"Dites-moi, mademoiselle Smyth. Qu'est-ce qui vous amène ici ? " 1965, Londres. Elevée dans une famille bourgeoise, Veronica est une jeune femme brillante, à l'avenir radieux et tout tracé. Aussi son suicide surprend-il son entourage. A commencer par sa jeune soeur, pour qui l'incompréhension est totale. Jusqu'au jour où elle découvre le cas de " Dorothy " dans le livre d'un célèbre psychanalyste, Collins Braithwaite. Et y reconnaît, sans doute possible, la vie de Veronica. Pour en savoir plus, elle décide d'entamer une thérapie auprès de Braithwaite, sous une fausse identité : Rebecca Smyth. S'engage alors entre elle et le thérapeute un jeu aussi pervers que passionnant, à l'issue incertaine.… (plus d'informations)
i'd wanted to read this because it hits some points of interest for me - 1960s, r.d. laing, history of psychotherapy. on that front i will say it absolutely delivered. i thought the writing was compelling and the book was an easy read, took me a matter of days. this book's greatest strength is the character work, which is multi-faceted and intelligent, and points to a great deal of thought.
HOWEVER, as for some ** SPOILERS **, i found the ending super unsatisfying. i love a good twist and i figured from reviews that there was one coming, but i'd also hoped for at least some clarity as to how the "story" relates to "reality" (in-universe). instead we get an open, ~how much is really real?~ ending, which i can't really be bothered with. i understand the thought process behind it and obviously don't mind a bit of ambiguity, but i prefer a book that can commit to its own truth. though i guess that's the point? lol ( )
I bought this book at a bookstore on a whim, with little expectations and no prior experience with the works of Graeme Macrae Burnet. Although the plot is windy and at times bizarre, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience of this book. I found both narrators' voices to be engaging and felt pulled in even during the "historical" bits which ordinarily would bore me. The main character, Rebecca, had a story arc which reminded me a bit of the character from Catcher in the Rye, except with more relatability and intrigue. I rather liked the ending and appreciated the twists. Burnet's writing was so good that I truly did not even recognize which characters were fictional until I looked it up afterwards, which was a fun discovery. I would say that those looking for a book with a strong plot might not enjoy it, but those who enjoy unique and entertaining characters with a bit of mystery would be pleased with this book. ( )
A puzzle of a book told in both "found notebooks" the author received from a troubled young lady's cousin in 1960s London, mostly regarding her interactions with a therapist and the author's "biographical accounts" of that fictional psychotherapist. The girl writing the notebooks is drawn to the therapist after her sister speaks with him and commits suicide. Ultimately, this was an interesting way to tell a story but I was a little lost as to what the purpose was. Possibly to exist as a mystery, uniquely told. The young lady uses the name "Rebecca" after Daphne du Maurier, as a hint to what the mood is in this book. ( )
Another great book from Graeme Macrae Burnet. I think I slightly preferred His Bloody Project but really enjoyed this too. Unreliable narrator and multiple texts interwoven. A mixture of real and fictional characters. Its funny, the main narrator is a very comical character and her notebooks are great. Braithwaite is monstrous and entertaining in a different way. It has a lot to say about the self and how we create our personality. ( )
Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
Towards the end of 2019 I received an email from a Mr, Martin Grey of Clacton-on-Sea. -Preface
I have decided to write down everything that happens, because I feel, I suppose, I may be putting myself in danger, and if proved to be right (a rare occurrence admittedly), this notebook might serve as some kind of evidence. -The First Notebook
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Informations provenant du Partage des connaissances anglais.Modifiez pour passer à votre langue.
She had the air of an aging but still elegant actress.
"Dites-moi, mademoiselle Smyth. Qu'est-ce qui vous amène ici ? " 1965, Londres. Elevée dans une famille bourgeoise, Veronica est une jeune femme brillante, à l'avenir radieux et tout tracé. Aussi son suicide surprend-il son entourage. A commencer par sa jeune soeur, pour qui l'incompréhension est totale. Jusqu'au jour où elle découvre le cas de " Dorothy " dans le livre d'un célèbre psychanalyste, Collins Braithwaite. Et y reconnaît, sans doute possible, la vie de Veronica. Pour en savoir plus, elle décide d'entamer une thérapie auprès de Braithwaite, sous une fausse identité : Rebecca Smyth. S'engage alors entre elle et le thérapeute un jeu aussi pervers que passionnant, à l'issue incertaine.
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HOWEVER, as for some ** SPOILERS **, i found the ending super unsatisfying. i love a good twist and i figured from reviews that there was one coming, but i'd also hoped for at least some clarity as to how the "story" relates to "reality" (in-universe). instead we get an open, ~how much is really real?~ ending, which i can't really be bothered with. i understand the thought process behind it and obviously don't mind a bit of ambiguity, but i prefer a book that can commit to its own truth. though i guess that's the point? lol (