Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most mesmerizing novel of adolescence, youth, and love, 21 Nov 2006
This is perhaps the greatest French novel of the 20th century, a stunning tour de force by a young author soon to die in the trenches of world war I; yet it remains relatively little known in the UK. I first read it at a slightly old age of about 20, but its impact on me was unforgettable. Indeed, no older reader should shy away from it, for age brings even greater appreciation of such matters as the finding and loss of love. Youth itself becomes a 'lost domain', for which we remain in constant search. The wonderful and evocative film of the book by Albicoco did the rounds of arts cinemas in this country for many years in the 70s and 80s, but has now vanished. There is a DVD, but for some reason it has no English subtitles, which will dissuade many from watching it. But if your French is up to it and you know the story from the book, it retains its beauty. This should be near the top of anyone's list of books to read; and if you are in your teens or early twenties, it should be at the top.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In search of a moment of happiness, 27 Jan 2004
This semi-autobiographical novel by the Frenchman, Fournier, is a beautiful tale of childhood, friendship, loyalty and love. It's a tale to be read slowly, in quiet moments, when your own mind can take you back to a brief happy memory of childhood. For this is a story that has the power to do just that. The characters of Seurel and Meaulnes, in particular, are magnificently drawn in this novel and you will remember them and all the characters for years and years after putting the book down. I have read this book at least 8 times and I guarantee you will do the same.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favourite, 11 Jul 2002
I first read this book when I was about 15, and even then it made me reflect on the sadness of lost childhood, friends who have gone away, and remembering times that will never be again. To me, it was all symbolised by the "lost domain", the fantastic house in the middle of the country where Meaulnes meets the love of his life, and to which he strives to return all through the story. At the age of 15, it made me think of my old primary school, which had been knocked down. It also made me think of my friends from then, the good times we had, and the fact that we'd probably never meet again, and even if we did, how hard it'd be hard to be friends again.
Reading it again, a couple of years later, it struck me that Meaulnes is a romantic, but he is stubborn, sometimes unfeeling in his search for adventure and romance. For him, everything has to be perfect, and this stubborn nature of his leads to the sense of tragedy in the story. He's like Scotty in Hitchcock's "Vertigo", dressing up Kim Novak to be the way he wants her to be in his fantasies. Meaulnes grew in my estimation as an even greater character, a very flawed person who shows the failings of men who can't bring themselves to grow up. If Meaulnes was around now, he'd definitely own a Playstation II.
The main thing about the book is that it recreates the sense of pleasant nostalgia, the looking back at times gone by and wishing they were happening again, but at the same time just being glad that they happened. Reading "Le Grand Meaulnes" is like remembering your first kiss, looking at a photo of you and your best friends ten years ago, or hearing a song you used to love with all your heart being played on the radio. It gives you a sad feeling, but the feeling is mixed up with a feeling of happiness.
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