mary_yankulova's review against another edition
5.0
Купих си романа без да знам нищо за него. Не бях чувала за автора, признавам си. Привлече ме силно корицата, заглавието и първото изречение от анотацията - “Париж в началото на 70-те”. Получих усещане за хубав европейски филм от киномания, който задължително се гледа в “Дом на киното” или “Одеон”. За пореден път се замислих колко качествена литература се издава от Колибри! А аз ще чета още Дъглас Кенеди!
Действието се развива между Франция и Щатите, като историята се оказа много по-сериозна, отколкото очаквах и поставя страшно много теми за размисъл. Книгата не е никак лека. За пръв път не ми се иска да пиша словоизлияния затова ще ви оставя 2 цитата и началото на историята. Ако някой я прочете да ми пише, понеже много ми се дискутира и обсъжда.
——-
❤️ Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за секса.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за свободата.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за Париж - където сексът и свободата са две безкрайни теми.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за живота.
Преди Изабел …
Преди Изабел бях само момче още.
А след Изабел?
След “преди” и преси “след”… това е тъканта на всички истории. Особено онези, включващи интимни дела.
А с Изабел винаги всичко бе интимно.
Дори когато нямаше следобед на преплеплетени тела.
Следобедите и Изабел. ❤️
“Може би след двайсет години, когато наближавам шейсет, ще приема, че разочарованието е част от уравнението на живота.”
“Искаме онова, което не можем да имаме. Получим ли го, можем скоро да разберем, че вече не го искаме. Така е в любовта. И в живота въобще. Голямото преследване. Голямата недостижима мечта.”
——-
Действието се развива между Франция и Щатите, като историята се оказа много по-сериозна, отколкото очаквах и поставя страшно много теми за размисъл. Книгата не е никак лека. За пръв път не ми се иска да пиша словоизлияния затова ще ви оставя 2 цитата и началото на историята. Ако някой я прочете да ми пише, понеже много ми се дискутира и обсъжда.
——-
❤️ Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за секса.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за свободата.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за Париж - където сексът и свободата са две безкрайни теми.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за живота.
Преди Изабел …
Преди Изабел бях само момче още.
А след Изабел?
След “преди” и преси “след”… това е тъканта на всички истории. Особено онези, включващи интимни дела.
А с Изабел винаги всичко бе интимно.
Дори когато нямаше следобед на преплеплетени тела.
Следобедите и Изабел. ❤️
“Може би след двайсет години, когато наближавам шейсет, ще приема, че разочарованието е част от уравнението на живота.”
“Искаме онова, което не можем да имаме. Получим ли го, можем скоро да разберем, че вече не го искаме. Така е в любовта. И в живота въобще. Голямото преследване. Голямата недостижима мечта.”
——-
family_and_fairytales's review against another edition
I mean, if the title 'isabelle in the afternoon' doesn't stick, I could suggest 'misogyny in the afternoon.'
Containing the archaic childbirth myths, followed by the woman are crazy narrative, should they ever have any passion in them. He actually used the term 'babysit' in relation to raising his own child.
The Samuel character believes himself to be almost perfect and cerebral. I'm trying to decide if this is on purpose by Douglas Kennedy to make the character come across this way, or is it an undercurrent of his own personality threaded through the novel.
This book thinks it's a lot deeper than it actually is, which, for me, is a thinly veiled story of a man and woman who can't make up their minds and drag it about over decades, using the whole we have constructs placed on it.
It irritated me
Containing the archaic childbirth myths, followed by the woman are crazy narrative, should they ever have any passion in them. He actually used the term 'babysit' in relation to raising his own child.
The Samuel character believes himself to be almost perfect and cerebral. I'm trying to decide if this is on purpose by Douglas Kennedy to make the character come across this way, or is it an undercurrent of his own personality threaded through the novel.
This book thinks it's a lot deeper than it actually is, which, for me, is a thinly veiled story of a man and woman who can't make up their minds and drag it about over decades, using the whole we have constructs placed on it.
It irritated me
solange's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
soniacaillou's review against another edition
2.0
Je suis partagée sur cette lecture. Le début était presque insipide, en tant que lectrice j'étais très détachée et je n'ai senti aucune accroche avec les personnages.
== mini spoiler =======
.....
Et puis j'en suis arrivée à trouver un des personnages super égoïste, voire manipulatrice quand elle vient tourmenter l'autre avec ses regrets, tout en restant dans son fonctionnement rigide.
Et à la fin, ce sentiment de gâchis.
== mini spoiler =======
.....
Et puis j'en suis arrivée à trouver un des personnages super égoïste, voire manipulatrice quand elle vient tourmenter l'autre avec ses regrets, tout en restant dans son fonctionnement rigide.
Et à la fin, ce sentiment de gâchis.
aliciaop9's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
literarylucie's review against another edition
4.0
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a dramatic and devastating story of passion, loneliness and a lifelong passion for love.
Before undertaking his Harvard law education, Sam knew he needed a moment of escapism and headed on a solo trip to Paris. With a very emotionally distant father and a deceased mother, Sam was accustomed to loneliness; however he never felt it as strongly as he did in Paris. This is until a chance encounter led him to the beautiful yet complex Isabelle. She was the companion he suddenly knew he needed, yet their relationship was regimented as she only allowed their rendezvous between five and seven in the evening, a few times a week. Sam, despite falling in love with this passionate Parisian woman, couldn’t accept that this restrictive time slot was all their relationship would ever be. For Isabelle was already married to a man of high importance and couldn’t be seen with Sam outside of this messy, intimate apartment. Time passes and Sam must go back to America for his education, but he always feels himself being pulled back to Paris, and to Isabelle, never truly leaving. Life ensues, along with its tragedies and heartaches, but this love affair beginning in a small Parisian bookstore lasts for decades to come.
