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A review by atticmoth
Claudine at School by Colette
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