nunca un sentimiento de culpa por sus “travesuras�.
“Dios me dio este cuerpo y esta mente y tengo que cuidar lo mejor posible de ellos para darles el mejor uso posible. Sé que Él tiene grandes planes para mí, o de otra manera no habría nacido en el estado más rico del país más rico del mundo, con el sistema de armamento más poderoso, capaz de desatar el juicio final para toda la especie humana de un pepinazo. Por suerte, Dios y el presidente Bush son colegas�
July 25, 2020
لو بحثت عن نموذج أدبي يبحث في موضوع الصدمة العابرة للأجيال، لكانت هذه.
٤ أطفال من ٤ أجيال، سرعان ما يتضح أن أحدهم والد الآخر أو جدّه، نرى معها كيف تمعن الشخصيات في التصدع منذ ١٩٤٤ وحتى ٢٠٠٤. هي رواية عما يفعله الإنسان بالإنسان، منذ مخيمات النازية وحتى مذبحة صبرا وشاتيلا، من صوت أربعة أطفال.
فنيًا وجدتها في غاية الذكاء، صوت الأطفال طفولي حقًا، زرع الأدلة ذكي، خطوط الزمن بديعة، والجمل الطويلة قليلة الفواصل كانت أمينة جدًا في محاكاة ذهنية الأطفال.
رواية جميلة. شكرًا مسكيلياني، شكرًا للمترجم خالد الوعلان.
٤ أطفال من ٤ أجيال، سرعان ما يتضح أن أحدهم والد الآخر أو جدّه، نرى معها كيف تمعن الشخصيات في التصدع منذ ١٩٤٤ وحتى ٢٠٠٤. هي رواية عما يفعله الإنسان بالإنسان، منذ مخيمات النازية وحتى مذبحة صبرا وشاتيلا، من صوت أربعة أطفال.
فنيًا وجدتها في غاية الذكاء، صوت الأطفال طفولي حقًا، زرع الأدلة ذكي، خطوط الزمن بديعة، والجمل الطويلة قليلة الفواصل كانت أمينة جدًا في محاكاة ذهنية الأطفال.
رواية جميلة. شكرًا مسكيلياني، شكرًا للمترجم خالد الوعلان.
January 2, 2017
I almost put this book down after reading the first few pages. Sol seemed more like a 40-year-old pervert than a six-year-old boy. But, thanks to ŷ, I kept reading as many of the reviews encouraged. The three other characters - Randall, Sadie, and Kristina - were much more believable as six-year-old children. I could see the connectedness between them and how (as you went back in time) their childhoods had been affected by their parent's childhood. A brilliant idea. My big problems with the book were that it was almost too neatly woven together. No family really is like this or has such wackos in their family generation after generation. Of course, then why would you read a book about a real family? It would be loooooooong and boring. Also, I really hated the first section. I felt Sol's characteristics were unnecessary and unbelievable. The author could have done something different with him, I think, and not sickened us with this character. It was disheartening to read about a six-year-old boy who was already so messed up.
October 27, 2008
"Faultless"
I know this isn't the correct way to use this word -- but I enjoyed this book so much I wanted to flip back to the first page and read it all over again.
I know this isn't the correct way to use this word -- but I enjoyed this book so much I wanted to flip back to the first page and read it all over again.
May 12, 2020
إنها رواية الأمكنة المتعددة والأزمنة التي تختزل ألم الحروب في عيون الصغار الذين يتأملون ما يتفوه به الكبار ليظل خزيناً شاهداً على كل التصدعات التي تؤولها الحقائق
تتشقق الرواية في خضم سردها أمكنة بلسان الأطفال الذين يروون الحقائق فمن سول طفل السادسة وما رواه له والده اليهودي الأمريكي من مغالطات حرب العراق الذي شارك فيها والذي إختلفت ثقافاته فيها مع أمه الكاثولوكية الطائفة المسيحية الديانة كل يروي حسب أديولوجياته لتبقى في النهاية النصرة للحقيقة
تتعمد الكاتبة أن تقرن تلك الأجزاء الروائية بحدث تأريخي للحرب وتتقصد أن تلقي بأسئلة يقينية يسألها الصغار فيما يعجز الكبار عن الإجابة
سول إبن السادسة يسمع عن جده قولاً جاء في سرد الكاتبة يقول
هذه هي الحرب ؟ ماذا تقصد بقولك هذه هي الحرب؟ هذه ليست الحرب أنها عصابة من...المنحرفين الذين يعاملون الناس كالحيوانات...كيف استطاعوا أن يفعلوا مثل هذه الأشياء
تصتدم الرواية بالحدث الفلسطيني ضمن سياق روائي لا أحبذ أن أفسد حبكته على القارئ لتكشف الكثير من المسكوت عنه وما تحاول الآلة الإعلامية السلطوية موارته تختزل الزمن الذي تصدع لتحكي ما أحدثته تلك التصدعات الكارثية بالزمن نفسه ..رواية للتاريخ وسرد روائي مبدع
تتشقق الرواية في خضم سردها أمكنة بلسان الأطفال الذين يروون الحقائق فمن سول طفل السادسة وما رواه له والده اليهودي الأمريكي من مغالطات حرب العراق الذي شارك فيها والذي إختلفت ثقافاته فيها مع أمه الكاثولوكية الطائفة المسيحية الديانة كل يروي حسب أديولوجياته لتبقى في النهاية النصرة للحقيقة
تتعمد الكاتبة أن تقرن تلك الأجزاء الروائية بحدث تأريخي للحرب وتتقصد أن تلقي بأسئلة يقينية يسألها الصغار فيما يعجز الكبار عن الإجابة
سول إبن السادسة يسمع عن جده قولاً جاء في سرد الكاتبة يقول
هذه هي الحرب ؟ ماذا تقصد بقولك هذه هي الحرب؟ هذه ليست الحرب أنها عصابة من...المنحرفين الذين يعاملون الناس كالحيوانات...كيف استطاعوا أن يفعلوا مثل هذه الأشياء
تصتدم الرواية بالحدث الفلسطيني ضمن سياق روائي لا أحبذ أن أفسد حبكته على القارئ لتكشف الكثير من المسكوت عنه وما تحاول الآلة الإعلامية السلطوية موارته تختزل الزمن الذي تصدع لتحكي ما أحدثته تلك التصدعات الكارثية بالزمن نفسه ..رواية للتاريخ وسرد روائي مبدع
November 14, 2008
This is a beautiful story, and the method of telling is really interesting.
The reason I only gave it three stars is that each chapter is told from the POV of a 6 yr old. And, I just didn't buy it. The language was wrong for a 6 year old, and I felt that a lot of the feelings were wrong for a 6 year old. Had she made the characters 9 years old, I could have felt more comfortable with it. It just really prevented me from completely buying in to the thoughts and feelings as being honest and true.
The reason I only gave it three stars is that each chapter is told from the POV of a 6 yr old. And, I just didn't buy it. The language was wrong for a 6 year old, and I felt that a lot of the feelings were wrong for a 6 year old. Had she made the characters 9 years old, I could have felt more comfortable with it. It just really prevented me from completely buying in to the thoughts and feelings as being honest and true.
December 2, 2023
Disturbing doesn't quite cover it. Painful and uncomfortable to read is more like it. This is a book that confronts taboo subjects head on...all the meanwhile breaking into the readers comfort zone. If this is what the author was trying to accomplish, then it did so in the first five pages. The book not only takes you out of your comfort zone, it challenges what you believe in, societal schemes, childhood and the basic idea of the innocence of a child.
The novel is told from four different viewpoints, different family members in their history when they were 6 year old. Sol (2004) is a child that is not only is brilliant, he is terrifyingly aware of the world. His soul and his childhood have been corrupted by the media, the news, the internet, sex and the war. He has a God complex and truly believes he is God, that sun rises because of him. The mere psyche of this child is corrupted beyond repair. He watches and enjoys scenes of death, rape, sex, mutilation, war, etc. This is a boy that assumes no responsibility for himself save for his misguided, self-serving and narrow view of the world as his stomping ground. This is the hardest part of the book to get through. I almost stopped reading.
Randall (1982) (Sol's father) is a six year old that has learned to live with an absentee mother and a loving father. His mother is obsessed with finding her roots and the truth of her mother's upbringing in Nazi Germany. In time, they move to Israel where she continues her research. There he is confronted with discrimination, war, living in a society that he does not understand and the difficulties of his parent's marriage. Randall is a boy that feels the weight of the world in his shoulders, he feels responsible for what happens and is afraid that he cannot understand what is happening in the world.