Transience is one of my favourite themes in any book; the idea that things are temporary and only last a short time before they adapt and change into something new. The transience of life is inevitable and unavoidable, which gives you greater appreciation for the fleeting moments in life; these moments are fragile and should be experienced with intensity to get the most out of them. That’s how I feel these characters go through life, perhaps exaggerated slightly, but I feel like the characters understand that the moments they share together are powerful and should be cherished, especially considering the tragedies they both face along the way.
Their encounters may be temporary, but their love transcends a lifetime.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is truly a stunning book, with characters and relationships that develop with such passion and intensity. But with that intensity there is so much complexity, as love is not a simple and straightforward concept but one that is always changing and evolving. This book will not just make you question the characters relationships, but also the relationship you have with yourself.
Before undertaking his Harvard law education, Sam knew he needed a moment of escapism and headed on a solo trip to Paris. With a very emotionally distant father and a deceased mother, Sam was accustomed to loneliness; however he never felt it as strongly as he did in Paris. This is until a chance encounter led him to the beautiful yet complex Isabelle. She was the companion he suddenly knew he needed, yet their relationship was regimented as she only allowed their rendezvous between five and seven in the evening, a few times a week. Sam, despite falling in love with this passionate Parisian woman, couldn’t accept that this restrictive time slot was all their relationship would ever be. For Isabelle was already married to a man of high importance and couldn’t be seen with Sam outside of this messy, intimate apartment. Time passes and Sam must go back to America for his education, but he always feels himself being pulled back to Paris, and to Isabelle, never truly leaving. Life ensues, along with its tragedies and heartaches, but this love affair beginning in a small Parisian bookstore lasts for decades to come.
Transience is one of my favourite themes in any book; the idea that things are temporary and only last a short time before they adapt and change into something new. The transience of life is inevitable and unavoidable, which gives you greater appreciation for the fleeting moments in life; these moments are fragile and should be experienced with intensity to get the most out of them. That’s how I feel these characters go through life, perhaps exaggerated slightly, but I feel like the characters understand that the moments they share together are powerful and should be cherished, especially considering the tragedies they both face along the way.
Their encounters may be temporary, but their love transcends a lifetime.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is truly a stunning book, with characters and relationships that develop with such passion and intensity. But with that intensity there is so much complexity, as love is not a simple and straightforward concept but one that is always changing and evolving. This book will not just make you question the characters relationships, but also the relationship you have with yourself.
silverliningsandpages's review against another edition
5.0
Sam, an American student, meets the beautiful, older, intelligent Isabelle in a Paris bookshop. She is married and worldly about love and it’s many contradictions. And so begins a regular arrangement of afternoon liaisons in Isabelle’s apartment, which becomes a true affair of the heart spanning decades.
.
Whilst the theme of infidelity doesn’t sit easily with me, this passionate novel is elegantly and sensitively written. Isabelle in the Afternoon is so much more than a story about a love affair; it doesn’t moralise and yet is about major moral decisions and dilemmas, the effects of which will reverberate throughout life. It explores what we yearn for, what we find and what we settle for, and beautifully conveys how we humans are complex and intricately packaged beings. It realistically deals with issues such as career ambition and progression, parenting, responsibility, adversity, ageing, vulnerability, loneliness and grief: all that is “the flawed nature of life”. This is a fascinating exploration of an intense human connection impacted by bad timing, and whose passion has been untested by domesticity.
.
I liked the parallels with Madame Bovary, Sam’s intellectual/cultural discoveries and developing interests, and the frequent socio-political references, giving the story context. The pacing was great, and there were several jolting twists!
.
Such a deeply poignant, moving book that on one level is about juxtaposed passionate love, domestic love and parental love, and yet on another it is about a journey of self-discovery and fighting fragility to find that inner strength. I’m still thinking about this long after reading and I need to get my hands on more @douglaslkennedy books!
.
Whilst the theme of infidelity doesn’t sit easily with me, this passionate novel is elegantly and sensitively written. Isabelle in the Afternoon is so much more than a story about a love affair; it doesn’t moralise and yet is about major moral decisions and dilemmas, the effects of which will reverberate throughout life. It explores what we yearn for, what we find and what we settle for, and beautifully conveys how we humans are complex and intricately packaged beings. It realistically deals with issues such as career ambition and progression, parenting, responsibility, adversity, ageing, vulnerability, loneliness and grief: all that is “the flawed nature of life”. This is a fascinating exploration of an intense human connection impacted by bad timing, and whose passion has been untested by domesticity.
.
I liked the parallels with Madame Bovary, Sam’s intellectual/cultural discoveries and developing interests, and the frequent socio-political references, giving the story context. The pacing was great, and there were several jolting twists!
.
Such a deeply poignant, moving book that on one level is about juxtaposed passionate love, domestic love and parental love, and yet on another it is about a journey of self-discovery and fighting fragility to find that inner strength. I’m still thinking about this long after reading and I need to get my hands on more @douglaslkennedy books!
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