#after all the A Rebours segments are posted I may have him do reviews for other books

[doriangrayanswers]

𝑨 𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 💛

Rating - 10/10

The novels follows Des Essientes, an aristocrat that’s fled to a countryside villa. Here he lives in a whirlwind fever dream (literally! He’s sick half the time.) of decadence and classical literature.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐈

I admit it was somewhat difficult getting through the first part of the prologue. It was all too easy to put myself in Des Essientes’ shoes.

We begin with a lengthy description of Des Esseintes’ family tree (it’s noted that he looks eerily similar to an older, now deceased relative) and it’s downfall, before moving onto Des Esseintes’ lonely bookish childhood.

Unfortunately this ends up morphing him into a bitter cynic, which is why he makes his decision to leave to the countryside villa. I don’t understand his thought process in this decision— surely more isolation would only contribute to his terrible health? I know I hate to be left alone for too long, how can anyone stand it?

I cannot properly share my thoughts on the next two chapters, as a dreamy sigh doesn’t translate well into writing. Anyway- I’m not much of a church goer, but this is how I imagine religious reverie must feel! It shouldn’t be possible for ink on a page to stir the senses so, and yet here we are. I can’t even bring myself to focus on what’s happened, I get so lost in the scene— his disdain for Mother Nature is secondary to the beautiful picture Huysmans’ paints!

Aaaah this post has gotten too long already, hasn’t it? I think I’ll post the rest of this review in segments, depending on how much happens in each chapter. I cannot wait to share the rest of this book with you all, and I cannot thank Henry enough for introducing it to me! It holds a special place in my heart and only seems to get better with each re-read.