Reviews

Claudine and Annie by Colette

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bomull's review against another edition

2.0

Inte min typ av bok.

Påminner mycket om Oscar Wilde, F. Scott Fitzgerald och Hemingway som jag inte heller gillar. Mycket dialog och högt tempo. Jag gillar lite dialog och långsamt tempo.

spinnerlynne's review against another edition

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sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Spoiler

En äldre kvinna och hennes unge älskare, som hon även var amma till? När han gifter sig reser hon bort och båda sörjer i flera månader. När hon kommer tillbaka besöker han henne en natt och hon förbereder deras resa till lyckan. Men han ser att hon är gammal, inte så underbar som han inbillat sig under hennes bortavaro, och går hem till sin unga fru. Kvinnan står kvar med sorg och ursinne.

maferalav's review against another edition

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3.0

“Conquistar a una mujer es difícil, hijo mío, pero no perderla lo es aún más...”

El amor no tiene edad, el cuerpo sí.

foggy_rosamund's review against another edition

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3.0

Set in the 1910s, this novella describes the end of a relationship between Léa, a 50 year old unmarried woman, and her 25 year old male lover, Chéri. When Chéri decides to marry a young, wealthy woman, he and Léa separate. They both see this as a natural split, and do not expect to grieve -- but in fact, they both struggle and miss each other intensely. The novella is characterised by the sense and sophistication of Léa, coupled with Chéri's childishness and snappishness. Léa treats Chéri like a spoiled child -- which he loves, but at the same time, he wants to grow up. The subject matter of the book feels trite at times, but Colette is very skilled at expressing emotion in dialogue and description. The last thirty pages of this book are gripping and vivid, and make up for some missteps earlier in the novella. However, it feels like a slight work and I think Chéri and Léa simply aren't interesting enough to sustain a narrative.

I will always remember this book as containing a description of the worst cup of coffee ever (though the author thinks it's tasty), "Chéri condescended to praise with an oath his cup of 'housemaid's coffee', made with creamy milk, well sugared, slowly reheated, with buttered toast crumbled into it and browned till it formed a succulent crust."

Toast?? Why would you do that to the poor coffee??