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august1n's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
katejohnson_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
boleuzia's review against another edition
3.0
Opnieuw een schelmenroman, over de twaalfjarige Zazie, een cynisch, vuilbekkend joenk van een jaar of twaalf dat een weekendje verblijft bij oom en tante in Parijs, absoluut de metro op wil, dat kan niet kan wegens staking en het dan maar op een zwerven zet met de onvermijdelijke botsingen tot gevolg. Kleurrijke, absurde en chaotische roman, met een geschifte gallerij personages (marktkramers die flikken zijn, nachtwakers die cabaret dansen en papegaaien die constant hetzelfde zinnetje herhalen). Grootste obstakels: er valt geen touw aan vast te knopen, het hotst, botst en klotst 180 pagina’s lang, en de Nederlandse vertaling, die de experimentele taalspelletjes van Queneau geen eer kan bewijzen. Een van de weinige keren dat ik wenste dat m’n Frans verder reikte dan “une mitraillette hamburger avec andalouse et oignons et un Coca, s’il vous plaît”. (***)
dpolini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
djred's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
deeplyanchored's review against another edition
1.0
L'être ou le néant, voilà le problème. Monter, descendre, aller, venir, tant fait l'homme qu'à la fin il disparaît.
mamely's review against another edition
3.0
Dissacrante, irriverente, ironico e decisamente divertente! Le avventure di una bimbetta che, scaricata dalla madre allo zio, passa un indimenticabile weekend parigino. L'ho chiamata bimbetta, ma Zazie è avanti a tutti, con la sua schiettezza e incazzatura perenne non si fa certo abbindolare dalle apparenze, anzi è già un'abile manipolatrice di esseri umani. Con una sgangherata ed eterogenea compagnia di personaggi, che sembrano ma non sono o sono ma non sembrano, passerà due giorni così intensi che quando finiranno e verrà riconsegnata alla madre si considererà invecchiata!
Parte del leone la fa comunque, in questo libro, il linguaggio. Un linguaggio così sperimentale e divertente, che si crea in corso di scrittura e che purtroppo non merita di essere letto tradotto in una lingua che non è fatta per i giochi di parole. Ma va bene lo stesso, perché ugualmente si può godere di questo bel romanzo in apparenza così spensierato e superficiale che riesce invece a parlare di tutto, anche di questioni spinose come omosessualità e pedofilia con una leggerezza che non toglie nulla alla serietà dei temi trattati. Non per niente stiamo parlando di un maestro della scrittura. Da leggere con animo spensierato!
Parte del leone la fa comunque, in questo libro, il linguaggio. Un linguaggio così sperimentale e divertente, che si crea in corso di scrittura e che purtroppo non merita di essere letto tradotto in una lingua che non è fatta per i giochi di parole. Ma va bene lo stesso, perché ugualmente si può godere di questo bel romanzo in apparenza così spensierato e superficiale che riesce invece a parlare di tutto, anche di questioni spinose come omosessualità e pedofilia con una leggerezza che non toglie nulla alla serietà dei temi trattati. Non per niente stiamo parlando di un maestro della scrittura. Da leggere con animo spensierato!
jmscwht's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
withewind's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was a whirlwind. I still don’t know what to make of it if I’m being honest, which is why I can only give 3.5 stars. It’s not that I disliked it, but did I like it? Who knows.
Zazie is an incredible character, that’s for sure. As is her uncle and the rest of the cast. The entire thing hit especially close to home since I visited Paris quite recently, so I could at least somewhat follow the routes they took.
Since I read it in (albeit very good) translation I think it is impossible to truly appreciate the writing style completely. It already was incredibly funny though and I can only imagine what it must be like in French. Maybe I’ll trust myself to pick up the original one day.
Do I recommend this? Sure! It is a very quick read and a very entertaining one although it can be rather drastic at times, both in its language and its themes. And it does have a surprising depth to it that sometimes catches one off-guard. I appreciate that, though.
At the end of this review, there’s only one question left for me to ask: Is Gabriel really homosexual? I like to think so. It would make everything even funnier and I also believe it is hinted at quite clearly.
Zazie is an incredible character, that’s for sure. As is her uncle and the rest of the cast. The entire thing hit especially close to home since I visited Paris quite recently, so I could at least somewhat follow the routes they took.
Since I read it in (albeit very good) translation I think it is impossible to truly appreciate the writing style completely. It already was incredibly funny though and I can only imagine what it must be like in French. Maybe I’ll trust myself to pick up the original one day.
Do I recommend this? Sure! It is a very quick read and a very entertaining one although it can be rather drastic at times, both in its language and its themes. And it does have a surprising depth to it that sometimes catches one off-guard. I appreciate that, though.
At the end of this review, there’s only one question left for me to ask: Is Gabriel really homosexual? I like to think so. It would make everything even funnier and I also believe it is hinted at quite clearly.