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Cailin
11-12-2008, 06:06 PM
Anybody read any of his novels? In French or in translation? I have been browsing through some world literature forums and there seems to be a huge snobbery surrounding both him and Amelie Nothomb's writings.... (PS made me appreciate the relative open-mindedness of this forum and the embracing of a range of opinions!!!!)

I have been given a copy of one of Levy's books on loan and was just wondering whether any of you out there have experience of his work?
Bitterfly
11-12-2008, 06:12 PM
Rotten to the core. I've rarely seen such tripe and trust me, I've read a lot of rubbish! :D
I haven't finished any of his books, they made me so nauseous: full of platitudes and sentimentality, and badly-written. If there is hype, it's not coming from intellectual quarters, anyway.
I read them in French, by the way (maybe the English translation is better!).

Amélie Nothomb is OK (rather funny, and can be poetic, but she seems to be losing her inspiration - her latest books are not good).
Cassandra15
11-12-2008, 07:06 PM
Yes, I am deeply attached to both Sept jours pour une éternité and Et si c'était vrai, which I've just finished. They're both the kinds of books from which I read aloud to my spouse or one of the passing children, whether they feel like it or not. In fact my poor spouse was subjected to two doses of ESCV today. The books reverberate.

What do you mean by "there seems to be a huge snobbery surrounding both him and Amelie Nothomb's writings...."? Is he considered very lowbrow? If so, I must say that it doesn't surprise me: there are those who write papers about myth to get a profitable degree, and there are those who live it, whether we want to or not.

Thanks.
C.
Cailin
11-13-2008, 06:54 AM
[QUOTE=Cassandra15;638872]
What do you mean by "there seems to be a huge snobbery surrounding both him and Amelie Nothomb's writings...."? Is he considered very lowbrow?
QUOTE]

Apparently they're both polarising authors - I went onto some other sites to see what the feeling about Levy was and there was such venom attached to the postings, I was a little taken aback! I can't tell whether the "lowbrow" label has been attached to them because they're popular (which so often is the case). Seems either people love or hate the two of them - however, I'm going to make up my own mind...:blush: