Wicked Angels by Eric Jourdan (Author), Thomas J. D. Armbrecht (Translator)
Title: Wicked Angels
Author: Eric Jourdan
Translator: Thomas J. D. Armbrecht
Language: Original written in French.
Type: Male Slash, Fiction, Lit, contemporary
Length: 120 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
Blurb: Wicked Angels is the exquisite English translation of a classic 1955 French literary novel Les mauvais anges, banned for thirty years for what was called its "subversive" subject matter. It is the story of Pierre and Gerard, two teenagers who share a love that no one else around them can condone. The two young men discover their destiny in each other’s arms, their passion coupled with violence--and ultimately pay the price. The novel is a profoundly lyrical ode to adolescent love and sexuality as well as a bold and elegant rejection of society's values, brought to light via the tale of two young men on the road to self-destruction.
I picked up a copy of this book after reading an article on banned books. As the flap on the book states. All right, the stuff under the cut, I'm going to try really hard not to give anything away. What I am going to say however is this:
This isn't a happy story, if you don't like violence within a relationship, don't read this book. If you dislike unhappy endings, don't read this book. While I suspected the ending, I was not happy with it. I feel that bothers me as well and I think that is part of the books purpose.
This book was fun, though short. But that was the charm of it at the moment, I needed something short, sweet at the to the point. Well short was right, sweet somewhat and the point hmmmm... I debated for a while on what rating to point on this book.
1. It is beautiful written there is a lovely lyrical quality to the story of these two boys.
2. It is a little confusion, though I think that could in part be due to translation. At points, the timeline of the book is not clear and both Gerard and Pierre flip back and forth from current to past times a little within scenes.
3. The book is split into two halves, the first is told from Pierre's point of view and the second from Gerard’s. Things being to fall much more into place when we get Gerard's half of the story.
4. The relationship between these two boys bothers me. I think it bothers me the most because I feel like the scenes we get from before the two boys are friends don't quiet mesh up with their later relationship. I feel that there are some inconsistencies within Gerard's character that bug me.
5. This tale while beautiful, it read too much like a warning story for me. A tale that warns against the trap of same sex relationships so to speak. I'm not positive as to if that was the original intent of this novella or not. But knowing the time period in which it was written, lends that possibility to it.
6. I think that this novella over all would've read better had things been put all together. Or maybe that's simply my propensity for order within the narrative. It worked as it is. I don't know the whole thing just bothers me. Lol, still working out all the reasons for that.