Sadie (1962) (Randall's mother) is a six ear old girl that believes she is evil and dirty. She is raised by her grandparents in a rather strict manner. It is understandable why she becomes a perfectionist. She is a girl looking for approval and the love of her mother, who left her in the care of her grandparents when she was a baby. She feels unwanted, and unloved.
Kristina (1944-5) (Sadie's mother) is from Germany and must deal with the realities of the war (WWII), her families and the secrets that are kept from her. This part of the book is not only interesting; it is sad, heartfelt and very good, the only part of the book that interested me. This is quite the beautiful story, especially when to tie it back to earlier stories told in the book.
Frankly, I am rarely fazed by taboo subject or gore (yay zombies) but, this book made me uncomfortable. This book was rather painful to read. It is not a light read by any means. Rather, it is an exploration of all that is corrupt and vile, of abandonment, love, secrets and family. I don't really understand how this became a best seller. I don't mind being taken out of my comfort zone, but at least give me a good reason (aka a good story) to justify it. The last 50 or so pages were not justification enough. But, it is interesting to see how the lives of these 6 year old kids change according to the times, along with their awareness of the world.
The novel is told from four different viewpoints, different family members in their history when they were 6 year old. Sol (2004) is a child that is not only is brilliant, he is terrifyingly aware of the world. His soul and his childhood have been corrupted by the media, the news, the internet, sex and the war. He has a God complex and truly believes he is God, that sun rises because of him. The mere psyche of this child is corrupted beyond repair. He watches and enjoys scenes of death, rape, sex, mutilation, war, etc. This is a boy that assumes no responsibility for himself save for his misguided, self-serving and narrow view of the world as his stomping ground. This is the hardest part of the book to get through. I almost stopped reading.
Randall (1982) (Sol's father) is a six year old that has learned to live with an absentee mother and a loving father. His mother is obsessed with finding her roots and the truth of her mother's upbringing in Nazi Germany. In time, they move to Israel where she continues her research. There he is confronted with discrimination, war, living in a society that he does not understand and the difficulties of his parent's marriage. Randall is a boy that feels the weight of the world in his shoulders, he feels responsible for what happens and is afraid that he cannot understand what is happening in the world.
Sadie (1962) (Randall's mother) is a six ear old girl that believes she is evil and dirty. She is raised by her grandparents in a rather strict manner. It is understandable why she becomes a perfectionist. She is a girl looking for approval and the love of her mother, who left her in the care of her grandparents when she was a baby. She feels unwanted, and unloved.
Kristina (1944-5) (Sadie's mother) is from Germany and must deal with the realities of the war (WWII), her families and the secrets that are kept from her. This part of the book is not only interesting; it is sad, heartfelt and very good, the only part of the book that interested me. This is quite the beautiful story, especially when to tie it back to earlier stories told in the book.
Frankly, I am rarely fazed by taboo subject or gore (yay zombies) but, this book made me uncomfortable. This book was rather painful to read. It is not a light read by any means. Rather, it is an exploration of all that is corrupt and vile, of abandonment, love, secrets and family. I don't really understand how this became a best seller. I don't mind being taken out of my comfort zone, but at least give me a good reason (aka a good story) to justify it. The last 50 or so pages were not justification enough. But, it is interesting to see how the lives of these 6 year old kids change according to the times, along with their awareness of the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2023
Fay Hatları, bir aileyi dört kuşak üzerinden ele alıyor ve her kuşaktan bir karakterin altıncı yaşına odaklanarak, birbirini tetikleyen dört bölümden oluşuyor. Hikayesinin sürprizini kaçırmamak adına detaya girmeden kısaca özetlersek, bir aile üzerinden 20. yüzyılda yaşanan savaşlara, acılara; toplumsal, tarihsel yaraların bireylerin hayatlarına nasıl etki ettiğine dair güçlü bir öykü anlattığını söyleyebiliriz. Kronolojik olarak da sondan başa doğru gittiği için, kitap bittiğinde resim tamamen netleşmiş oluyor. Açıkçası çoğu yorumda da yazıldığı gibi ilk bölümü okurken o kadar zorlandım ki neredeyse kitabı yarım bırakacaktım. Biraz sabır gösterince (kitabın yarısını geçince) yazarın ne yapmaya çalıştığını anladım ve bunu da oldukça etkileyici buldum. Özellikle sonda anlatılan tarihsel gerçeği bilmiyordum ki hala bunun bu kadar az anlatılmış olmasını aklım almıyor. Kuşaklar arası acı aktarımının fay hattına benzetilmesini de hep aynı yerlerden “kırılmasını� da sevdim. Güçlü, iyi yazılmış, çok büyük şeyleri sessizce (ilk bölüm hariç) söyleyen iyi bir roman olduğunu düşünüyorum Fay Hatları’nın. Yazarın diğer kitaplarına da bakacağım.
March 11, 2020
خطوط الصّدع.....نانسي هيوستن
السبب الرئيس لاقتنائي هذا العمل كان حبي لكتاب نقدي للكاتبة عنوانه أساتذة اليأس(وهو كتاب ممتاز بالمناسبة)، وكنت متخيل أن الرواية ستخرج أكاديمية محترفة تناسب ناقدة عتيدة، ولكني فوجئت برواية تنبض بالحياة، وحس فكاهي أسود بدعابات كئيبة، تستطيع بسهولة أن تضحكك من الغم، حس داعبة روسي أصيل.
الرواية تحكي عن كل شيء بأقل شيء ممكن، تحمل كم مرعب من التأويلات الصارخة الصامة، تحكي عن الحروب فتشرّح أسبابها بكل سلاسة، وتغوص في السياسة فتكشف أكاذيبها بكل سهولة، وترسم صورة إنسان العصر الحديث بكل تناقضاته وعيوبه وغروره الكاذب المبني على أوهام، وكل ذلك بانسيابية تُحسد عليها.
كل فصل في الرواية، حكاية قوية منسوجة بحكمة وبراعة شديدة، تمثل مع باقي الفصول شبكة خيوط قوية متينة مهما تشعبت تظل مفهومة وتمسك بها الكاتبة بإحكام، بدأت بخفة وظرف وبدأت تقلبات كتابتها بتقلبات الأحداث، فانتقلت بنا الكاتبة بين سطور التاريخ لتكشف لنا الحقائق المرّة، حقائق بغيضة كأصحابها، أثرها ممتد ككل ما هو صعب وقاسي.
الرواية ناقدة بعنف للحياة الظالمة، تنقلت بين الحياة الأمريكية والإسرائيلية والنازية كاشفة لنا تشابههم، فتكشف لنا كيف تحول الجيش الأمريكي والإسرائيلي لنازيين جددا، يسيروا على خطا كل قوة ضارية محتلة ظالمة، تفعل ما فُعل بها على أيدي السابقين لهم.
رواية عظيمة بحق، سلسة في القراءة، ممتعة في التفاصيل والربط بين حوادث التاريخ، وترجمتها أتت جيدة (مع التحفظ على بعض التعبيرات والألفاظ المستخدمة)، وفعلا من أفضل قراءات هذا العام إلى الآن، فاقرأوها حيث ثقفتموها يا جماعة ومش هتندوا ابدا.
السبب الرئيس لاقتنائي هذا العمل كان حبي لكتاب نقدي للكاتبة عنوانه أساتذة اليأس(وهو كتاب ممتاز بالمناسبة)، وكنت متخيل أن الرواية ستخرج أكاديمية محترفة تناسب ناقدة عتيدة، ولكني فوجئت برواية تنبض بالحياة، وحس فكاهي أسود بدعابات كئيبة، تستطيع بسهولة أن تضحكك من الغم، حس داعبة روسي أصيل.
الرواية تحكي عن كل شيء بأقل شيء ممكن، تحمل كم مرعب من التأويلات الصارخة الصامة، تحكي عن الحروب فتشرّح أسبابها بكل سلاسة، وتغوص في السياسة فتكشف أكاذيبها بكل سهولة، وترسم صورة إنسان العصر الحديث بكل تناقضاته وعيوبه وغروره الكاذب المبني على أوهام، وكل ذلك بانسيابية تُحسد عليها.
كل فصل في الرواية، حكاية قوية منسوجة بحكمة وبراعة شديدة، تمثل مع باقي الفصول شبكة خيوط قوية متينة مهما تشعبت تظل مفهومة وتمسك بها الكاتبة بإحكام، بدأت بخفة وظرف وبدأت تقلبات كتابتها بتقلبات الأحداث، فانتقلت بنا الكاتبة بين سطور التاريخ لتكشف لنا الحقائق المرّة، حقائق بغيضة كأصحابها، أثرها ممتد ككل ما هو صعب وقاسي.
