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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
hux's review against another edition
3.0
A strange little book.
I chose to read this because it was on Le Monde's list of 100 books of the century (36). I knew absolutely nothing about it otherwise (apparently it was a huge hit on publication and produced an equally successful film the following year). It's a comedic novel and generally those don't appeal to me and it's written in a manner that must have been hard to translate (what is it = wotzit, etc). It wasn't terrible.
Zazie is being looked after by her uncle (unkoo), Gabriel, in Paris for three days and while there she wants to see the metro but due to a strike, never actually does. Her uncle shows her around Paris where they meet some quirky individuals and he explains to Zazie that he works nights as a security guard (in reality he performs in a gay club as a drag act). His performance is cleverly skipped over so we never know exactly what it entails though he insists it's an artform. Eventually -- due to Zazie's belief that he's a hormosessual -- he agrees to take her and the rest of their family to see the show.
The book reminded me a lot of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' in the sense that the characters are slightly bombastic and unrealistic. Zazie is probably the only exception, a foul-mouthed know-it-all with a burgeoning interest in sex (and hormossesuals in particular). It also reminded me of 'The Man Who Was Thursday' especially the character of Trouscaillon, who adds a surreal, almost disturbing role to proceedings which I genuinely found perplexing and creepy (especially his rapey encounter with Marceline). No explanation is given for this and just when you want one, the book suddenly descends into further surrealism with an astonishing ending which equally bewildered me. I'll have to think about it some more.
Easy to read. Well worth a look. Unique.
I chose to read this because it was on Le Monde's list of 100 books of the century (36). I knew absolutely nothing about it otherwise (apparently it was a huge hit on publication and produced an equally successful film the following year). It's a comedic novel and generally those don't appeal to me and it's written in a manner that must have been hard to translate (what is it = wotzit, etc). It wasn't terrible.
Zazie is being looked after by her uncle (unkoo), Gabriel, in Paris for three days and while there she wants to see the metro but due to a strike, never actually does. Her uncle shows her around Paris where they meet some quirky individuals and he explains to Zazie that he works nights as a security guard (in reality he performs in a gay club as a drag act). His performance is cleverly skipped over so we never know exactly what it entails though he insists it's an artform. Eventually -- due to Zazie's belief that he's a hormosessual -- he agrees to take her and the rest of their family to see the show.
The book reminded me a lot of 'A Confederacy of Dunces' in the sense that the characters are slightly bombastic and unrealistic. Zazie is probably the only exception, a foul-mouthed know-it-all with a burgeoning interest in sex (and hormossesuals in particular). It also reminded me of 'The Man Who Was Thursday' especially the character of Trouscaillon, who adds a surreal, almost disturbing role to proceedings which I genuinely found perplexing and creepy (especially his rapey encounter with Marceline). No explanation is given for this and just when you want one, the book suddenly descends into further surrealism with an astonishing ending which equally bewildered me. I'll have to think about it some more.
Easy to read. Well worth a look. Unique.
reflexivemagpie's review against another edition
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
voodoopickles's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
2.5
lucie_thereader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
ruarilpa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.0
Fun and acab
toto09_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
emmylis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
wolkjes's review against another edition
2.0
Ik denk dat er heel wat nuance verloren gegaan is omdat ik het in het Frans gelezen heb. Als je om de haverklap een hoop woorden niet begrijpt, dan dat toch ook niet ideaal. Maar het verhaal kon me ook gewoon nooit echt meeslepen. Jammer!
trombone_le_phasme's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
buddhafish's review against another edition
3.0
112th book of 2023. And now I'm over the Bookers, back to my challenge with Alan where this sits at #3, Read a book by an OULIPO writer.
This is fun, a bit dated (gesture), and was probably a horror to translate. Queneau has thrown all sorts of wordplay and puns into the novel in true (gesture) OULIPOian fashion. I prefer Exercises in Style. Zazie is a sweet little menace but all the confusion about the drag artist being a 'hormosessual' and the whole charade with the cop, it just wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be (or as funny as it one day was, maybe). But hey (gesture), I like the OULIPO stuff generally and what they stood for.
This is fun, a bit dated (gesture), and was probably a horror to translate. Queneau has thrown all sorts of wordplay and puns into the novel in true (gesture) OULIPOian fashion. I prefer Exercises in Style. Zazie is a sweet little menace but all the confusion about the drag artist being a 'hormosessual' and the whole charade with the cop, it just wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be (or as funny as it one day was, maybe). But hey (gesture), I like the OULIPO stuff generally and what they stood for.