Dream Story (Traumnovelle) by Arthur Schnitzler | Book Review

The inspiration for Eyes Wide Shut directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Welcome to this longer review/discussion of the novella about dreams vs reality.
Is it all a dream or is reality....but does it really matter?

Let’s be friends!

[userape]

Kubrick`s last film was "Eyes wide shut" based on the novelle "Dream story"...
and last video of CravingBooks was about "Dream story"
CONFIRMED!

[deckofcards]

It's funny how Fridolin tries to cheat on his wife, but every time a sexual opportunity arises it's cut short. This kind of thing has happened in my dreams, Lol. Not cheating on my wife, as I'm unmarried, but in general... When you think youre going to get lucky and your subconscious goes "Nah ya don't" and shuts it down. It literally drives his character over the edge by the end of story.

[jamesray]

If your interested, you should check out the films of Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch. They both deal pretty heavily with dreams.

[Emmiee]

I wish you’d come back to YouTube! I binge watched every single one of your videos. You’re absolutely well-spoken and funny and I was introduced to so many books because of you. Thank you.

[anonb]

Every feature film Kubrick did - except Killer's Kiss - was based on a novel, even Spartacus. Seems Kubrick stayed surprisingly close to this story - despite all the conspiracy theories about Eyes Wide Shut and his death.

[chuckaddison]

I’m a huge Eyes Wide Shut fan, and had no idea until today that the movie was based on this book! I’m purchasing it today, and thanks for this stellar review! Fun fact, it’s the first video I’ve ever watched on a book review. We need more of these. Keep it up! Last note as something to think about... Eyes Wide Shut is actually a Christmas movie! Cheers to holidays 2020!!! 🎅🏻🎅🎅🏼🎅🏿🎅🏾🎅🏽

[LegoJunk]

Thank you for exploring this book on YouTube because I was honestly worried I wasn’t going to find that here. Everyone’s so obsessed with sharing their wildest interpretations of the Stanley Kubrick movie. It feels like no one is giving a single thought to the source material, which is a backwards way of looking at it.

[BetweenLinesAndLife]

I CANNOT wait to finally read Dream Story, it's on my TBR and I want to read it for ages. Because my bae Freud loved it!

[VigiliusHaufniensis]

Bataille and Schnitzler, thats an interesting comparisson that i would have never came up with, would have loved to hear more about that :)

[denbal]

I think Laura Braningan's song called Self-control is based on this novel.

[Booklover]

Can confirm...I read this book in 4 hours, and I'm a slow reader. I also agree with your assessment that the book was kind of plain. The movie in this case (and I rarely say this) was better than the book, but I respect the original. The book really had nothing that the movie didn't. Only different was the time in which they took place.

[mhaley]

Nice review. Love your interpretation. Is this your most recent video?

[Disastrouscharity]

You have the nicest voice!! I hope you come back to youtube and do more reviews ☺️

[jarettjohnston]

Contrasting Fridolin with William Hartford, I very much enjoy how Kubrick portrayed the revelation of the fantasy from his wife in the movie. The way she is so heartless to the point of saying "I was ready to give up you and Helena" really gives more compelling motive for the journey he sets out on. It is always possible for someone to react in a shallow way like Fridolin, but William Hartford was better.

[GioAtero]

(4:35) I love pale skin and red lips! <3

[michaelhammock]

Thank you for sharing! I purchased a collection of Schnitzler's short stories and novellas online called Night Games. Dream Story is featured in it. I am a Kubrick fan and while intriguing to hear that it's not very different from Eyes Wide Shut, considering the director's interpretation of The Shining was extremely different, I am still curious to read Dream Story and his other works in the collection. Famed German director Max Ophlus also adapted Schnitzler's stories, one a couple of years after the author's death, I am curious if you have read any of his other stories?

[cruddddddddddddddd]

It's interesting that you compare this novella to Bataille's Story of the Eye. I actually enjoyed Traumnovelle a little more. I think the story explores truth in marriage... or truth in fidelity in general.

Story of the Eye, however, explores a theme I've been fascinated with since I was (a little too) young: The link between sexual pleasure and death. Put another way, the relationship between our Eros and Thanatos instincts. There are too few pieces of literature that give this relationship any kind of serious thought, imo.

Anyway... Your analysis of 'Dream Story' was good and I enjoyed it.

[mikenayers]

I just read the book this week, and what I got from it is he was at all these places but was an unreliable narrative, even to himself.

He was so put off by his wife’s dreams, and exaggerated the events to show “you had these dreams, but I was almost drowning in so much puss last night, and stopped myself. Did I win?”

[BriantWebster]

I missed the detail about how close dreams can be to reality and how Fridolin's own experiences could've been dreams, or even fabrication. To me, the book was trying to tempt us, as it tempted Fridolin: he had to find out what went on in the villa, even if it meant his death. Some urges, be it night or drunkenness or spontaneous, destroy us and rule over the body. Fridolin and Albertine 'overcame' it with a truthful conversation about those urges and fantasies. Truthful conversations that reveal the innermost part of our beings and can potentially put them to rest.

[KnowledgelostOrgOnline]

Since this book has the seal of disapproval from hitler, I might read this...but who is the translator? Story of the Eye is amazing, I want to re-read it right now.