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mockingjay's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
irisreads1996's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rachhosk's review against another edition
funny
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? It's complicated
3.75
larry_miko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
21stcenturyfox's review against another edition
3.0
I stopped by a coffee shop to read this while drinking a cup of coffee this afternoon. Truly sets the mood for a Colette book, huh? Although, well yes, I am pretty grossed out.
Its age is definitely shown, sometimes it gets pretty funny. But it made sense to the storyline. Gigi is a girl of 15, groomed to be a courtesan by her demimonde family, but Gigi does things her way and refused to follow her family's rules even when she's constantly tormented for being "backwards for her age" definitely shown when Gaston, a family friend in his 30's, confessed his love for her and she reacted with a childish burst.
I think Gigi is supposed to be a rebel girl who goes out her own way, choosing love instead of the life her family trained her for, but their age differences made it age pretty badly especially knowing that Gaston is a family friend who has known her since she was small, even considers himself her godfather! and gave her abundance of gifts throughout the years (a sign of grooming, by the way). As a 17 year-old I'm not saying I wouldn't have a crush on a handsome older man who is kind and generous to me with whom I spend a lot of times playing games with, especially if I was an isolated girl whose family forbid to befriend even girls her own age, but to me it seems like her love for Gaston is pretty little-sisterly than romantic, although I'm sure that's not what Colette intended. From today's perspective, it looks like Gigi escaped one type of grooming to be fallen to another.
Its age is definitely shown, sometimes it gets pretty funny. But it made sense to the storyline. Gigi is a girl of 15, groomed to be a courtesan by her demimonde family, but Gigi does things her way and refused to follow her family's rules even when she's constantly tormented for being "backwards for her age" definitely shown when Gaston, a family friend in his 30's, confessed his love for her and she reacted with a childish burst.
I think Gigi is supposed to be a rebel girl who goes out her own way, choosing love instead of the life her family trained her for, but their age differences made it age pretty badly especially knowing that Gaston is a family friend who has known her since she was small, even considers himself her godfather! and gave her abundance of gifts throughout the years (a sign of grooming, by the way). As a 17 year-old I'm not saying I wouldn't have a crush on a handsome older man who is kind and generous to me with whom I spend a lot of times playing games with, especially if I was an isolated girl whose family forbid to befriend even girls her own age, but to me it seems like her love for Gaston is pretty little-sisterly than romantic, although I'm sure that's not what Colette intended. From today's perspective, it looks like Gigi escaped one type of grooming to be fallen to another.
fairyblood's review against another edition
2.0
come on people, this girl is FIFTEEN years of age! 15!!! being groomed by a 30 something gross little freak to whom she refers to as “uncle”??? hated her relatives too. i was rooting for gigi but the ending was so disappointing ugh. writing was quite good.
anam_victoria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Individual ratings:
Gigi 5/5
The Cat 3.5/5
It's funny how I preferred Gigi to The Cat, and wished it was the longer novella out if the two, yet I found Alain in The Cat to be much more relateable. I understand his struggle as an only child to try and accept an "outsider" (be that even his wife) into his "kingdom" (i.e., his childhood home). Only only-children can understand the inexplicable rage that can take one over when they are forced to learn how to share privileges they weren't even aware they had, such as the calmness and quietness of having your own room and the option to be alone with your yourself (and your beloved cat) whenever you desire. However, my sympathy for Alain ends when I begin to see how pathetic he is in that he chose to marry a woman he did not love enough to be willing to "grow-up" for. The way he behaves like he does not have a saying in whatever is happening in his life made him infurating for most of the story. We can see that he has the ability to clearily articulate what is it that he desires, but he's too immature to own up to it to Camille, probabily because he is afraid he is going to lose the ability to enjoy their "marriage pleasures". Basically, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. This novella reminded me that spoiled men are the worst type to seek out and that women shouldn't even bother until they're out of their early 20s and have had to face real-life struggles without their mommy's protection.
Gigi 5/5
The Cat 3.5/5
It's funny how I preferred Gigi to The Cat, and wished it was the longer novella out if the two, yet I found Alain in The Cat to be much more relateable. I understand his struggle as an only child to try and accept an "outsider" (be that even his wife) into his "kingdom" (i.e., his childhood home). Only only-children can understand the inexplicable rage that can take one over when they are forced to learn how to share privileges they weren't even aware they had, such as the calmness and quietness of having your own room and the option to be alone with your yourself (and your beloved cat) whenever you desire. However, my sympathy for Alain ends when I begin to see how pathetic he is in that he chose to marry a woman he did not love enough to be willing to "grow-up" for. The way he behaves like he does not have a saying in whatever is happening in his life made him infurating for most of the story. We can see that he has the ability to clearily articulate what is it that he desires, but he's too immature to own up to it to Camille, probabily because he is afraid he is going to lose the ability to enjoy their "marriage pleasures". Basically, he wants to have his cake and eat it too. This novella reminded me that spoiled men are the worst type to seek out and that women shouldn't even bother until they're out of their early 20s and have had to face real-life struggles without their mommy's protection.
sylvain's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the way Colette writes maternal figures brings warmth to my heart, especially in Gigi where it felt like I was listening to my own mother, aunt, and grandmother talk. The little details and snippets of description of furniture, clothing, jewelry, spin a wonderful picture, I enjoyed The Cat as well, Alain’s ambling thoughts amusing and interesting to read throughout.