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A review by beanie_bob
Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I think a line could be drawn from this book to My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Spoiled rich girl with daddy and mommy issues goes to unusual lengths to accomplish goal?
This could easily slide into the hot girl lit/sad girl lit niche while being a little bit of a deeper cut than The Bell Jar.
But enough marketing - I liked this a lot but more as a literary analyst or academic. It’s almost better to think about this book than it is to actually read it (and I think my favorite books are ones that are enjoyable to consume and think about) Sagan was a teenager when she wrote Bonjour Tristesse, which is impressive but also shows itself in the work. It falls just a little short of great, in my humble opinion. That being said, I think her age and proximity to the world of the character gave her insight that writers older than her might be afraid to touch.
In my notes I wrote that this book felt filmic. I think the setting of the French Riviera during summer is just too rich to not picture cinematographically. But it was in more that her writing was so direct that the work was almost a play. The dialogue is also reminiscent of film dialogue of the era. As it happens there is a movie adaptation, so obviously I need to see it.
Some of Cécile’s thoughts read very ‘mentally ill’ to me but the description on the back calls her amoral, which brings to mind Camus’ The Stranger. I think this could spark interesting discussions on what is illness, what is a choice, and if the two ever overlap.
Also, borders on some light Oedipal (electra?) vibes in here without ever actually being incestuous or unnerving. Jung and Freud are eating this up.
This could easily slide into the hot girl lit/sad girl lit niche while being a little bit of a deeper cut than The Bell Jar.
But enough marketing - I liked this a lot but more as a literary analyst or academic. It’s almost better to think about this book than it is to actually read it (and I think my favorite books are ones that are enjoyable to consume and think about) Sagan was a teenager when she wrote Bonjour Tristesse, which is impressive but also shows itself in the work. It falls just a little short of great, in my humble opinion. That being said, I think her age and proximity to the world of the character gave her insight that writers older than her might be afraid to touch.
In my notes I wrote that this book felt filmic. I think the setting of the French Riviera during summer is just too rich to not picture cinematographically. But it was in more that her writing was so direct that the work was almost a play. The dialogue is also reminiscent of film dialogue of the era. As it happens there is a movie adaptation, so obviously I need to see it.
Also, borders on some light Oedipal (electra?) vibes in here without ever actually being incestuous or unnerving. Jung and Freud are eating this up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Car accident