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beccas_books's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this story a bit apprehensive because of the reviews on Amazon on how anti-Semitic the book is. This is a story about a wealthy Jew, true, but I feel like this book was more about the evils of money and wealth. This book would have been the same if it had happened to a Christian or a Hindu. That said, it isa very powerful book in a very small package! I gave it 3 stars just because since it was so true, it was really painful!
justinm's review against another edition
3.0
David Golder is about a wealthy man, a poor poor wealthy man. His ungrateful daughter always screeches for money and Golder, blinded by his love for his her, always allows her to take some. His wife also takes her turn to annoy him and request money but he doesn't give in so easily to her.
The grumply old David Golder reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Indeed the book was filled with as much life as Dickens' book if not more. David Golder was a quick and easy read and I can't wait to read Némirovsky's Suite Française.
The grumply old David Golder reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Indeed the book was filled with as much life as Dickens' book if not more. David Golder was a quick and easy read and I can't wait to read Némirovsky's Suite Française.
sophseif's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars...This book can't compare to Suite Francaise, but still provides an interesting glimpse into a certain eshelon at a certain period (more specficially, the uber wealthy during the roaring capitalism of the 1920s-30s). Full of miserable characters, this book made me happy that my jewish father raised us in the middle class instead of buying us a life in the upper crust.
rdebner's review against another edition
4.0
A sad commentary about money and its effects on human relationships. While I can imagine that the main character might not have always been the most likeable person, by the time that the reader meets him, he is eminently sympathetic and perhaps more than a little pathetic. A cautionary tale for those with their heads too buried in business to see the world clearly around them, but also a portrait of a time and place. It reminded me of Balzac in terms of her portraiture of a milieu and the acuity of her analysis of that milieu.
boomt's review against another edition
3.0
J'ai lu Suite Française en anglais il y a cinq ans, et je l'ai trouvé lyrique et touchant. David Golder était le premier roman de Némirovsky qui a eu un grand succès. Golder est un financier juif, presque stéréotypé. Il est orgueilleux, cupide et égoïste. Il n'aime que sa belle fille de 18 ans qui est frivole et gâtée. Mais elle ne le voit jamais sauf pour demander de l'argent. Le roman est une fable tragique. La chute de Golder et sa famille se déroule en même temps que l'effondrement des marchés financiers.
Même si Némirovsky était juive, la répresentation de Golder et de son ami Soifer est extrème et presque antisémite. Je ne peux aimer aucun des personnages du roman, mais l'écriture de Némirovsky est belle et claire.
Même si Némirovsky était juive, la répresentation de Golder et de son ami Soifer est extrème et presque antisémite. Je ne peux aimer aucun des personnages du roman, mais l'écriture de Némirovsky est belle et claire.
busybookbee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
aliiciadieez's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
damn idk i had bettering expectations for this book bc i really liked the author's other book that i had read and i'm kinda mad about the end
minsies's review against another edition
1.0
(Dug review out of the depths of LiveJournal.)
Her first book. I thought it was terrible. Every single character is completely reprehensible. The end.
Her first book. I thought it was terrible. Every single character is completely reprehensible. The end.
yeahdeadslow's review against another edition
3.0
Not poorly written, by any standard; but it made me feel that life is rather... hopeless. I know it's not, but this book certainly paints a bleak picture of life and the people that occupy it.