Bonjour Tristesse
This is the other book that I read on my French vacation. The second week, we rented a house close to Cannes. The woman who owned the house had quite an extensive book collection. I picked up Bonjour Tristesse immediately, as I had heard about it, and knew that it caused quite a stir in France and America in the 50's.
The story is about seventeen year old Cecile, who is summering in the French Riviera with her father, who is quite the playboy. Cecile is on the brink of womanhood, so it is a summer of self discovery for her. When her father gets engaged, Cecile feels that the carefree lifestyle that her and her father share will be threatened by this new woman. Cecile's meddling leads to a devastating plan which has tragic consequences.
I think this book was so talked about in the 50's because Sagan was only 18 years old when she wrote it. It is quite insighful and mature. If someone older had written it, I might have been more critical about character development etc. But it is an impressive book considering Sagan's age.
Leyah Javed
I read this book, and I
I read this book, and I hated it. I wondered why it had gotten such rave reviews. Go figure.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
But did you...
...read it en francais?
Oh mon dieu...
No, it was the English translation...
Leyah Javed
No, maybe. I can't remember.
No, maybe. I can't remember.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!