The Malady of Death

Rating:
Summary: The answer is beware.
Review: Although Marguerite Duras is one of my favorite writers, I don't recommend buying this book... anywhere. It is so short you can read the entire book in a bookstore and save yourself some money! When I purchased this book, I was hoping to read a novel but was disappointed to find that it is nothing short of a really long poem dragged out in size 16 font over 60 pages of reading. Which I read in about 15-20 minutes. Although I found the story quite intriguing it was not what I'd hoped for; it lacked the type of stream of consciousness writing Marguerite Duras is known for which is autobiographical in nature and very real. The malady of death is a poem. So if you are looking for a novel to read, this is not it. I recommend, "The Lover" it is by far her best work.

Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Story
Review: Hmmm. One could write a review longer than the book, it seems; I wonder if that would miss the point. I suppose one could impose a number of interpretations upon this very brief novel, but I though of it as a rather literal story. A very lonely and probably shy man pays a woman to spend several nights with him to see if he can ever love or be loved. Sadly, the answer is no. And then she is gone. His effort to exert and enforce control proves to be impotent. Even though he won't even allow her to voice her pleasure - why? - she seems to feelo only a reserved pity for him; not anger, hatred, resentment, fear, or any other emotion I would expect a woman in her position to feel. Such is his own powerlessness, his malady of death. This is an excellent book which, yes, can be read in the book store without spending any money. Shame on you for doing that, and not supporting such inquisitive literature, and giving yourself the opportunity to re-read and study the text.

Rating:
Summary: Read "Blue Eyes, Black Hair" to understand this better
Review: I thought that "The Malady of Death" was better that "Blue Eyes, Black Hair" in that it was shorter and more to the point, but if you want to read a more in-depth look at the same basic story line, then "Blue Eyes, Black Hair" brings insight into yet another atypical Duras romance even though it tends to drag on. If you like Duras, but want a book that flows easier, I recommend "10:30 on a Summer Night."