Desolation
05-19-2009, 12:29 AM
The Thief's Journal is an autobiographical novel about Genet's round the world vagabondage in pursuit of spiritual fulfillment by committing acts that are generally deemed evil by society. He prostitutes himself, he joins circles of theives and commits acts of theft both small and large, engages in homosexual love affairs(Genet was one of the first homosexual authors to openly avow and write about their homosexuality, something even Proust coward away from), and even says that he would kill if necessary. It was written in a beautiful and poetic prose style, and offered a philosophical view that is simple but few would dare commit to. The storyline was enjoyable, but very scattered, shifting topics and scenes seemlessly, and then cutting back to continuations of former scenes.
I greatly enjoyed this book, although it had the misfortune of being read right after 'Crime and Punishment', to which it couldn't hold up next to. What struck me was that, prior to reading the book itself, while reading about the book it was often said even in positive reviews that the book is essentially a gay romance/pornographic novel. I found that the gay-sex scenes were mild and infrequent at best. If you replaced the second man with a woman, no one would bat an eyelash. In this way, Genet unknowingly flashes a light on the ridiculous standard that homosexuality is subjected to, making the book even better. I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in decadent French literature that isn't squeamish when it comes to homosexuality.
I greatly enjoyed this book, although it had the misfortune of being read right after 'Crime and Punishment', to which it couldn't hold up next to. What struck me was that, prior to reading the book itself, while reading about the book it was often said even in positive reviews that the book is essentially a gay romance/pornographic novel. I found that the gay-sex scenes were mild and infrequent at best. If you replaced the second man with a woman, no one would bat an eyelash. In this way, Genet unknowingly flashes a light on the ridiculous standard that homosexuality is subjected to, making the book even better. I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in decadent French literature that isn't squeamish when it comes to homosexuality.