الرواية ناقدة بعنف للحياة الظالمة، تنقلت بين الحياة الأمريكية والإسرائيلية والنازية كاشفة لنا تشابههم، فتكشف لنا كيف تحول الجيش الأمريكي والإسرائيلي لنازيين جددا، يسيروا على خطا كل قوة ضارية محتلة ظالمة، تفعل ما فُعل بها على أيدي السابقين لهم.
رواية عظيمة بحق، سلسة في القراءة، ممتعة في التفاصيل والربط بين حوادث التاريخ، وترجمتها أتت جيدة (مع التحفظ على بعض التعبيرات والألفاظ المستخدمة)، وفعلا من أفضل قراءات هذا العام إلى الآن، فاقرأوها حيث ثقفتموها يا جماعة ومش هتندوا ابدا.
June 12, 2008
At first I wasn't really too sure about this one...I started reading it, and after just having put down "Forever Lily" because of the whole "I'm in tune with everything" attitude, I was scared when Sol was talking about how great he was and that he knew he had a purpose. But it QUICKLY got better, and just when I was getting interested in Sol, the view changed to that of his father (Randall) when he was the same age as Sol, then switched to Randall's mother (Sadie) and finally Kristina/Erra.
It was really interesting, reading the story backwards, to find out where the family started and what happened to shape the way they were. I *can* say that I didn't like Sadie as an adult (while in Randall's voice), but as a child she was cute, if not a little crazy - but listening to the story from her 6-year-old self makes you realize how she ended up how she did (same for each of the other characters, though). I don't think that the way they thought/talked was really how a 5/6-year-old would a lot of the time, but it still made for some interesting reading, seeing what shaped their lives.
Overall, it was a really good book! Makes me want to read a bit more about the subject that started this whole family's history and path.
It was really interesting, reading the story backwards, to find out where the family started and what happened to shape the way they were. I *can* say that I didn't like Sadie as an adult (while in Randall's voice), but as a child she was cute, if not a little crazy - but listening to the story from her 6-year-old self makes you realize how she ended up how she did (same for each of the other characters, though). I don't think that the way they thought/talked was really how a 5/6-year-old would a lot of the time, but it still made for some interesting reading, seeing what shaped their lives.
Overall, it was a really good book! Makes me want to read a bit more about the subject that started this whole family's history and path.
February 10, 2014
Well written,and interesting. I feel as though I need to go back and re read it....backwards.
May 27, 2015
Главата ми е претъпкана (та чак изпразнена) след края на книгата (разбира се очакван след малките подсказки в другите глави и в анотацията). Най-логично беше след финала отново да се върна на първа глава, и то в края ѝ, където се затваря кръгът, завъртян в обратна посока от Нанси Хюстън � от 2004 г. към 1944 г. С по една глава за всеки от героите. Такива романи се срещат често, но тук специфичното е, че четиримата герои разказват към момента, когато са шестгодишни. След това ги виждаме по мъничко като възрастни в разказите на другите поколения. А по средата, в липсващите части, може на воля да си представяме как е протекла младостта на тези шестгодишни дечица.
Често възприемаме децата като невинни, милички, неразбиращи същества. Но в случая и четиримата герои звучаха като по-големи, не като шестгодишни. Това преувеличение, особено при Сол, ми действаше като напомняне: „Н� подценявайте децата!� Всяко от тях носеше в съзнанието си онази уж непозната за децата жестокост � Сол от последното поколение е най-стряскащ с мислите и действията си, Рандал рисува хвърчащи ръце и глави, Сади се „самобичува�, Кристина сънува откъснати човешки езици�
„Дори през много студените зими като тази, кръвта на германските войници е топла, освен ако стрелят по тях и тя бликне от гърдите им. В този случай сигурно образува червени сталактити в снега.�
Как да са други тези деца? Не само заради историята си (онази драма-тайна, пресичаща цялата фамилия, която и аз се правех, че не зная), но и заради непрекъснатото повтаряне на военния ужас в различни мащаби. Ако приемем, че вече не са останали толкова много съвременници на голямата война (WWII), този роман ни опровергава, показвайки през погледа на децата какво продължава да се случва през 10-20 години на различни места по света (Ливан; Ирак; липсваше Босна).
И вместо да се очаква отдалечаване от безумията на 20-ти век (без да забравяме 2001 г., пропусната в романа), Нанси Хюстън подсказва и още един „враг� � така обичан от всички и от самата мен: интернет. Да не звуча като някоя стара „консерва�, но детето Сол сякаш сигнализира, че с навлизането в 21-ви век е все по-трудно децата да бъдат деца в традиционния предишен смисъл. Толкова умни още с раждането си, мигновено справящи се с техника и всичко, чрез което могат да видят света на възрастните.
„� не е трудно да включвам компютъра на мама, докато тя чисти долу и да вляза в Гугъл и да науча какво се случва в реалния свят.
Умът ми е необятен. Стига тялото ми да е чисто и храната да циркулира в него правилно, мога да обработвам всякаква информация. Тъпча се с Гугъл и се превръщам едновременно в президента Буш и Бог. […] Достатъчно е да натиснеш „изтегляне� и можеш да гледаш как момичета са изнасилвани във ……………………………� (не мога да копирам - непоносимо е по-нататък). С огромно удоволствие кликвам с мишката и върху труповете на иракските войници в пясъка ……………………………�.� (не мога да копирам - непоносимо е по-нататък).
Тъжна за мен беше и склонността на децата, особено на момичетата, сами да наказват себе си, хаосът в света на възрастните да ги кара да се чувстват виновни за нещо (единствено Сол се има за Бог до степен на налудничавост и напомнящ на някого), да не са в кожата си на децa.
„Би� се изяла сама себе си, ако можех, като се прокарам през собственото си гърло и изчезна в стомаха си. Първо ще си изгриза ноктите, след това ще схрускам пръстите си, ръцете, лактите и раменете.. Не, може би е по-добре да започна от краката� Но как да направя, че да изям собствената си глава? Да си отворя толкова широко устата, че тя да се обърне назад и да погълне цялата глава на една хапка, така от мен ще остане само един малък стомах, потрепващ на пода � най-сетне заситен.�
За обложката на книгата са подбрани много подходящи откъси, описващи четиримата герои. По време на четенето и аз си записах с какво най-много ще запомня всяко от децата. Помня добре и момента, изобразен на корицата като безмилостен всеобщ символ на търсенето на майката.
Сол
„Таз� есен ще тръгна на училище и имам намерение да слушам всичко, всичко да запаметявам и да получа отлични оценки, но без да се изтъквам; засега другите не трябва да знаят, че аз съм кралят, единствено Слънце и единствен Син, Син на Гулъл и на Бог, безсмъртен и всемогъщ Син на Мрежата. WWW прочетено на обратно � освен Моята Мила Майка, пред която бегло съм проявил едно или друго, никой не подозира колко блестящо, сияйно, приказно е излъчването на моя ум, който един ден ще преобрази и спаси Вселената.�
Рандал
„Чест� ми се иска възрастните да седнат и да ми обяснят всичко, много бавно, като тази песен.�
„Т� евреин ли си, Марвин? � питам го аз, а той поклаща отрицателно глава. � Германец ли си? � Не. � Тогава си арабин? � пак не. Разтърсвам го все по-силно и по-силно.�
Сади
„Д� чета е единствената ми дарба.�
„…�, мамо, мамо, мамо, мамо, мамо� Любовта ми към майка ми се надига в мен, расте, ще пръсне гърдите ми, ако можех само да се слея с нея, да бъда един и същ човек с нея, или пък да бъда невероятния глас, който блика от гърлото ѝ, когато пее.�
„Тов� е най-лошият ден в живота ми, защото повече никога няма да мога да имам доверие в майка си.�
Кристина
„Па� заминава. Както всички германски мъже, сега той трябва да се постарае да убие възможно най-много руснаци, независимо че губим войната и въпреки че Христос е казал: „Н� убивай� (а може би беше Мойсей). Дядо казва, че понякога човек няма избор, трябва да убиваш или ще те убият, това е. По време на молитвата преди хранене той моли Бог да пази татко и Лотар от неприятеля и това ме обърква, защото със сигурност има семейства в Русия, които го молят да пази техните мъже от неприятеля, с тази разлика, че когато казват неприятеля, те говорят за нас. А в църквата, когато свещеникът казва, че трябва да се молим да Хитлер, аз си мисля, за хората в руските църкви, които се молят за своя Вожд и си представям горкия Бог там в облаците как се е хванал за главата и се опитва да угоди на всички и си дава сметка, че това просто не е възможно.�
А сега остава да прочета по-подробно (в интернет разбира се�) за „арийските� деца от негермански нации, отвличани от нацистите за осиновяване в Германия.
