BOOK BRIEF

Mad Shadows

Marie-Claire Blais
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Mad Shadows

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1990

Book Brief

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Marie-Claire Blais

Mad Shadows

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1990
Book Details
Pages

128

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

French-Canadian countryside • 1950s

Theme
Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais explores themes of beauty, jealousy, and familial dysfunction. The narrative centers around a family struggling with superficial values and emotional detachment, highlighting the destructive impact of envy and misunderstanding. As characters navigate personal conflicts, they confront the consequences of prioritizing appearances over genuine connections.

Dark

Melancholic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.9

786 ratings

56%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais is a haunting exploration of human flaws and deformities, both physical and emotional. Critics appreciate its poetic prose and psychological depth, yet some find its bleakness overwhelming. The novel's intense focus on beauty and ugliness provokes thought but may not appeal to all readers due to its grim narrative.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Mad Shadows?

Readers who appreciate Mad Shadows by Marie-Claire Blais often enjoy exploring themes of existential angst, flawed familial relationships, and psychological depth. Fans of books like The Stranger by Albert Camus or The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka will likely find this novel intriguing.

3.9

786 ratings

56%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

15%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

128

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

French-Canadian countryside • 1950s

Theme
Publication Year

1990

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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