Hopelessy Romantic

[+ Lucky]

The hopelessly cynical Lucky is engrossed in a hopelessly romantic (and of course, tragic) novel by Phillipe Besson called "In the Absence of Men." And I can't put it down.

It is recently translated from the French and is by one of those young prodigy types who can't possibly have had the life experiences to write so beautifully about things he cannot know. But of course I must be wrong.

Vincent, the narrator, is a sixteen year old rich kid who falls (hopelessly!) in love with Arthur, the son of the family maid. Arthur, 21, is serving his country at the front (It is 1916) but has come home for a week's leave. Once he is gone again, Vincent takes comfort in the words of his mentor, none other than 45 year-old Marcel Proust, who also loves him.

Well, you can be sure that I have never read Proust, so there may be rich nuances here that I am not getting, but what I do know is that this is a book which should appeal to many of you hopeless romantics.

I gotta go finish it...

[Huey]

Sounds like an interesting book. I hadn't heard of it .. will check it out after the holidays. Thanks for the info Lucky .

[Trixie]

Oh! It sounds exquisite, Lucky! I hope it doesn't have a tragic ending. Those french, they love tragic endings!

La Trix

[+ Lucky]

I win't tell you the ending, but I will say that I didn't like the way the story ends. Otherwise, it's a really good book. I started another gay novel after I finished this one, and the quality of the writing fares so poorly in comparison.

[theDCeBOY]

proust is worth reading. i've never read him in translation though.