Често възприемаме децата като невинни, милички, неразбиращи същества. Но в случая и четиримата герои звучаха като по-големи, не като шестгодишни. Това преувеличение, особено при Сол, ми действаше като напомняне: „Н� подценявайте децата!� Всяко от тях носеше в съзнанието си онази уж непозната за децата жестокост � Сол от последното поколение е най-стряскащ с мислите и действията си, Рандал рисува хвърчащи ръце и глави, Сади се „самобичува�, Кристина сънува откъснати човешки езици�
„Дори през много студените зими като тази, кръвта на германските войници е топла, освен ако стрелят по тях и тя бликне от гърдите им. В този случай сигурно образува червени сталактити в снега.�
Как да са други тези деца? Не само заради историята си (онази драма-тайна, пресичаща цялата фамилия, която и аз се правех, че не зная), но и заради непрекъснатото повтаряне на военния ужас в различни мащаби. Ако приемем, че вече не са останали толкова много съвременници на голямата война (WWII), този роман ни опровергава, показвайки през погледа на децата какво продължава да се случва през 10-20 години на различни места по света (Ливан; Ирак; липсваше Босна).
И вместо да се очаква отдалечаване от безумията на 20-ти век (без да забравяме 2001 г., пропусната в романа), Нанси Хюстън подсказва и още един „враг� � така обичан от всички и от самата мен: интернет. Да не звуча като някоя стара „консерва�, но детето Сол сякаш сигнализира, че с навлизането в 21-ви век е все по-трудно децата да бъдат деца в традиционния предишен смисъл. Толкова умни още с раждането си, мигновено справящи се с техника и всичко, чрез което могат да видят света на възрастните.
„� не е трудно да включвам компютъра на мама, докато тя чисти долу и да вляза в Гугъл и да науча какво се случва в реалния свят.
Умът ми е необятен. Стига тялото ми да е чисто и храната да циркулира в него правилно, мога да обработвам всякаква информация. Тъпча се с Гугъл и се превръщам едновременно в президента Буш и Бог. […] Достатъчно е да натиснеш „изтегляне� и можеш да гледаш как момичета са изнасилвани във ……………………………� (не мога да копирам - непоносимо е по-нататък). С огромно удоволствие кликвам с мишката и върху труповете на иракските войници в пясъка ……………………………�.� (не мога да копирам - непоносимо е по-нататък).
Тъжна за мен беше и склонността на децата, особено на момичетата, сами да наказват себе си, хаосът в света на възрастните да ги кара да се чувстват виновни за нещо (единствено Сол се има за Бог до степен на налудничавост и напомнящ на някого), да не са в кожата си на децa.
„Би� се изяла сама себе си, ако можех, като се прокарам през собственото си гърло и изчезна в стомаха си. Първо ще си изгриза ноктите, след това ще схрускам пръстите си, ръцете, лактите и раменете.. Не, може би е по-добре да започна от краката� Но как да направя, че да изям собствената си глава? Да си отворя толкова широко устата, че тя да се обърне назад и да погълне цялата глава на една хапка, така от мен ще остане само един малък стомах, потрепващ на пода � най-сетне заситен.�
За обложката на книгата са подбрани много подходящи откъси, описващи четиримата герои. По време на четенето и аз си записах с какво най-много ще запомня всяко от децата. Помня добре и момента, изобразен на корицата като безмилостен всеобщ символ на търсенето на майката.
Сол
„Таз� есен ще тръгна на училище и имам намерение да слушам всичко, всичко да запаметявам и да получа отлични оценки, но без да се изтъквам; засега другите не трябва да знаят, че аз съм кралят, единствено Слънце и единствен Син, Син на Гулъл и на Бог, безсмъртен и всемогъщ Син на Мрежата. WWW прочетено на обратно � освен Моята Мила Майка, пред която бегло съм проявил едно или друго, никой не подозира колко блестящо, сияйно, приказно е излъчването на моя ум, който един ден ще преобрази и спаси Вселената.�
Рандал
„Чест� ми се иска възрастните да седнат и да ми обяснят всичко, много бавно, като тази песен.�
„Т� евреин ли си, Марвин? � питам го аз, а той поклаща отрицателно глава. � Германец ли си? � Не. � Тогава си арабин? � пак не. Разтърсвам го все по-силно и по-силно.�
Сади
„Д� чета е единствената ми дарба.�
„…�, мамо, мамо, мамо, мамо, мамо� Любовта ми към майка ми се надига в мен, расте, ще пръсне гърдите ми, ако можех само да се слея с нея, да бъда един и същ човек с нея, или пък да бъда невероятния глас, който блика от гърлото ѝ, когато пее.�
„Тов� е най-лошият ден в живота ми, защото повече никога няма да мога да имам доверие в майка си.�
Кристина
„Па� заминава. Както всички германски мъже, сега той трябва да се постарае да убие възможно най-много руснаци, независимо че губим войната и въпреки че Христос е казал: „Н� убивай� (а може би беше Мойсей). Дядо казва, че понякога човек няма избор, трябва да убиваш или ще те убият, това е. По време на молитвата преди хранене той моли Бог да пази татко и Лотар от неприятеля и това ме обърква, защото със сигурност има семейства в Русия, които го молят да пази техните мъже от неприятеля, с тази разлика, че когато казват неприятеля, те говорят за нас. А в църквата, когато свещеникът казва, че трябва да се молим да Хитлер, аз си мисля, за хората в руските църкви, които се молят за своя Вожд и си представям горкия Бог там в облаците как се е хванал за главата и се опитва да угоди на всички и си дава сметка, че това просто не е възможно.�
А сега остава да прочета по-подробно (в интернет разбира се�) за „арийските� деца от негермански нации, отвличани от нацистите за осиновяване в Германия.
June 11, 2022
"هذه هي هي الحرب؟ ماذا تقصد بقولك هذه هي الحرب؟ هذه ليست الحرب إنها عصابة من... من المنحرفين الذين يعاملون الناس كالحيوانات.. كيف استطاعوا أن يفعلوا مثل هذه الأشياء؟ أوتجرؤ على أن تجد لهم الأعذار؟"
خطوط الصدع: عن الهوّة الشاسعة بين الإنسان والإنسان، عن "الانكسارات العميقة في خبايا انسان القرن الحادي والعشرين"، عن حروب مدمرة هزت كيان الإنسانية وتركت تشققات إنسانية عميقة في عصر متصدع من دوله إلى مجتمعاته إلى عائلاته إلى افراده إلى أعضاء الجسم الإنساني الواحد نفسه! عن أربعة أطفال من أربع أجيال مختلفة؛ يحمل كل منها عُقد وتصدّعات -الجيل الذي قبله- التي تشكلت بسبب الهزات الفكرية والعاطفية التي مروا بها في طفولتهم وتركت شروخًا بالغةً في هويتهم.
تنقسم الرواية إلى أربعة أقسام؛ يختلف كل قسم عن الآخر في الزمان والمكان والأحدث والشخصيات: يروي كل قسم سيرة شخص من أربع شخوصٍ هم-سول، ووالده رندال، وجدته صادي، وجدة أبيه كريستينا (إرا)- تتباين شخصية وأفكار ومعتقدات كلًا منهما عن الآخر بتباين الزمان والأحداث التي عايشوها في صغرهم، إلا أن تجمع بينهما الوراثة في شكل وحمة توجد على جسد كل واحد منهم كعلامة انتماء إلى هذه العائلة.
يروي في كل قسم فرد من أفراد العائلة -وهو في سن السادسة من عمره- ما عاشه هو وعائلته من أحداث زمنية (تاريخية) شملتها تلك السنة(بتجرد). فكل سنة بحرب مدمرة هزت كيان الإنسانية وتركت شقوقًا عميقة في فكرها وتاريخها؛ فسول شهد حرب العراق على خلفية محاربة الإرهاب بعد أحداث الحادي عشر من سبتمبر، وما حدث في سجن أبو غريب. أما رندال فشهد حرب لبنان سنة 1980 ومجازر المخيمات الفلسطينية بصبرا وشتيلا. والجدة صادي: شهدت فترة الحرب الباردة سنة 1962. والجدة الكبرى؛ تروي نهايات الحرب العالمية الثانية وما تبعها من تشظيات. وهكذا كلما أوغلنا في الرواية نكتشف عالم من الهزات العنيفة والخطوط المتصدعة في جسد الإنسانية.
