rmok's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
tcarg's review against another edition
5.0
I really like this book and I can’t wait to put it on my shelf and forget about it and see it in a few years when I’m packing or cleaning or something and reread it and fall in love with Izzie and his family again
mahdigasmi's review against another edition
4.0
pas facile de dire solennellement à quel genre ce roman fait partie, les interprétations sont nombreuses ! pour ma part ça était clairement un texte sur le deuil
l'histoire se déroule dans une petite ville française. Les Mazals font une famille de 6 enfants doués d'un génie extraordinaire dont le cadet ,Isidore, est le narrateur. on suit le quotidien de cette famille; les recherches et les thèses préparées par les aînés , les débats et les conversations passionnants des petits il fut un véritable plaisir de lire leur dialogues bourrés de références littéraires, scientifiques ou artistiques.
Puis l'incident débarque soudainement. La famille apprend la mort d'un personnage..le passage ou on en annonce était une véritable claque. Je ne m'y attendais pas. Y'avait comme une ambiance euphorique on se croit à peine qu'un tel choc puisse en arriver.
L'ambiance du livre commence à changer un peu; le deuil pèse forcément. Isidore s'engage de plus de en plus dans des conversations intimes avec ses frangins comme si il les découvrent à nouveau..La mort vient bousculer leur routine..elle les apprend pleine de vérités sur eux même, sur leurs choix..ils se découvrent eux aussi chaqu'un à son tour.
J'admire profondément le personnage d'isidore qui est une petite douceur qui apaise les angoisses de sa famille. Il est bien dans sai différence et sa spontanéité. J'estime que l'essence du livre est dans toute ses conversations ainsi que ses petites réflexions très intelligentes..
J'ai l'impression que je n'ai rien dit parce que ce genre de livre mérite d'être lu réellement pour déduire son vrai sens.
l'histoire se déroule dans une petite ville française. Les Mazals font une famille de 6 enfants doués d'un génie extraordinaire dont le cadet ,Isidore, est le narrateur. on suit le quotidien de cette famille; les recherches et les thèses préparées par les aînés , les débats et les conversations passionnants des petits il fut un véritable plaisir de lire leur dialogues bourrés de références littéraires, scientifiques ou artistiques.
Puis l'incident débarque soudainement. La famille apprend la mort d'un personnage..le passage ou on en annonce était une véritable claque. Je ne m'y attendais pas. Y'avait comme une ambiance euphorique on se croit à peine qu'un tel choc puisse en arriver.
L'ambiance du livre commence à changer un peu; le deuil pèse forcément. Isidore s'engage de plus de en plus dans des conversations intimes avec ses frangins comme si il les découvrent à nouveau..La mort vient bousculer leur routine..elle les apprend pleine de vérités sur eux même, sur leurs choix..ils se découvrent eux aussi chaqu'un à son tour.
J'admire profondément le personnage d'isidore qui est une petite douceur qui apaise les angoisses de sa famille. Il est bien dans sai différence et sa spontanéité. J'estime que l'essence du livre est dans toute ses conversations ainsi que ses petites réflexions très intelligentes..
J'ai l'impression que je n'ai rien dit parce que ce genre de livre mérite d'être lu réellement pour déduire son vrai sens.
lindseyzwilson's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Spanning a couple of years, How to Behave in a Crowd by Camille Bordas is a character driven young adult novel about the youngest of six children who is trying to figure out how he fits in with his genius siblings.
Eleven year old Isidore "Dory" Mazal is quite ordinary compared to his highly intelligent, grade skipping brothers and sisters. While he might not be as smart as his siblings, Dory is much more observant and he is also more social than they are. Despite being more interested in forming friendships, his only friend at school, Denise Galet, is also somewhat of an outcast due to her ongoing depression and anorexia. Although Dory is close to his mother, his relationship with his business traveling father is somewhat distant. Despite sharing a room with his sister, Simone, who is also closest in age to him, they are not particularly close since she is a scholastic overachiever like their older siblings. After the family suffers a tragic loss, Dory reacts with kindhearted compassion and empathy unlike his brothers and sisters who quickly return to their normal life.
Life with the Mazal family is somewhat dysfunctional since Dory's siblings are rather disconnected from the rest of the family. Their interactions with one another are limited to family meals and watching the occasional TV show together. The siblings' extremely high IQs alienate them from their peers and they have little patience or tact when dealing with anyone whom they perceive is not their intellectual equal.
Although the concept for How to Behave in a Crowd is unique, the novel is very slow paced. The plot occasionally feels disjointed since Dory's narration hops from one anecdote to another that are not necessarily connected to each other. Overall, his narration comes across as extremely detached which makes it somewhat difficult to for the reader to feel much of a connection with the various characters. While Dory is an enjoyable lead protagonist, none of his is siblings are particularly sympathetic or likable. Camille Bordas brings the story to a very abrupt and rather unsatisfying conclusion.
Spanning a couple of years, How to Behave in a Crowd by Camille Bordas is a character driven young adult novel about the youngest of six children who is trying to figure out how he fits in with his genius siblings.
Eleven year old Isidore "Dory" Mazal is quite ordinary compared to his highly intelligent, grade skipping brothers and sisters. While he might not be as smart as his siblings, Dory is much more observant and he is also more social than they are. Despite being more interested in forming friendships, his only friend at school, Denise Galet, is also somewhat of an outcast due to her ongoing depression and anorexia. Although Dory is close to his mother, his relationship with his business traveling father is somewhat distant. Despite sharing a room with his sister, Simone, who is also closest in age to him, they are not particularly close since she is a scholastic overachiever like their older siblings. After the family suffers a tragic loss, Dory reacts with kindhearted compassion and empathy unlike his brothers and sisters who quickly return to their normal life.
Life with the Mazal family is somewhat dysfunctional since Dory's siblings are rather disconnected from the rest of the family. Their interactions with one another are limited to family meals and watching the occasional TV show together. The siblings' extremely high IQs alienate them from their peers and they have little patience or tact when dealing with anyone whom they perceive is not their intellectual equal.
Although the concept for How to Behave in a Crowd is unique, the novel is very slow paced. The plot occasionally feels disjointed since Dory's narration hops from one anecdote to another that are not necessarily connected to each other. Overall, his narration comes across as extremely detached which makes it somewhat difficult to for the reader to feel much of a connection with the various characters. While Dory is an enjoyable lead protagonist, none of his is siblings are particularly sympathetic or likable. Camille Bordas brings the story to a very abrupt and rather unsatisfying conclusion.
kateroyer's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely adored this. Like reading a Wes Anderson movie - funny, charming, melancholy.
vacillavi's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
madame_screwhead's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
everything pressed so flat and nobody wanting to get up anymore
jefecarpenter's review against another edition
3.0
an enjoyable, amusing, colorful, bittersweet (and sweet) sojourn in the life of an unsuspectingly interesting boy growing up in his over-intelligent family.