Baise-Moi (Rape Me)

"Baise-Moi" (Rape Me), is billed as shocking and exhilarating however, I found it to be neither. Virginie Despentes' writing style (perhaps due to being translated) holds no shocks or punches. This novel is decently paced if at times it seems to be reaching for the shock value. At times the main characters, Nadine and Manu come off as caricatures of bad girl archetypes that are neither inventive nor are they new. I hope (and to give credit to Despentes) that when read in the original language the book retains more of a literary punch. Overall I was unimpressed with both the book and the hype.

Really.

The book was incendiary like the movie.

This is possibly the grittiest film i've ever seen. I was a projectionist over 20 years, so I've seen a lot of film. I did not "like" it, but I don't think it was meant to be liked. It shows graphically the dehumanizing effects of the current global economics and moral decay that is a side effect of that fact. The graphic sex is integral to this portrayal. I have to admit I was actually sympathetic to these women, in spite of the horrific acts. There is not one male in evidence that deserves such sympathy. If we are honest, these people and events are not far removed from any society on the planet. It took a courageous filmmaker to present it to us.

disgusting

This whole book is basically about two people letting all of their humanity go, no longer listening to any part of their brain that says "no". It is brutal and horrible. Not erotica, but rather really an authors attempt to put every possible shocking thing into one. Book.

Virginie Despentes is a bit like the A.M. Homes of contemporary French literature--a young woman writer who doesn't really care who she offends with her work. She has another agenda, even if it's not immediately apparent to most readers.This is the story of two young French women, Nadine and Manu, who live in the squalor of "les HLMs," the government-subsidized housing projects outside major French cities. Les HLMs are breeding ground for every kind of corruption--drug use, crime, violence, rape.The two main characters finally snap when one of their friends is brutally raped, so they start off on a campaign of a little raping and pillaging of their own, seducing men, killing them, then stealing their money.Despentes doesn't let anyone off the hook, neither the alleged victims or the alleged aggressors. Her point, it seems to me, is that people today can't help but be a little bit of both.The style isn't particularly interesting or groundbreaking, but then again, it is a translation. Despentes isn't trying to be subtle and artful here, she's more interested in making a point.This is the kind of book you'll either hate or appreciate for the point she's trying to make about contemporary French society and contemporary human beings.

A pointless book, the characters are flat with no discernible personalities. It would have been more interesting as a dry case study; these are the circumstances and these are the actions and reactions. I had no desire to know any of the people.

I don't think I would call despentes a feminist, I didn't enjoy the book and I definitely would be recommending it.

This is the American translation, by Bruce Benderson. For some unknown reason in America the title of the book has been tranlated as Rape Me, whereas in this country we are probably much nearer to a correct translation with Screw Me. If like me you intend reading this book after seeing the brilliant movie of the same name  Baise-Moi [DVD] [2002 ], you won't be disappointed. This is the novel that the film was based on and it is bigger, better and more violent than the movie.Nadine a prostitute with a masochistic streak and an avid watcher of porngraphy sees her friend shot and is pushed over the edge, killing her flatmate. Manu (short for Emanuelle) finds that a friend has apparently killed himself, she and a friend are raped, which results in the death of the other girl, and another friend is in hospital after undergoing an horrific attack. Manu, who lives for her pleasures (drugs, alcohol and sex) is pushed over the edge and adds violence to her pleasures; she steals a gun, drugs and cash, killing a man.When Nadine meets Manu outside a station sparks begin to fly as they discover that they are soul sisters, two disparate souls on the fringes of society. Thus ensues death and chaos as these two women journey across France. Drugs when they can get them, copious quantities of alcohol, using men for their sexual gratification, and killing people for money or just for the sheer pleasure these are two ladies out of control.The book, like the movie are considered highly controversial, but are they? Perhaps I can understand the film being so, as it shows real sex in a movie that isn't in the pornographic genre. The book however I can't see as controversial. Just look in any newspaper, there are the reports of drugs, alcoholism and mindless violence everyday. This novel holds a mirror up to society, and we don't like what we see, but that isn't the author's fault. Or is it that it is women doing the bad stuff and not men? If you like something dark, hard-hitting with two anti-heroines that you can really understand, then this is a definite must read. Baise-Moi [DVD] [2002

Was für ein Feuerwerk! Eine schwarze Komödie im Stil von Natural Born Killers, nur in Frankreich und mit 2 Frauen die Mickey und Mallory wie brave Kinder aussehen lassen. Ohne Angst und hemmungslos, mit viel Whisky und Hasch läuft die Story noch nicht mal für eine Woche, aber wird während der 241 Seiten nie langweilig. Nichts für empfindsame Gemüter, trockene Trinker oder Moralapostel. Empfehle zum vollen Genuss des Buches eine oder 2 Flaschen Whisky, je nachdem ob man schnell liest oder durstig ist.

Did not enjoy the brutality, red about 1/3, and I had to delete itWould like to get my a refundFinn

what is this doing here? I (a) don't have it and (b) did not order it. again. kinda like the reverse of buying a software application and then being asked for the activation key every time you use it because the system doesn't remember you've paid for it and registered it. only in reverse.