كانت فكرة عبقرية من "هيوستن" في جعل السرد يسير في حركة عكسية لحركة التاريخ، وذلك للكشف الصدع الداخلي للشخصيات وغربتهم عن ذواتهم وعن العالم من حولهم؛ الذي انتهى ببعضهم إلى يتم تام وسار بالبعض الآخر إلى خيبات أمل لا تمحى وصدوع نفسية لا تربأ. فكلًا منهما قد عاش صدعًا نفسيًا عميقًا في طفولته غيّر مسار حياته وشكل مثله العليا تشكيلًا مختلفًا وقاده إلى أنماط متناقضة من الأفكار والرؤى. والذي على إثره تبنوا أفكارًا وأحقادًا بنوا عليها معتقدات شاذة ومتطرفة أحيانًا!
.
رواية ذكية، سرد رائع وبناء فني متقن، وشخصيات متماسكة -إلا في النصف الأول، كان بها بعض الضعف- في المجمل العمل جيد جدًا، والترجمة غاية في الجمال. #تمت😍
خطوط الصدع: عن الهوّة الشاسعة بين الإنسان والإنسان، عن "الانكسارات العميقة في خبايا انسان القرن الحادي والعشرين"، عن حروب مدمرة هزت كيان الإنسانية وتركت تشققات إنسانية عميقة في عصر متصدع من دوله إلى مجتمعاته إلى عائلاته إلى افراده إلى أعضاء الجسم الإنساني الواحد نفسه! عن أربعة أطفال من أربع أجيال مختلفة؛ يحمل كل منها عُقد وتصدّعات -الجيل الذي قبله- التي تشكلت بسبب الهزات الفكرية والعاطفية التي مروا بها في طفولتهم وتركت شروخًا بالغةً في هويتهم.
تنقسم الرواية إلى أربعة أقسام؛ يختلف كل قسم عن الآخر في الزمان والمكان والأحدث والشخصيات: يروي كل قسم سيرة شخص من أربع شخوصٍ هم-سول، ووالده رندال، وجدته صادي، وجدة أبيه كريستينا (إرا)- تتباين شخصية وأفكار ومعتقدات كلًا منهما عن الآخر بتباين الزمان والأحداث التي عايشوها في صغرهم، إلا أن تجمع بينهما الوراثة في شكل وحمة توجد على جسد كل واحد منهم كعلامة انتماء إلى هذه العائلة.
يروي في كل قسم فرد من أفراد العائلة -وهو في سن السادسة من عمره- ما عاشه هو وعائلته من أحداث زمنية (تاريخية) شملتها تلك السنة(بتجرد). فكل سنة بحرب مدمرة هزت كيان الإنسانية وتركت شقوقًا عميقة في فكرها وتاريخها؛ فسول شهد حرب العراق على خلفية محاربة الإرهاب بعد أحداث الحادي عشر من سبتمبر، وما حدث في سجن أبو غريب. أما رندال فشهد حرب لبنان سنة 1980 ومجازر المخيمات الفلسطينية بصبرا وشتيلا. والجدة صادي: شهدت فترة الحرب الباردة سنة 1962. والجدة الكبرى؛ تروي نهايات الحرب العالمية الثانية وما تبعها من تشظيات. وهكذا كلما أوغلنا في الرواية نكتشف عالم من الهزات العنيفة والخطوط المتصدعة في جسد الإنسانية.
كانت فكرة عبقرية من "هيوستن" في جعل السرد يسير في حركة عكسية لحركة التاريخ، وذلك للكشف الصدع الداخلي للشخصيات وغربتهم عن ذواتهم وعن العالم من حولهم؛ الذي انتهى ببعضهم إلى يتم تام وسار بالبعض الآخر إلى خيبات أمل لا تمحى وصدوع نفسية لا تربأ. فكلًا منهما قد عاش صدعًا نفسيًا عميقًا في طفولته غيّر مسار حياته وشكل مثله العليا تشكيلًا مختلفًا وقاده إلى أنماط متناقضة من الأفكار والرؤى. والذي على إثره تبنوا أفكارًا وأحقادًا بنوا عليها معتقدات شاذة ومتطرفة أحيانًا!
.
رواية ذكية، سرد رائع وبناء فني متقن، وشخصيات متماسكة -إلا في النصف الأول، كان بها بعض الضعف- في المجمل العمل جيد جدًا، والترجمة غاية في الجمال. #تمت😍
July 25, 2019
Ακόμη ένα βιβλίο με αυτή τη θεματολογία - πόσα ακόμη; αναρωτήθηκα αρχικά. Ωστόσο η οπτική (και η γραφή) της Χιούστον διαφέρει. Με άρεσε πάρα πολύ το βιβλίο, ειδικά απ' τη στιγμή που αποδέχθηκα τη σύμβαση ότι διαβάζω τέσσερις διαφορετικές αφηγήσεις εξάχρονων οι οποίες δεν μοιάζουν καθόλου με αφηγήσεις εξάχρονων -ειδικά ο πρώτος αφηγητής, ο Σολ, είναι μια κάπως πιο ανατριχιαστική εκδοχή του Στιούι Γκρίφιν απ' το Φάμιλυ Γκάι. Και όσα εμμέσως πλην σαφώς υπονοεί η Χιούστον για το Κακό και το Καλό -και όλες τις ενδιάμεσες αποχρώσεις τους- με φάνηκαν αρκετά εύστοχα.
July 19, 2019
Kimi zaman düşünüyorum da yayınevlerinin telifsiz eserin ucuz olması nedeniyle sürekli bunları basmaları, yani yayınevi kataloglarının klasiklerle dolmasının bize bir olumsuz etkisi var; güncele ilişkin çok az şey bilmek, günümüz edebiyatını/düşüncesini takip edememek, eğer yabancı dil yok ise. Metis Yayınları'na bunun için müteşekkirim, okunup okunmamasını pek umursamadan bu ve benzeri, yazılış tarihi yakın ve harika kitaplar basıyorlar. Romanın konusu, açıklamada da yazdığı üzere bir ailenin dört kuşağı, dört kuşak geçmişi. Fakat işlenen kişileri bir yana bırakıp baksak dahi bu dört kuşak sayesinde, başlangıcından bitişine dek geçen zaman içinde insanların yaşamlarının nasıl değiştiğini, bambaşka dünyaların durmaksızın doğduğunu ama buna rağmen kötülüğün çok da değişmediğini gösteriyor bize kitap. Irak'a saldıran ve askerlere/sivillere acımazsızca davranan Abd askerleri, Lübnan İç Savaşı'nda mültecilerin katlini teşvik eden İsrailliler ya da Nazilerin yaptığı Yahudi soykırımı arasında hiçbir fark olmadığını ve nesillerin, yılların akışına rağmen hayatlarımızın bir mutsuzluk ve acıyla dolu olduğunu da. Kesinlikle öneririm, şu sıralar yeni ve güzel bir şeyler okumak isteyenler varsa.
June 16, 2009
A backward chronology of an aspect of the holocaust of which I wasn't aware, told by each generation of the family during their sixth year of life. Each six year old has a somewhat naive view of adult things happening around them, save Sol. His chapter (the opening) made me think of him as the poster child for monitoring your child's internet, television and video use. Disturbing as all getout. But not, I'm afraid, far from the truth. What's really interesting is that a lot of the pornography, hate, violence, fear and bigotry he finds on the internet his grandmother, to a degree, dealt with in real life and real time. This book has so many layers to explore I read it twice. Huston's layering of the different times is unique and compelling. This book will stay with me a long time. Force yourself to get through Sol's section (the present) and you'll be glad you did by the time you finish his grandmother's tale.
March 6, 2010
I may have given this book four stars immediately after finishing it, but in the few days that have passed since then, I keep thinking about it and analyzing the characters and pasting the story together a little more which is the sign of a good book so I bumped it up to five.
It is written from the point of view of four six year olds-all one generation apart in the same family-in reverse chronological order. So first Sol, then his father as a six year old, then his grandmother as a six year old, then his great grandmother as six year old. The narration is very well done from the children's point of view and there is a deep secret in the family that comes out bit by bit through each narrator and explained completely at the end.
The unique characters, excellent narration and great story all came together well and I would recommend it to anyone who would like a unique read. It was originally written in French and translated in to English.
