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bookchasm's review against another edition
2.0
One more person who saw the movie Colette and decided to read the Claudine books. I tried this one and now know that I don’t want to read the rest. As other reviewers have said, it was probably groundbreaking at the time, but as far as being "coming of age," I don't see much change in the character from beginning to end or a plot in general. I do like the feistiness of the main character, and I'm sure that was part of the positive reception when it was written, but overall, it took me way too long to read and it just wasn't what I needed right now.
kayleigh23's review against another edition
3.0
Did not finish, but as I had to know the whole story for university, I acknowledge some of the important themes and modernist quirks. To talk about it in a class environment, it was interesting.
However, it just simply bored me. I didn't really like Claudine that much and it was way too long for not much to actually happen.
However, it just simply bored me. I didn't really like Claudine that much and it was way too long for not much to actually happen.
natmak's review against another edition
4.0
"My name is Claudine, I live in Montigny; I was born there in 1884; I shall probably not die there."
Really liked this book, groundbreaking for its time, with its portrayal of lesbian love. Have to read the rest to see where Claudine goes next.
Really liked this book, groundbreaking for its time, with its portrayal of lesbian love. Have to read the rest to see where Claudine goes next.
franfernandez's review against another edition
3.0
Creo que es la primera novela que leo entera en francés (aunque había leído cuentos, como Le petit Nicolas, y obras de teatro, como La leçon). Después de haberla leído, me resulta mucho más fácil entender el francés hablado!
Volviendo al libro en cuestión: el argumento me atrapó, pero Claudine es muy mala! (no en el sentido de "traviesa": mala gente, especialmente con las compañeras) La escritura me resultó muy agradable, aunque admito que no entendí TODO el vocabulario.
Mi edición del libro también tiene su historia porque lo compré sobre el "Boul Mich" :-)
Volviendo al libro en cuestión: el argumento me atrapó, pero Claudine es muy mala! (no en el sentido de "traviesa": mala gente, especialmente con las compañeras) La escritura me resultó muy agradable, aunque admito que no entendí TODO el vocabulario.
Mi edición del libro también tiene su historia porque lo compré sobre el "Boul Mich" :-)
livbythesea's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kerrinify's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know if I liked this book tbh. My favourite character was Claudine's dad who just gave negative fucks about everything.
atticmoth's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think I’m drawn to older lesbian books more so than contemporary because it’s reassurance that there’s always been women who love women so its harder to invalidate. The side effect of this is also positive because lots of these tell stories without making a big deal of it, though they usually end in tragedy. Claudine à l’école didn’t have some sapphique endgame, but didn’t end with invalidating Claudine’s lesbianism at least. It’s a story about deep relationships between women, without saying the word lesbian (or gay or whatever else) once. None of the characters make a big deal of it, and none of the obstacles to her relationship come from a place of homophobia (the biggest obstacle’s literally another woman). This was refreshing compared to the near-trauma porn that people churn out today.
That being said I read this in French and it took a really really long time, and I’m not sure I gained anything reading it in French, because there aren’t any language-specific tricks or anything. The prose is lovely, but I found myself looking forward to it ending really soon after it started. Next time I want to read an aimless story about chaotic girls I will just reread Azumanga Diaoh, which is honestly the closest comparison I can make. Similar to Azumanga though, there were a lot of disturbing references to relationships with (pedophilic) adult men… I don’t want to read about them perving on teenagers unless it casts some sort of critical eye, and I’m not sure if Colette had that given the historical context of this work.
I really did like the protagonist, Claudine, though. She has a bad attitude, and is sort of an asshole. Some people might find her frustrating, but I liked that Colette went to lengths to ensure she has no redeeming qualities, it’s a looooot funnier than the alternative.
I got to read a beautiful old copy of this from my university, it was from 1929, published by Albin Michel, and H. Mirande’s illustrations really improved the book for me. I’m attaching my favorites before I have to return it, here: https://twitter.com/attic_moth/status/1409740387506348035
That being said I read this in French and it took a really really long time, and I’m not sure I gained anything reading it in French, because there aren’t any language-specific tricks or anything. The prose is lovely, but I found myself looking forward to it ending really soon after it started. Next time I want to read an aimless story about chaotic girls I will just reread Azumanga Diaoh, which is honestly the closest comparison I can make. Similar to Azumanga though, there were a lot of disturbing references to relationships with (pedophilic) adult men… I don’t want to read about them perving on teenagers unless it casts some sort of critical eye, and I’m not sure if Colette had that given the historical context of this work.
I really did like the protagonist, Claudine, though. She has a bad attitude, and is sort of an asshole. Some people might find her frustrating, but I liked that Colette went to lengths to ensure she has no redeeming qualities, it’s a looooot funnier than the alternative.
I got to read a beautiful old copy of this from my university, it was from 1929, published by Albin Michel, and H. Mirande’s illustrations really improved the book for me. I’m attaching my favorites before I have to return it, here: https://twitter.com/attic_moth/status/1409740387506348035
satan_is_back's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0