Reviews

Bonjour tristesse by Françoise Sagan

claudyne's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.0

Cecile is a teen living with her widower father in Paris. They decide to summer in a villa just outside of the city limits when her father’s love life alters their family dynamic. Because Cecile fears the change an addition to her family could bring, she makes the decisions to interfere in her father’s new relationship. The results are tragic and very screwed up. I hated this trajectory of the plot. It’s obviously well written and only a good book can evoke such emotion, but I’m very ticked off. 

mcmotown's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-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

aplb's review against another edition

dark reflective

5.0

stevo95's review against another edition

4.0

Only read Bonjour Tristesse, as of now. Will come back to A Certain Smile later.

moominhello's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Maybe I give this review too leniently but honestly, it was so fun and simple to read after pulling myself through other more serious books. This book is the definition of being a brat and I would recommend to anyone getting back into reading or in a reading slump. 

_dosia_'s review against another edition

3.0

I'll applaud this book for the hazy, summer-afternoon feel it brilliantly evoked, I felt transported to the French countryside through Francoise's writing. I enjoyed the critique on the exploitation of youth and beauty, and the stylized way in which it was written. It felt like Francoise herself was grieving the trauma of youth while still being young.

I think it really benefited from its short length and though the characters were compelling and the plot interesting, I don't really think it had much of a point except the 'damaged, young, rich and beautiful doing damaged young, rich and beautiful things.' It was still nicely written, and I can't quite pinpoint it's criticizing how vapid the characters are, or romanticizing it.

I do appreciate the boldness of 18-year-old Francoise scandalizing French society when it came out.

dylan2x2's review against another edition

5.0

"The street I walk is sadness
My house has no address
The letters that I write me
Begin 'Bonjour tristesse'

My smile is void of laughter
My kiss has no caress
I'm faithful to my lover
My bitter-sweet tristesse"

catieemccormick's review against another edition

reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

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

3.5

spencerrobb's review against another edition

4.0

took me FOREVER to read (in french though, so i get points for that). i think it could've been a 5 star if i'd read it all in a more condensed period of time, but i did really really enjoy it. i also spoiled it for myself by accident so i'm mad about that. anyways, what could be better than a whiny teenager swimming in the mediterranean sea and plotting against her stepmom??? great book and i'm so happy i was able to read it in its original language!

tarteletteauxfraises's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75