It is written from the point of view of four six year olds-all one generation apart in the same family-in reverse chronological order. So first Sol, then his father as a six year old, then his grandmother as a six year old, then his great grandmother as six year old. The narration is very well done from the children's point of view and there is a deep secret in the family that comes out bit by bit through each narrator and explained completely at the end.
The unique characters, excellent narration and great story all came together well and I would recommend it to anyone who would like a unique read. It was originally written in French and translated in to English.
April 12, 2023
رواية غريبة و ممتعة..
لن أدّعي اني فهمتها تماماً بدون كلمة المترجم في نهاية الرواية..
.......
"إنّها صيحة فزع تُطلّقُ عالياً لتنبّه بواسطة اللعب على الصدوع الفنّية إلى كلّ هذه الصدوع التاريخية التي تتفشى في رؤية الانسان لذاته وللطبيعة من حوله..
طبيعة باتت تضيقُ بجرائمه وتثور على أنانيته وتنذر بزوال وجوده، إن لم تنقذه إنسانيةُ عقلائه وحكمة علمائه و أحاسيسُ فنانيه وأدبائه من براثنِ الجهل المُقنّع بالعدل، والحقد المبرقع بالحق و التطرّف المُموّه بالحزم، والعنف المُلتبس بالقوّة"
لن أدّعي اني فهمتها تماماً بدون كلمة المترجم في نهاية الرواية..
.......
"إنّها صيحة فزع تُطلّقُ عالياً لتنبّه بواسطة اللعب على الصدوع الفنّية إلى كلّ هذه الصدوع التاريخية التي تتفشى في رؤية الانسان لذاته وللطبيعة من حوله..
طبيعة باتت تضيقُ بجرائمه وتثور على أنانيته وتنذر بزوال وجوده، إن لم تنقذه إنسانيةُ عقلائه وحكمة علمائه و أحاسيسُ فنانيه وأدبائه من براثنِ الجهل المُقنّع بالعدل، والحقد المبرقع بالحق و التطرّف المُموّه بالحزم، والعنف المُلتبس بالقوّة"
May 21, 2020
Domestic in focus and epic in scope, Fault Lines covers a few years across four generations of a family, slowly revealing a dark secret of global proportions. Great story, deep stuff� but could have been better written in my opinion. 7 out of 12.
January 13, 2011
There is a crack in this world: a world where children acts like adults and where adults are childish. There is a crack in the human condition. There is a crack in people souls. 356 pages: violence, sex, perversion, pain, joy, loneliness, hope, fear, solidarity, love, family, desire, loss, memories, expectations, ecstasy. Nancy Huston deals with all of these notions with brilliancy and strength. The story is really coherent and solid, based on independant stories that are not so independant actually, because they are all linked by history. The book mixes humour, sadness and hope; but the most amazing part of it is that these feelings never come from the character you expect them to come from. I think that this is all the genius of Nancy Huston who always manage in her books to create a sphere of intimacy while opening a door on it for the reader who feels like a intruder inside the frame (at least it is what I felt by reading her books). I mean that we unwillingly enter the intimate world of the characters, we can see them in their nudity, not the physical one but the nudity of the soul. We see them like they really are, it's not the "social" being that we observe and live with for more than hundred pages. It's the true identity of people, without lies or hypocricy. From there comes the crualty in my opinion.
First stop: 2004 with Solomon, the "son of Google and God". Second stop: 1982. Third stop: 1962 and finally the terminus: 1944-45. We go back in time in search of sense, like a quest for the original scene, the first sin. Where did the crack start? When did the world start turning wrong? Is there any escape? No... this is our opinion after sharing a few pages with Solomon, a child so cruel that it seems impossible. Maybe... Time can heal everything after all, can't it? Yes. Because there is music, cherished by the little Sadie. The essence of art, the essence of beauty and the perfect mirror of soul. Human condition is marked with fault lines, but there is no flaw in music because in any circumstances, people will always find beauty, and meaning in it. It's like a tender kiss on your cheek, a strong embrance that makes you realise that beauty and humanity still exist. That human being can create something valuable, pure and permanent. The congenital birthmark on the fourth characters appears like a proof of sin, a sign that identify them as the sinners. I think that the weight of the religion aspect is strong here, even if it's not the purpose on the author (I don't think it's meaningless though).
Fault lines makes me thing of the Sant Andrea fault. Why? would you ask me. Not just because of the fault itself but because of the idea we can take out of it. The Sant Andreas fault is a crack on the skin of the Earth, visible and concrete. So at first sight, without any analyses or reflexion, we can think that the crack came here and that it is the origin. But it's just a collateral damage if I can say that. Actually it's just the result of activities that occured deeper into the skin of the planet. It's the life, the energy, the movements under the ground that provoked the crack. It comes from the plates movements. So, maybe we can think the same for all the characters in "Fault lines". We jump from a timeline to another, expecting to find the origin, the source of the fault, like a fish returning home, returning to origin. But even at the beginning, even at the start of the crack, we can't stop it, we can't help the fault to occur because the reasons of its birth are deeper. Nancy Huston tries, in my opinion, to underline the fears, the cruelty, the expectations and the questions that run through people lives. We all try someone or something to blame for our mistakes, for our weaknesses. But maybe there is no responsibles, or maybe we are all responsible. But the question of who is guilty or who is not doesn't matter. The most important thing is to escape this scheme and this destiny in order to rich our glories, to create art, to love (no matter how, no matter how) and to highlight the best part of humanity.
"Fault line" is a novel,a great novel. But besides that, and most of all, it's a hymn to humanity (the best part of it), no matter the apparences. I read the book in french and I didn't found any english quotes on the internet so I will post this passage in french. It's really beautiful and it's a great way to finish this review.
"Tout en caressant son grain de beauté au creux de son bras gauche, maman se réchauffe la voix avec des gammes et des arpèges - mais ce n'est pas pour elle comme réciter l'alphabet, c'est plutôt comme la joie, comme de courir pieds nus sur une longue plage de sable. Elle fait signe à Peter qu'elle est prête. Après plusieurs notes courtes, accentuées, en staccato, il tombe sur un accord, la voix de maman vient se glisser parmi ses notes, s'empare de l'une d'elle et rebondit jusqu'au ciel : c'est parti. Sur un rythme saccadé, elle descend depuis les notes aiguës, chantées avec une douceur déchirante, jusqu'aux eaux profondes et sombres des notes basses, où elle gémit comme si la vie la quittait goutte à goutte. Parfois elle fait un bruit avec les lèvres comme un bouchon qui saute, d'autres fois elle se frappe la poitrine du plat de la main pour ponctuer la musique qui coule de sa gorge. On dirait que la voix raconte une histoire - non seulement l'histoire de sa vie mais celle de toute l'humanité avec ses guerres et ses famines, ses combats et ses épreuves, ses triomphes et ses défaites, tantôt elle se déverse en vagues menaçantes comme l'océan gonflé d'une tempête, tantôt elle est comme une chute d'eau, dégringolant la falaise et rebondissant sur les rochers pour se précipiter dans un chaos d'écume vers la sombre vallée luxuriante au-dessous. Elle dessine autour de ma tête des cercles d'or comme les anneaux de Saturne, se balance follement de haut en bas comme la danse du french cancan, se lamente et frémit, s'insinuant autour d'un fa grave comme le lierre autour d'un tronc d'arbre, pour se plonger enfin dans les eaux bleu cristal de l'accord de sol majeur que répète la main gauche de Peter.... Je suis transportée."
First stop: 2004 with Solomon, the "son of Google and God". Second stop: 1982. Third stop: 1962 and finally the terminus: 1944-45. We go back in time in search of sense, like a quest for the original scene, the first sin. Where did the crack start? When did the world start turning wrong? Is there any escape? No... this is our opinion after sharing a few pages with Solomon, a child so cruel that it seems impossible. Maybe... Time can heal everything after all, can't it? Yes. Because there is music, cherished by the little Sadie. The essence of art, the essence of beauty and the perfect mirror of soul. Human condition is marked with fault lines, but there is no flaw in music because in any circumstances, people will always find beauty, and meaning in it. It's like a tender kiss on your cheek, a strong embrance that makes you realise that beauty and humanity still exist. That human being can create something valuable, pure and permanent. The congenital birthmark on the fourth characters appears like a proof of sin, a sign that identify them as the sinners. I think that the weight of the religion aspect is strong here, even if it's not the purpose on the author (I don't think it's meaningless though).
