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petrea's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
curleytwin2's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bibliopeca's review against another edition
4.0
Esta novela no tiene la intensidad de Nada se opone a la noche pero no se queda a la cola. Está dividida en tres partes, al principio cuesta entrar un poco en la historia y la primera parte se me hizo un poco pesada pero las dos siguientes son trepidantes. Delphine describe como nadie la relación entre las dos protagonistas y consigue atrapar en un ambiente angustioso y sofocante con un final de lo más perturbador. ¿Realmente está basada en hechos reales? Ahí está la cuestión. Totalmente recomendable.
theaceofpages's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"When you're an adult, friendship is built on a kind of recognition, on complicity: a shared territory. But it seems to me that in the other person we also look for something that we only possess in minor, embryonic or frustrated form. So we tend to form links with those who have been able to develop a way of being that we incline towards but have not attained.
I know what I admire about each of my friends. In every case I could name what quality she posses that I do not or posses in too small a quantity."
This story follows Delphine (who seems to be based rather strongly on the author) and her increasingly toxic friendship with fan turned friend L. I loved the blurring between fiction and reality in this one (how much is actually based on a true story?) but there were sections I found less interesting. For example, there is a lot of talk about the writing process and although I do dabble in the art, I just felt like there was maybe a bit much of it. I mean, I completely get why it's there (I mean, it is a book about an author!) but I wasn't as invested in those parts. While I'm not upset that I read this one I am not particularly interested in seeking out more similar books.
I know what I admire about each of my friends. In every case I could name what quality she posses that I do not or posses in too small a quantity."
This story follows Delphine (who seems to be based rather strongly on the author) and her increasingly toxic friendship with fan turned friend L. I loved the blurring between fiction and reality in this one (how much is actually based on a true story?) but there were sections I found less interesting. For example, there is a lot of talk about the writing process and although I do dabble in the art, I just felt like there was maybe a bit much of it. I mean, I completely get why it's there (I mean, it is a book about an author!) but I wasn't as invested in those parts. While I'm not upset that I read this one I am not particularly interested in seeking out more similar books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness
margauxreadit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
dara_kossok_spiess's review against another edition
3.0
3,4 ☆- Gut geschrieben, etwas "Thriller-"haft
leoleoleyendo's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emleemay's review
4.0
Let me say, between ourselves, I’m not sure anyone can protect you from yourself.
4 1/2 stars. It was a bit of a strange journey that led me to reading this French import. I fell down one of those Internet rabbit holes and somehow found my way to the GR page of [b:Based on a True Story|31451163|Based on a True Story|Delphine de Vigan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478215379l/31451163._SY75_.jpg|45870928], which also happened to be available to borrow on my library's Overdrive. So, I read it. Why not?
Maybe I shouldn't describe it as "reading" because it would be more fitting to say this book enchanted me, and in a very unsettling way. I've read so few contemporary French authors (recs, anyone?), but right away I could see some style similarities between this and Slimani's [b:The Perfect Nanny|38330854|The Perfect Nanny|Leïla Slimani|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1517594917l/38330854._SY75_.jpg|52236126]. Completely different stories, of course, but both are thrillingly ominous. Both detail seemingly ordinary day-to-day scenarios, but each capture a similar strange atmosphere: an insidious wrongness behind everything.
Two examples can hardly be considered a pattern, but I am very curious what else is coming out of France that I may be missing.
[b:Based on a True Story|31451163|Based on a True Story|Delphine de Vigan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1478215379l/31451163._SY75_.jpg|45870928] follows the writer, Delphine, as she befriends the mysterious L. in the wake of her latest novel's success. L. is a richly-drawn, unusual, fascinating character; one who draws Delphine - and the reader - into her world. As the two become closer, inseparable, Delphine finds herself ever more dependent on L. She subtly worms her way into every aspect of Delphine's life and career-- at first, seemingly, because she wants to be helpful, a good friend, but her motives become more suspect as the story moves along.
It gets really quite dark. L. is a force to be reckoned with-- charismatic, intense, philosophic, and terrifying. What, exactly, does she want from Delphine? And what happens if she doesn't get it? Delphine drew me in herself with her relatable shyness and introversion, but it is the "coiffed, made up and neatly-pressed" L. that makes this book so fascinating.
It's a clever, thoughtful read about writers, stories, characters, fiction and autobiography. About how there's truth in every fiction and fiction in every version of the truth. At times it becomes suggestively meta, but leaves a lot open to interpretation so you can believe whichever version you want. As we already said, there's truth and fiction in them all.
Despite what it may sound like above, it's not a particularly challenging read. The Miller translation was smooth and compelling. I was so into it that I called my mum to talk about the book as soon as I'd finished it. It held me captivated throughout and left my mind reeling once I put it down.
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