She comes closer,

and sits down right next to the old man.

This time, they look at each other, but only while she is speaking, exactly.

“Then,” she said, “she finally reappeared.

The curtain was moved aside.

We saw her as she crossed the whole square in the opposite direction.

Slowly.

Taking her time.

Taking the time of those who were looking at her, as if it had been owed her from time immemorial, without realizing it.”

“Without realizing it,” Mr. Andesmas repeated.

Once again, they were banished into that moment when she had seen, completely, fully, forever, the beauty of Valérie Andesmas.

It was as if time stood still for them in that instant.

The old man's eyes shone with a hint of nostalgia and longing.

The woman's voice carried a softness that seemed to fill the space around them.

They were both lost in the memory of that encounter,

reliving the moment when Valérie Andesmas had walked across the square,

captivating everyone's attention with her grace and beauty.

It was a moment that would forever be etched in their minds.

This is the second book that has fallen in the bathtub in 2018.

It's not the book's fault; it's me.

I've been mentally pulled between home and work life, and the peaceful moment of reading a good book has been disrupted by rude awakenings as I fish a soggy paperback out of the bath.

Once, I even knocked over my wine glass on the tub edge in the surprising process.

Fuck. I'm tired.

Anyway, this is my first trip with Marguerite Duras, and I'm loving her.

There's magic here to be enjoyed.

Quiet journeys, pensive, these novellas are lovely little gems of human documents.

Love and passion, solitude and dread, waiting for something to happen, waiting for someone to come, searching for answers to questions, brief human bonds, the complexities of relationships - father, daughter; husband and wife; strangers; lovers; mother and son.

The flow of alcohol and moments of time; storms and shadows; night and day, the breaking of dawn and the setting sun; the flow of dialog and inner thoughts.

Each story goes with the flow of life, such as it is, and each is only a fragment of reality, ending just as they begin, as if you're passing through, picking up the pieces of conversations, turning the dial on the radio to another station.

It's a unique experience, one that makes me feel both connected and detached from the world within the pages.

I can't wait to see where this literary adventure takes me next.

Hot, hot, hot.

Every single story is truly distinct and yet they are all magnificent.

It's as if each one has its own unique charm and allure, drawing the reader in and captivating their attention from the very first word.

Some stories might be filled with adventure and excitement, taking the reader on a thrilling journey through unknown lands and experiences.

Others could be more emotional and heartwarming, tugging at the reader's heartstrings and making them feel a range of emotions.

But no matter what the story is about, they all have one thing in common - they are all great.

They have the power to transport the reader to another world, to make them forget about their own troubles and immerse themselves in the story.

Whether it's a short story or a novel, a work of fiction or non-fiction, each story has the potential to be a masterpiece.

So the next time you pick up a book or start reading a story, remember that it could be a truly hot and great one.

This entire collection was truly engrossing.

Among them, "Moderato Cantabile" and "10:30 on a Summer Night" stand out as great short novels.

They have a certain charm that immediately reminds me of the works of Virginia Woolf and Katherine Anne Porter.

The psychological intensity in these stories is wrapped up in elegant sentences, creating a sense of doom that lingers in the reader's mind.

I am extremely glad that I picked up a copy of this Grove Press gem on a whim.

It has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Duras' writing.

I will definitely read more of her work in the future, eager to explore the depths of her unique literary style and the profound emotions she conveys through her words.

Each story seems to be a window into a different aspect of the human psyche, waiting to be discovered and understood.

I look forward to embarking on this literary journey with Duras and seeing where it takes me.

The last story was truly so depressing that it completely drained me.

There is indeed something rather draining about the long and drawn-out way in which Duras writes. Her dialogues are so vague and misleading that they ultimately end in even more mystery.

This book is dark, yet at times it can be seductive. In "Moderato Cantabile," there is the atmosphere of dim lighting and drinking, which adds to the allure. And then, in "10:30 on a Summer Night," it is sadly and tiredly seductive.

I simply couldn't stop imagining Duras' face in both of those stories, as the sad and drinking woman, always wanting and longing.

I am glad to have finally finished this book, and at the same time, I am also glad to have read it. It has been a unique and thought-provoking experience.

Although it may have left me feeling a bit drained, it has also opened my eyes to a different style of writing and a different way of exploring human emotions and relationships.

I will surely remember this book for a long time to come.

I have come to understand the true essence of why we travel and why we are inherently consumerists. Through my experiences and perhaps some self-reflection, I have gained this valuable insight. It's not just about the destinations we visit or the things we buy along the way. There's a deeper psychological and emotional aspect to it all.

Thanks to Marguerite, whose influence or teachings have played a significant role in my realization. Maybe it was a conversation with her, or something she shared that made me see things from a different perspective. Whatever it was, I am truly grateful.

Travelling allows us to break free from our daily routines and explore new cultures, landscapes, and experiences. It gives us a sense of adventure and excitement, and it broadens our horizons. At the same time, our consumerist nature驱使 us to seek out new products, services, and experiences that we believe will enhance our lives.

Understanding these motivations helps us to make more conscious decisions when we travel and consume. We can choose to travel in a way that respects the local environment and culture, and we can be more mindful of our consumption habits. By doing so, we can have a more fulfilling and meaningful travel experience, while also making a positive impact on the world around us.

10:30 on a summer night is pure prose gorgeousness.

The stars twinkle in the sky, like countless diamonds scattered across the black canvas. The moon, a silver disc, hangs high above, casting a soft glow on everything below.