Fault lines makes me thing of the Sant Andrea fault. Why? would you ask me. Not just because of the fault itself but because of the idea we can take out of it. The Sant Andreas fault is a crack on the skin of the Earth, visible and concrete. So at first sight, without any analyses or reflexion, we can think that the crack came here and that it is the origin. But it's just a collateral damage if I can say that. Actually it's just the result of activities that occured deeper into the skin of the planet. It's the life, the energy, the movements under the ground that provoked the crack. It comes from the plates movements. So, maybe we can think the same for all the characters in "Fault lines". We jump from a timeline to another, expecting to find the origin, the source of the fault, like a fish returning home, returning to origin. But even at the beginning, even at the start of the crack, we can't stop it, we can't help the fault to occur because the reasons of its birth are deeper. Nancy Huston tries, in my opinion, to underline the fears, the cruelty, the expectations and the questions that run through people lives. We all try someone or something to blame for our mistakes, for our weaknesses. But maybe there is no responsibles, or maybe we are all responsible. But the question of who is guilty or who is not doesn't matter. The most important thing is to escape this scheme and this destiny in order to rich our glories, to create art, to love (no matter how, no matter how) and to highlight the best part of humanity.
"Fault line" is a novel,a great novel. But besides that, and most of all, it's a hymn to humanity (the best part of it), no matter the apparences. I read the book in french and I didn't found any english quotes on the internet so I will post this passage in french. It's really beautiful and it's a great way to finish this review.
"Tout en caressant son grain de beauté au creux de son bras gauche, maman se réchauffe la voix avec des gammes et des arpèges - mais ce n'est pas pour elle comme réciter l'alphabet, c'est plutôt comme la joie, comme de courir pieds nus sur une longue plage de sable. Elle fait signe à Peter qu'elle est prête. Après plusieurs notes courtes, accentuées, en staccato, il tombe sur un accord, la voix de maman vient se glisser parmi ses notes, s'empare de l'une d'elle et rebondit jusqu'au ciel : c'est parti. Sur un rythme saccadé, elle descend depuis les notes aiguës, chantées avec une douceur déchirante, jusqu'aux eaux profondes et sombres des notes basses, où elle gémit comme si la vie la quittait goutte à goutte. Parfois elle fait un bruit avec les lèvres comme un bouchon qui saute, d'autres fois elle se frappe la poitrine du plat de la main pour ponctuer la musique qui coule de sa gorge. On dirait que la voix raconte une histoire - non seulement l'histoire de sa vie mais celle de toute l'humanité avec ses guerres et ses famines, ses combats et ses épreuves, ses triomphes et ses défaites, tantôt elle se déverse en vagues menaçantes comme l'océan gonflé d'une tempête, tantôt elle est comme une chute d'eau, dégringolant la falaise et rebondissant sur les rochers pour se précipiter dans un chaos d'écume vers la sombre vallée luxuriante au-dessous. Elle dessine autour de ma tête des cercles d'or comme les anneaux de Saturne, se balance follement de haut en bas comme la danse du french cancan, se lamente et frémit, s'insinuant autour d'un fa grave comme le lierre autour d'un tronc d'arbre, pour se plonger enfin dans les eaux bleu cristal de l'accord de sol majeur que répète la main gauche de Peter.... Je suis transportée."
July 28, 2021
Duygu aktarımında çok başarılı bulduğum, anlatımı ve temposunu tam yakalayabildiğine inandığım ve elbette severek okuduğum bir kitap önerisiyle geldim, merhabalar.
Zaman çizelgesi üzerinde bir o yana bir bu yana giden metinleri özellikle tercih ettiğimi ve okurken çok keyif aldığımı çok yeni keşfettim. Sanırım hem aynı kurgudaki karakterlerin zaman içindeki değişim ve dönüşümünü görebilmek hem de dönemlerin ruhunu okurken hissedebilmek beni mutlu ediyor, çözemedim a dostlar.
Matruşka bebekler gibi bir aile hikayesini okumayı vaad eden bir kitap. Kurgunun en can alıcı noktası zamanda geriye gitmesi ve bunu her harakette karakteri 6 yaşına götürmesi. Bir ailenin en can alıcı ferdinin çocukluğu bize sesleniyor. Zamanda geriye gittikçe ilk satırlar daha bir anlam kazanıyor. Velhasılı okudukça kendini açık eden bir kurgu.
Özellikle var olan anne babanın yokluğu ve çocukluk üzerinden, özellikle ikinci dünya savaşı ve ötekileştirmenin sonuçlarını okuyabilmek muazzam. Bilhassa İkinci Dünya Savaşı döneminde Almanya'nın tutumunu alttan alta hissedip yumruk gibi yemişçesine etkisini hissedeceksiniz.
Uzun lafın kısası, çok sevdim, tavsiyemdir.
Keyifli okumalar!
#readingismycardio #aslihanneokudu #okudumbitti #2021okumalarım #okuryorumu #kitaptavsiyesi #neokudum #selyayınları #selyayıncılık #fayhatları #nancyhuston
Zaman çizelgesi üzerinde bir o yana bir bu yana giden metinleri özellikle tercih ettiğimi ve okurken çok keyif aldığımı çok yeni keşfettim. Sanırım hem aynı kurgudaki karakterlerin zaman içindeki değişim ve dönüşümünü görebilmek hem de dönemlerin ruhunu okurken hissedebilmek beni mutlu ediyor, çözemedim a dostlar.
Matruşka bebekler gibi bir aile hikayesini okumayı vaad eden bir kitap. Kurgunun en can alıcı noktası zamanda geriye gitmesi ve bunu her harakette karakteri 6 yaşına götürmesi. Bir ailenin en can alıcı ferdinin çocukluğu bize sesleniyor. Zamanda geriye gittikçe ilk satırlar daha bir anlam kazanıyor. Velhasılı okudukça kendini açık eden bir kurgu.
Özellikle var olan anne babanın yokluğu ve çocukluk üzerinden, özellikle ikinci dünya savaşı ve ötekileştirmenin sonuçlarını okuyabilmek muazzam. Bilhassa İkinci Dünya Savaşı döneminde Almanya'nın tutumunu alttan alta hissedip yumruk gibi yemişçesine etkisini hissedeceksiniz.
Uzun lafın kısası, çok sevdim, tavsiyemdir.
Keyifli okumalar!
#readingismycardio #aslihanneokudu #okudumbitti #2021okumalarım #okuryorumu #kitaptavsiyesi #neokudum #selyayınları #selyayıncılık #fayhatları #nancyhuston
November 5, 2015
Παρα πολυ καλο βιβλιο . Η εξερεύνηση ( και διαιώνιση ) της ενοχής μεσα σε λιγότερο σπο 500 σελίδες
December 4, 2008
I liked this book, but I did not love it.
A friend recommended the book while she was reading it, so I put it on my list, not having any idea what it was about. I don't read jacket covers or blurbs, so I usually go into books totally blind, to be able to enjoy the journey without any spoilers at all.
This one gave quite a journey. The first part is written by a possibly sociopathic six-year-old, Sol. His sophistication and self-perceived heightened intelligence are believable as maybe part of his mental illness. Through his eyes, we witness the end of the book's story, but we don't know that's what we're seeing. Of course, his story continues on, but we don't get to follow that (which is a bummer, I might have liked to), because we have to follow the changing narrative as the tale is revealed to us backwards.
The next segment is written from the perspective of Sol's father when he was six years old, followed by that boy's mother (Sol's grandmother) when she was six, and finally by her mother (Sol's great-grandmother) when she was six. All the while, the narratives from the different time periods pulled together to illuminate the ending that we saw in Sol's segment, until by the last pages of the book, we have the full picture. It was a neat trick and the author pulled it off well.
As other critics have said, the other six-year-old narratives aren't believable, but that didn't bother me too much. I could forgive the consistent implausible language and astute mature observations made by these kids, because there were much bigger flaws demanding my attention.
Foremost was the bitterness towards women--mothers in particular. Starting with Sol, the mothers were the damaging force in the family. Sol's mother spoiled him mercilessly and this was offered up as perhaps an explanation for his overblown narcissism. The dad was the good guy, trying really hard to make everyone happy and intervene when he had to for the best interests of his son. But, while he was loving and meant well, he was also spineless and soft, at the mercy of the women around him.
His own mother was absent and negligent. She had an obsession with her work and left her child at home alone with his father quite a lot. His father was also loving and hapless, trying to do the best that he could under the circumstances, but the woman just would not compromise her work, finally dragging them all halfway around the world where they would all be miserable and suffer near breakdowns, so she could do research for her thesis.
