Student Blogs

Review of Marguerite Duras's The Lover read full post >>

“The Trenchcoat” by Norman Manea was another piece of literature that left me confused. From the very beginning, I felt overwhelmed by the number of characters appearing one after another, whilst also trying to understand what was going on. On top of the fact that there were multiple characters, there were also characters that appeared […] read full post >>

Ah… Professor, is there one book in here that will begin and end with the same healthy romantic relationship? I’m so horrified by this romantic dynamic and even though I’ve visited this book during my highschool days, it still disgusts me to read some of these pages here (like pages 37-39). There were some questions in my head as I... read full post >>

This book by Duras marked a visit to another completely different part of the world than those that I have already visited through the books that I have chosen, as it takes place in the colony of French Indochina, a part of current day Vietnam. I truly did not expect this course’s texts to take […] read full post >>

    This book, although a bit confusing, was right up my alley, given that I'm a political science student. Reflecting on this reinforced preconceived notions about authoritarianism and totalitarian rule. The Trenchcoat was a particularl... read full post >>

    This book, although a bit confusing, was right up my alley, given that I'm a political science student. Reflecting on this reinforced preconceived notions about authoritarianism and totalitarian rule. The Trenchcoat was a particularl... read full post >>

“Everything chimed with his desire and made him possess me. I had become his child. It was with his own child he made love every evening. And sometimes he takes fright, suddenly he’s worried about her health, as if he suddenly realized she was mortal and it suddenly struck him he might lose her. ” […] read full post >>

It is also a story that begins with a memory, as the narrator recalls her past from her old age. It reminds me of the narrative in The Shrouded Woman, and both of them are like recollections of the past, where the story unfolds through memories rather than through a linear plot (Also, at the […] read full post >>

 I did not know how I felt about this book. I am drawing blanks. It was a good read. I enjoyed it, but there were many time jumps, which I feel are messing with my perception of when things happened in chronological order.As I turn the pages, I ke... read full post >>

 I did not know how I felt about this book. I am drawing blanks. It was a good read. I enjoyed it, but there were many time jumps, which I feel are messing with my perception of when things happened in chronological order.As I turn the pages, I ke... read full post >>

Well this is one of those books that leaves me with an unnerving feeling after finishing it. THIS WAS GROSS MAN. “The lover” was not a good title, should’ve went with “The groomer” instead cause all I read straight illegal activity. Let’s take this from the beginning, I think I originally chose this novel because […] read full post >>

  First of all, I really liked how fast this book was to get through compared to last week’s read. Like genuinely flew through it. Now onto the actual reflection.The title of this novel immediately made me think of secrets, and honestly a trench coat is kind of the perfect symbol for that. Think about […] read full post >>

When I read The Lover I felt like the opening immediately created a reflective and slightly unsettling tone. at the start the narrator starts by describing her older self and her “ravaged” face before returning to the memory of being fifteen and a half. Beginning the story like this makes the reader aware that everything […] read full post >>

I felt too dumb for this book, like I completely and entirely missed the point, confused and certain I was missing something, that I should be able to wade through the language and symbols to find the underlying meaning much better than I was actually able to. The use of names in this book confused […] read full post >>

mar 8, 2026 First of all why are all the books in this course highkey depressing… Before I read the book read the title The Lover and that Duras is a female French writer I thought maybe finally we have one that’s less depressing and would be an account of a woman falling in love. […] read full post >>