The gentle breeze blows, carrying the sweet scent of flowers and the coolness of the night. It caresses our faces, making us feel relaxed and comfortable.

People are out and about, enjoying the beautiful night. Some are taking a walk, chatting with friends or family. Others are sitting in the park, reading a book or simply looking up at the sky.

The city is alive at night, with the lights of the buildings and the cars creating a colorful and vibrant scene. It is a time when the hustle and bustle of the day has subsided, and we can truly appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the night.

10:30 on a summer night is a magical time, a time when prose comes to life and we can lose ourselves in the beauty of the moment.

I have a deep affection for Marguerite Duras' writing style. However, these stories presented certain issues.

The Square is extremely dull. Essentially, it resembles a play where two people sit on a park bench, being uninteresting and repeating themselves over several pages. The woman seems crazy while the guy appears rather normal.

Moderato Cantabile is beautifully penned. The relationship between the mother and child is distinct and wonderful. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of "between the lines" content happening between the mom and her lover that doesn't come across at all. One can't really discern what either of them is thinking or feeling. Perhaps it was intended to be clear solely from the dialogue, but it isn't. I believe if it were a film, it would have made much more sense as one could have seen the facial expressions and body language. I do like the overall concept of this one.

10:30 on a Summer Night was by far my favorite. It is heartbreaking, beautiful, and very realistic. People's motivations, feelings, and unspoken meanings are relatively easy to follow.

The Afternoon of Mr. Andesmas lasts much longer than necessary. It also suffers from a lot of "read between the lines" dialogue. It isn't really clear what the characters' intentions are. There is some beautiful phrasing and use of language, but ultimately it is difficult to know what meaning the characters are attempting to convey to each other.

Unhappiness, depression, despair, and resignation - these words have distinct meanings. However, they all have one thing in common: a sense of hopelessness and defeat. It's possible that Duras didn't think any of the stories in this book could be described in this way. In fact, given her overall worldview, she might have seen them as optimistic. But when you read them all together, the feeling is one of almost overwhelming melancholy.

In all four of these beautifully written novellas, there is a sad sense of futility. The idea is that there are forces in the world that always work towards impermanency, yet ironically, can also lead to a stultifying sameness. In particular, love is seen as fragile, offering a hope in the beginning that it cannot fulfill. While the desire to love someone can remain, the feeling itself doesn't. Like everything, it is subject to the forces of decay and dissolution, neglect, and the need for novelty. And yet, even when love dies, it doesn't mean everything is over. People are still bound by habit, fear, a sense of responsibility, and convention, leaving everyone in a liminal state.

The Square is the only story that doesn't involve the destructive effects of infidelity. In this novella, another theme emerges, which is related but different. It's the issue of immobility, the difficulty of knowing how or when to act, which is ultimately related to the problem of never really knowing who you are and what you want. The burden of decision rests on the self, but who can really say what that is? How does the self happen? Who's in charge of it? And yet decisions must be made, and they are made in ways that feel outside the self, both mysterious and banal.

The prose in all the books is simple. The dialogue is oblique, and the action is elliptical, but the environment is dynamic. It's constantly changing, with people coming and going, winds rising and falling, tides rolling up and receding, rain beating down and then stopping, only to start again, and the sun being both constant and capricious.

And yet, there is a suspense in everything that doesn't happen, a sense that everything is hovering over an abyss. This feeling, in its own way, brings both a strange comfort and terror.

Duras is a novelist who is often overlooked in America, but few people wrote the way she did. Her writing is simple yet philosophically complex, inventive, and courageous. Her works exist in a paradox. She has such great faith in her voice even as she writes about faithlessness. It's enchanting and full of subtle contradiction.

"Moderato Cantabile" is truly one of the most outstanding short stories that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

From the very first sentence, it grabs your attention and holds it firmly until the very end. The story is simply riveting, filled with intense emotions and complex characters.

The author's writing style is nothing short of amazing. She has a remarkable ability to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind with just a few words.

Her descriptions are so detailed and precise that you can almost feel as if you are right there in the story, experiencing everything along with the characters.

The pacing of the story is also excellent, never too slow or too fast, but just right to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Overall, "Moderato Cantabile" is a must-read for anyone who loves great literature. It is a masterpiece that will leave you thinking long after you have finished reading it.

Absolutely breathtaking.

10:30 on a Summer Night is truly a masterpiece that is worth every penny. The story unfolds in a captivating manner, drawing the reader in from the very beginning.

The Afternoon of Mr. Andesmas is another gem. It is one of those brilliant stories that linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page. The characters are so vividly portrayed that you feel as if you know them personally.

Moderato Cantabile is not only beautiful but also heartbreaking. The simple yet powerful prose tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you with a sense of profound sadness.

Overall, these works are a must-read for any literature lover. They offer a unique and unforgettable reading experience that will stay with you for a long time.

There is a great deal to analyze regarding Duras' relationship with and attitude towards blonde women. It's truly a complex and fascinating aspect of her work.

When it comes to choosing a favorite between "Moderato Cantabile" and "10:30 On A Summer Night," it becomes an extremely difficult decision. Each of these works has its own unique charm and allure.

"Moderato Cantabile" may draw readers in with its mysterious and intense atmosphere, while "10:30 On A Summer Night" might captivate with its evocative and dreamy narrative.

The way Duras portrays the characters and their emotions in both works is masterful, making it nearly impossible to simply pick one as the absolute favorite.

Perhaps it's the very ambiguity and depth of her exploration of these themes that keeps us coming back, eager to unpack and understand more about Duras' world and her perspectives on love, desire, and the human condition.