Book description
Adapted to film by both Louis Malle and Joachim Trier, this heart-rending and tenderly wrought novel narrates the decline of an artist and heroin addict in 1920s Paris.
Pierre Drieu la Rochelle might be said to be both the Hemingway and the Fitzgerald of twentieth-century French literature, a battle-scarred veteranâŚ
Why read it?
1 author picked The Fire Within as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This book is about a heroin addict. However, you donât need to be a heroin addict to sympathize with its protagonistâs existential wearinessâor ennui, as the French call it. I know I do. After exiting a rehabilitation clinic, he wanders around listlessly, visiting friends and acquaintances, trying to find a reason to go on, yet finding none.
The story may be better known for the excellent film adaptation by Louis Malleâwhich switches heroin for alcoholâyet the terse and evocative writing of the original novel nevertheless packs a punch. The fact that the protagonist was closely inspired by the authorâs friendâŚ
From Keijo's list on The best novels about alienation and self-destruction.
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December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa storiesâall reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argueâŚ
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