But, see, she had been damaged by her own mother as well. Abandoned and ignored, always pining for her mother's attention and approval like it was some sort of drug. The only time she experienced any stability and happiness was when her mother married a nice man who took her to the deli every Sunday and gave her the attention and love she craved. But, of course, that didn't last long, because that's the way of this book.
Then we saw the great-grandmother as a six-year-old and all was explained. We saw the root, the cause of this pathology and then it was all supposed to make sense.
So, frankly it was just depressing, the idea that maybe we're all living out accumulated pain from generations back. That our choices in partners and how we parent is all somehow traced back to a tragedy that affected our (or maybe even our husband's!) great-great grandmother. Lives upon lives are just damaged and trying to repair something done a hundred years ago. It's all very sad and hopeless and I don't really like it at all.
The writing was excellent, the stylistic trick of the plot unfolding backwards was done flawlessly, the characters were multi-dimensional and well developed. I just didn't like them or the story they told.
A friend recommended the book while she was reading it, so I put it on my list, not having any idea what it was about. I don't read jacket covers or blurbs, so I usually go into books totally blind, to be able to enjoy the journey without any spoilers at all.
This one gave quite a journey. The first part is written by a possibly sociopathic six-year-old, Sol. His sophistication and self-perceived heightened intelligence are believable as maybe part of his mental illness. Through his eyes, we witness the end of the book's story, but we don't know that's what we're seeing. Of course, his story continues on, but we don't get to follow that (which is a bummer, I might have liked to), because we have to follow the changing narrative as the tale is revealed to us backwards.
The next segment is written from the perspective of Sol's father when he was six years old, followed by that boy's mother (Sol's grandmother) when she was six, and finally by her mother (Sol's great-grandmother) when she was six. All the while, the narratives from the different time periods pulled together to illuminate the ending that we saw in Sol's segment, until by the last pages of the book, we have the full picture. It was a neat trick and the author pulled it off well.
As other critics have said, the other six-year-old narratives aren't believable, but that didn't bother me too much. I could forgive the consistent implausible language and astute mature observations made by these kids, because there were much bigger flaws demanding my attention.
Foremost was the bitterness towards women--mothers in particular. Starting with Sol, the mothers were the damaging force in the family. Sol's mother spoiled him mercilessly and this was offered up as perhaps an explanation for his overblown narcissism. The dad was the good guy, trying really hard to make everyone happy and intervene when he had to for the best interests of his son. But, while he was loving and meant well, he was also spineless and soft, at the mercy of the women around him.
His own mother was absent and negligent. She had an obsession with her work and left her child at home alone with his father quite a lot. His father was also loving and hapless, trying to do the best that he could under the circumstances, but the woman just would not compromise her work, finally dragging them all halfway around the world where they would all be miserable and suffer near breakdowns, so she could do research for her thesis.
But, see, she had been damaged by her own mother as well. Abandoned and ignored, always pining for her mother's attention and approval like it was some sort of drug. The only time she experienced any stability and happiness was when her mother married a nice man who took her to the deli every Sunday and gave her the attention and love she craved. But, of course, that didn't last long, because that's the way of this book.
Then we saw the great-grandmother as a six-year-old and all was explained. We saw the root, the cause of this pathology and then it was all supposed to make sense.
So, frankly it was just depressing, the idea that maybe we're all living out accumulated pain from generations back. That our choices in partners and how we parent is all somehow traced back to a tragedy that affected our (or maybe even our husband's!) great-great grandmother. Lives upon lives are just damaged and trying to repair something done a hundred years ago. It's all very sad and hopeless and I don't really like it at all.
The writing was excellent, the stylistic trick of the plot unfolding backwards was done flawlessly, the characters were multi-dimensional and well developed. I just didn't like them or the story they told.
May 3, 2011
Tan inocente como desgarradora. En la voz de 4 pequeños niños se desarrolla esta historia que corre del presente al pasado. Desde California en 2004 con Sol como Narrador, pasando por su padre Randall que divide sus años entre Nueva York y Haifa en 1982, siguiendo por su abuela Sadie en Toronto por los años 60´s, y culminando con la bisabuela Erra desde Múnich en 1944, va develando poco a poco una historia que va marcando la máxima que Huston nos transmite sobre cómo la Historia influye en nuestras historias particulares.
La fuerza de los hechos históricos tanto a nivel político como en el plano familiar, van marcando líneas para ofrecer fórmulas únicas de personalidades; se van tejiendo poco a poco para llegar al ya tan ansiado "destape" del gran secreto familiar, ése que les marca, ése que les determina como una marca de nacimiento en la piel.
La historia, con sencillez en su escritura, no podría contarse de otra forma: perdería el impacto del laberinto de intriga construido y los secretos enterrados por los años y las generaciones. Bien vale la pena leerlo para saber de la descendencia de Erra y su enigmático canto universal.
Galardonada con el premio fémina 2006, la franco-canadiense Huston nos ofrece esta narrativa desde los ojos de infantes que con una mezcla de realidad y de inocencia en la historia, dejan al lector sin saber si tomar algunas escenas seriamente o simplemente reír. La perspectiva infantil de una vida adulta parece ser buena fórmula para el lector y seguramente divertida para su autor. AJ
La fuerza de los hechos históricos tanto a nivel político como en el plano familiar, van marcando líneas para ofrecer fórmulas únicas de personalidades; se van tejiendo poco a poco para llegar al ya tan ansiado "destape" del gran secreto familiar, ése que les marca, ése que les determina como una marca de nacimiento en la piel.
La historia, con sencillez en su escritura, no podría contarse de otra forma: perdería el impacto del laberinto de intriga construido y los secretos enterrados por los años y las generaciones. Bien vale la pena leerlo para saber de la descendencia de Erra y su enigmático canto universal.
Galardonada con el premio fémina 2006, la franco-canadiense Huston nos ofrece esta narrativa desde los ojos de infantes que con una mezcla de realidad y de inocencia en la historia, dejan al lector sin saber si tomar algunas escenas seriamente o simplemente reír. La perspectiva infantil de una vida adulta parece ser buena fórmula para el lector y seguramente divertida para su autor. AJ
February 16, 2025
me da pena porque no enganché mucho los primeros dos capítulos y sentía que lo estaba haciendo más por compromiso, pero en los últimos dos logré involucrarme más. El último capítulo fue el que más me marcó, por la historia y por el personaje mismo. Era lo que estaba esperando leer desde un principio y se demoró mucho en llegar. Tenía altas expectativas quizás.
De todas maneras las últimas dos historias ilustran muy bien el daño generacional que deja la guerra, que a pesar de que la historia no se conozca por completo deja marcas, palabras que se repiten a través del tiempo inevitable e inconscientemente. Además la historia de amor del final fue increíble. me quedo con eso ugu
De todas maneras las últimas dos historias ilustran muy bien el daño generacional que deja la guerra, que a pesar de que la historia no se conozca por completo deja marcas, palabras que se repiten a través del tiempo inevitable e inconscientemente. Además la historia de amor del final fue increíble. me quedo con eso ugu
October 31, 2020
جميعنا نقف في بعض الأحيان مندهشين من تساؤلات الأطفال و طريقة تفكيرهم ..في رواية خطوط الصدع تكتب هيوستن عن إنسان القرن الواحد والعشرين عن الحروب عن المجازر التي حدثت صبرا و شاتيلا و احتلال العراق و غيرها من الحروب على لسان ثلاث أطفال و ستة بنات .
رواية جميلة و عبقرية .
رواية جميلة و عبقرية .
March 12, 2020
Une histoire racontée par un enfant de six ans, ça m’énerve. Une histoire racontée par QUATRE enfants de six, c’est vraiment irritant. J’ai décroché tout au long du livre à cause du manque de crédibilité de la narration, et la conclusion du livre un peu à l’eau de rose m’a tout autant dérangé. Ceci dit, c’est un roman qui se laisse lire, qui présente une construction originale et je serais curieuse de lire autre chose de l’auteure pour voir comment son style se déploie dans une narration portée par un adulte, idéalement !
January 6, 2024
Excellent, comme tous les romans de Nancy Huston que j’ai lus jusqu’� présent. Il faut absolument dépasser l’antipathie que nous inspire le premier narrateur et se rendre jusqu’au bout de cette histoire qui s’étale sur 4 générations, c’est franchement réussi!
May 4, 2025
trop une belle surprise ce livre ! je pensais pas aimer tant que ça au début mais le fait d'avoir 4 points de vue différents (tous d'enfants) fait en sorte que c'est dynamique et pas ennuyant du tout. c'est vraiment une belle histoire très touchante par moments !!
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