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A review by msjoanna
Chaeri by Colette
5.0
I've been on a Collette binge these last few weeks. I started with [b:Barks and Purrs|9921138|Barks and Purrs|Colette|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348110465s/9921138.jpg|1223363], and enjoyed it so much that I immediately checked out a copy of Chéri, read through it in a few days, and have immediately started [b:The Last of Cheri|837474|The Last of Cheri|Colette|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1325621192s/837474.jpg|823065]. Barks and Purrs impressed me with the perfect read on dogs and cats and the way their owners imagine their inner thoughts. Cheri manages to capture, with pitch perfect accuracy, the emotions of a doomed-by-society relationship. While today, readers will not be particularly shocked by the notion of a 49-year-old woman dating a 25-year-old man, it is clear in the text that such a relationship is completely outside the bounds of upper-class French society at the time. But the emotions of doomed lovers are universalizable.
I've heard Cheri described as the consummate feminist novel, and I can see why. It explores female sexuality in a more realistic and vulnerable manner than many other novels. It's frankly hard to believe that this book was published nearly 100 years ago. That said, this book appealed to me on a direct emotional level, and not because of its politics. So glad I stumbled onto Collette's books. Highly recommended.
I've heard Cheri described as the consummate feminist novel, and I can see why. It explores female sexuality in a more realistic and vulnerable manner than many other novels. It's frankly hard to believe that this book was published nearly 100 years ago. That said, this book appealed to me on a direct emotional level, and not because of its politics. So glad I stumbled onto Collette's books. Highly recommended.