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justvaporlock's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
sophiem_ng's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it as a teen, loved it now. It's fun and dark, and kind of a romp. I just wish L. was actually a lesbian, like if you're gonna get so close to writing a manipulative evil lesbian just do it, it's a cliché but we're already basically there. Very good stuff about desire, about obsession, and about writing
maybay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
katrinarose's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.0
This was such a unique book and I flew through it. It’s a very introspective action-less psychological thriller and I don’t think it will be for everyone because of that. I was enthralled by the slow unfolding of L.’s manipulation and the writing style of the author. It was very meta as well and played a lot with the idea of truth/reality versus fiction, which was interesting especially you wonder how much of the book itself is real. I would recommend it if you enjoy character studies and introspection with a bit of unsettling tension driving it all forward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
maicanales's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
novelvisits's review against another edition
5.0
Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: May 9, 2017
Length: 384 pages
Original review here: http://www.novelvisits.com/based-true-story-delphine-de-vigan/
Single Sentence Summary: A best-selling writer meets a woman, much like herself, who challenges everything she believes about writing and reality.
Primary Characters: Delphine – A very successful French writer, coming off her most popular book yet. Delphine’s life is in flux. Her children are soon headed to college and her writing is increasingly blocked. L. – An elegant, sophisticated woman Delphine meets at a party. L. quickly becomes a fixture in Delphine’s life, and in her work.
Synopsis: When Delphine meets L. the timing couldn’t be better. She’s exhausted and overwhelmed by the success of her latest novel, an intimate portrait of her mother’s bipolar disorder. As the friendship blossoms, Delphine finds herself increasingly drawn to L., who embodies the ease and sophistication Delphine feels she lacks. Within weeks L. is a fixture in Delphine’s daily life. She offers friendship, assistance, and advice. Very strong advice. L.’s thoughts about where Delphine’s next book should go are specific and insistent. As L. carves a bigger and bigger role in Delphine’s world, her influence threatens to undermine Delphine’s career and her life.
Review: Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan is a story that will get in your head and NOT let go! She masterfully blurred the lines between fiction and reality. It’s impossible to read de Vigan’s book without constantly questioning everything about her story, starting with how much of it is based on her real life. The writer in Based on a True Story is also named Delphine. Each wrote a novel that blurred the lines between fiction and autobiography, earning legions of devoted fans. Both the real and the fictional Delphine have two children and a partner named Francois. The story is told in first person. Who is actually narrating? Is it Delphine the real life French writer, or is it Delphine the character? When asked if there was an L. in her life, de Vigan has answered, “In one form or another.” It’s the question of what that form was that that makes this book impossible to forget.
L. enters Delphine’s life when she’s at vulnerable time. Delphine’s latest book has been wildly successful, but with that come questions she’s not willing to answer. Her twins have finished their baccalauréat, and are moving out and on to higher education. Her boyfriend is gone for long stretches for his own work. It’s time to start on a new book, but she delays and delays. L. seems to be the answer for so many of Delphine’s needs. She’s a companion, a confidante, a cheerleader. But, with all that come L.’s opinions, most strongly her opinions on what Delphine should be writing. Truth is what matters to L. She demands it of Delphine’s writing, making Delphine all the more powerless to put words to paper.
L. makes Delphine uncomfortable, and yet she’s drawn to her. Theirs is an insidious relationship, that moves from subtly dangerous to out and out menacing. Delphine (the character) looks back, telling the story of L., and how L. hijacked her life.
“Given the disorder that she created in my life, it’s important for me to identify what made L.’s hold on me possible, and probably mine on L.”
“L. exerted a gentle hold over me, intimate and troubling, the cause and extent of which I was unaware of.”
“It wasn’t enough for L. just to ask questions; she also suggested answers.”
Not wanting to give too much away, let me simply tell you that I loved Based on a True Story. When I read the last page, I was unsure of my feelings, but over the next few days my pleasure with this book grew. I thought about it often, and still have questions. I’d love to talk to Delphine de Vigan. I want to know her! She’s a master of her craft, seamlessly blurring the lines between real and imagined. If you need a book that’s neat and tidy, Based on a True Story probably isn’t for you, but for everyone else, this is a book you NEED to read. Book club talks could go on FOREVER! Grade: A
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: May 9, 2017
Length: 384 pages
Original review here: http://www.novelvisits.com/based-true-story-delphine-de-vigan/
Single Sentence Summary: A best-selling writer meets a woman, much like herself, who challenges everything she believes about writing and reality.
Primary Characters: Delphine – A very successful French writer, coming off her most popular book yet. Delphine’s life is in flux. Her children are soon headed to college and her writing is increasingly blocked. L. – An elegant, sophisticated woman Delphine meets at a party. L. quickly becomes a fixture in Delphine’s life, and in her work.
Synopsis: When Delphine meets L. the timing couldn’t be better. She’s exhausted and overwhelmed by the success of her latest novel, an intimate portrait of her mother’s bipolar disorder. As the friendship blossoms, Delphine finds herself increasingly drawn to L., who embodies the ease and sophistication Delphine feels she lacks. Within weeks L. is a fixture in Delphine’s daily life. She offers friendship, assistance, and advice. Very strong advice. L.’s thoughts about where Delphine’s next book should go are specific and insistent. As L. carves a bigger and bigger role in Delphine’s world, her influence threatens to undermine Delphine’s career and her life.
Review: Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan is a story that will get in your head and NOT let go! She masterfully blurred the lines between fiction and reality. It’s impossible to read de Vigan’s book without constantly questioning everything about her story, starting with how much of it is based on her real life. The writer in Based on a True Story is also named Delphine. Each wrote a novel that blurred the lines between fiction and autobiography, earning legions of devoted fans. Both the real and the fictional Delphine have two children and a partner named Francois. The story is told in first person. Who is actually narrating? Is it Delphine the real life French writer, or is it Delphine the character? When asked if there was an L. in her life, de Vigan has answered, “In one form or another.” It’s the question of what that form was that that makes this book impossible to forget.
L. enters Delphine’s life when she’s at vulnerable time. Delphine’s latest book has been wildly successful, but with that come questions she’s not willing to answer. Her twins have finished their baccalauréat, and are moving out and on to higher education. Her boyfriend is gone for long stretches for his own work. It’s time to start on a new book, but she delays and delays. L. seems to be the answer for so many of Delphine’s needs. She’s a companion, a confidante, a cheerleader. But, with all that come L.’s opinions, most strongly her opinions on what Delphine should be writing. Truth is what matters to L. She demands it of Delphine’s writing, making Delphine all the more powerless to put words to paper.
L. makes Delphine uncomfortable, and yet she’s drawn to her. Theirs is an insidious relationship, that moves from subtly dangerous to out and out menacing. Delphine (the character) looks back, telling the story of L., and how L. hijacked her life.
“Given the disorder that she created in my life, it’s important for me to identify what made L.’s hold on me possible, and probably mine on L.”
“L. exerted a gentle hold over me, intimate and troubling, the cause and extent of which I was unaware of.”
“It wasn’t enough for L. just to ask questions; she also suggested answers.”
Not wanting to give too much away, let me simply tell you that I loved Based on a True Story. When I read the last page, I was unsure of my feelings, but over the next few days my pleasure with this book grew. I thought about it often, and still have questions. I’d love to talk to Delphine de Vigan. I want to know her! She’s a master of her craft, seamlessly blurring the lines between real and imagined. If you need a book that’s neat and tidy, Based on a True Story probably isn’t for you, but for everyone else, this is a book you NEED to read. Book club talks could go on FOREVER! Grade: A
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
conejo_literario's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Amazing novel 💜