The Lover by Marguerite Duras
"The Lover" is a poignant exploration of forbidden love, power dynamics, and colonialism. Set in 1930s French Indochina, it tells the story of a tumultuous and passionate affair between a 15-year-old French girl and her wealthy, older Chinese lover. The narrative delves into the complexities of their relationship, the societal norms they defy, and the inevitable heartbreak that follows. The protagonist's struggle with her family's poverty and her mother's mental instability further complicates the story, making it a compelling exploration of love, desire, and societal constraints.
The 296th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1124
This book was first published in 1984
29 Lists
- score: 125 -- The 50 best French language books from 1900 to today - 2019 (Weight: 150)
- score: 105 -- What are the Goncourt Winners’ Favorite Books? - 2023 (Weight: 128)
- score: 105 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 90 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 89 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 85 -- The Bigger Read List - 2003 (Weight: 160)
- score: 83 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 105)
- score: 77 -- The 100 Novels That Have Most Enthralled "Le Monde" Since 1944 - 2019 (Weight: 96)
- score: 69 -- Books Of The Century - 1999 (Weight: 150)
- score: 66 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century - 1996 (Weight: 160)
- score: 55 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) - 2026 (Weight: 60)
- score: 38 -- The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers - 2019 (Weight: 50)
- score: 27 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 36)
- score: 22 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 21 -- A Hundred Novels to Change Your Life - 2019 (Weight: 28)
- score: 19 -- 500 Great Books by Women - 1994 (Weight: 50)
- score: 12 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 20)
- score: 9 -- Prix Goncourt - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 45)
- score: 8 -- The 100 Best Novels in Translation by Boyd Tonkin - 2019 (Weight: 10)
- score: 2 -- Everything You Should Read without Being a Library Rat - 1972 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- PEN Translation Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books by Women Writers in Translation - 2019 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 75 Books Every Woman Should Read - 2008 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Elena Ferrante Names her 40 Favourite Books by Female Authors - 2020 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 1)