Two siblings, mixing a large dose of sibling rivalry into an already dysfunctional family spend their lives causing each other a great deal of pain. The book has the virtues of brevity, and high quality french prose. I read it, in part, as a deliberate exercise in broadening my understanding and use of the tongue in a very English dominated environment. ( )

Un bijou! ( )

A classic in its way, but really this is a book that shows its age; it no longer shocks as once it might, and the story seems so slight compared to the more fleshed-out pieces that followed. ( )

Bizarre in the extreme and one of the books that lead me to my opinion that people should not live alone as they get weird. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed Jean Cocteau's "The Holy Terrors" -- such fantastic writing really elevates what is a somewhat simple story so it becomes magical.

The novel centers on Elizabeth and Paul, two siblings who have a wholly inappropriate relationship. They are generally apart from the world and completely enmeshed in each other-- so much so they never seem to grow up but continue to play a childhood game of annoying each other as much as possible, with disastrous consequences.

There are some truly wonderful images elicited by this book. It's one I think I'll definitely get more out of with another reading. Really enjoyable stuff. ( )