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In September we will be reading Strait is the Gate by André Gide for our Love category - who's in?

I am going to read, finally. It is quite long on my to-read shelf.

A book not for everyone.

And I think everyone will read it a bit differently. To me, it was mostly about the awful power of religion (Catholic) - because I grew up more or less in a similar atmosphere and oppression. So, because it was tuned with emotions I had buried years ago, I saw mostly this level of the novel. The love story was just a way to show this level.

Just requested it from the library.

Dennis wrote: "Just requested it from the library."

Okay, I really admired the writer's craft, but as a Jew, I am perplexed by the characters. Someone Christian, please tell me: do you think Gide wants us to pity Alissa, to admire her, or both? Is her love real? Is her virtue real? Or are both the delusions of a girl who never grows up? And is Juliette the real heroine of the book?

Dennis wrote: Okay, I really admired the writer's craft, but as a jew, I am perplexed by the characters. Someone Christian, please tell me: do you think Gide ..."

I am not calling myself a Christian, but I was raised in a Catholic country (and live here).

I don't know what Gide wanted. But to me, Alissa was an example of how a strong will paired with oppressive ideology (religion) can destroy humans (not only the one with a strong will). I would not have pitied her if not for those very small doubts she had a few times. If she was fully convinced she would have been happy. But those tiny doubts showed she wasn't fully convinced - and it was tragic.

I think everything one feels is real. One can have different definition of specific emotions, but they are still real for the person who feels them.