Gemini
by Michel Tournier
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Jean and Paul are identical twins. Outsiders, even their parents, cannot tell them apart, and call them Jean-Paul. The mysterious bond between them excludes all others; they speak their own language; they are one perfectly harmonious unit; they are, in all innocence, lovers. For Paul, this unity is paradise, but as they grow up Jean rebels against it. He takes a mistress and deserts his brother, but Paul sets out to follow him in a pilgrimage that leads all around the world, through places show more that reflect their separation--the mirrored halls of Venice, the Zen gardens of Japan, the newly divided city of Berlin. The exquisite love story of Jean-Paul is set against the ugliness and pain of human existence. Gemini is a novel of extraordinary proportions, intricate images, and profound thought, in which Michel Tournier tells his fascinating story with an irresistible humor. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
In this literary masterpiece Tournier explores every possible aspect of twinship. He does not just talk about human twins, but also the duality between countries, between the long day and night in Iceland, in homosexual relationships, the balance achieved in oneness a Zen garden, etc.. Despite the fact that the story may seem a little farfetched it is spellbinding and full of unexpected twists.
This is not an easy read in composition , characterization, writing style and philosophy, but I enjoyed in and it meant a lot to me.
This is not an easy read in composition , characterization, writing style and philosophy, but I enjoyed in and it meant a lot to me.
Deux jumeaux, Jean et Paul, forment un couple fraternel si uni qu'on l'appelle Jean-Paul. Mais Jean veut briser cette chaîne et essaie de se marier. Paul fait échouer ce projet. Désespéré, Jean part seul en voyage de noces à Venise. Paul se lance à sa poursuite et accomplit un long voyage initiatique autour du monde. A travers des aventures multiples et de nombreux personnages, comme le scandaleux oncle Alexandre, surnommé le dandy des gadoues, ce roman illustre le grand thème du couple humain.
Un livre complexe et superbe sur la gémellité, l'homosexualité et l'histoire du 20ème siècle
Jan 18, 2008French
> Purdy Anthony. Les Météores de Michel Tournier : une perspective hétérologique.
In: Littérature, n°40, 1980. Pratiques du symbole. pp. 32-43… ; (en ligne),
URL : https://www.persee.fr/doc/litt_0047-4800_1980_num_40_4_2146
In: Littérature, n°40, 1980. Pratiques du symbole. pp. 32-43… ; (en ligne),
URL : https://www.persee.fr/doc/litt_0047-4800_1980_num_40_4_2146
Jan 20, 2021French
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Author Information
78+ Works 4,824 Members
Michel Édouard Tournier was born in Paris, France on December 19, 1924. He received a degree in philosophy and law from the Sorbonne and studied German philosophy at the University of Tübingen for four years. After failing the philosophy exam that would have certified him as a university teacher, he started producing radio and television show more programs and writing literary journalism. He was the press agent for a new radio station Europe 1 for four years. He then became the literary director of the publishing house Editions Plon. His first novel, Friday, was published in 1967 and won the Grand Prix du Roman by the Académie Française. His second novel, Le Roi des Aulnes, which was also published as The Ogre and The Erl-King, won the Prix Goncourt, France's top literary prize, in 1970. His other works included Friday and Robinson: Life on Speranza Island, Gemini, The Woodcock, The Fetishist, The Motionless Wanderer, The Four Wise Men, Gilles and Jeanne, The Golden Droplet, Keys and Locks, The Flight of the Vampire, and Mount Tabor and Mount Sinai. He died on January 18, 2016 at the age of 91. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- De meteoren
- Original title
- Les météores
- Original publication date
- 1975
- People/Characters*
- Jean; Paul; Alexandre; Maria-Barbara; Edouard
- Important places*
- Normandië, Frankrijk; Venetië, Italië; Japan; Canada; Berlijn, Duitsland
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 843.914 — Literature & rhetoric French & related literatures French fiction 1900- 20th Century 1945-1999
- LCC
- PQ2680 .O83 .M413 — Language and Literature French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese literatures French literature Modern literature 1961-2000
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 318
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- 99,717
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.82)
- Languages
- 13 — Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 29
- ASINs
- 4
