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A review by rosietomyn
Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One by Raphaëlle Giordano
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One by Raphaelle Giordano is a quick, narrative-style self novel that I found similar to The Courage to be Disliked by Fumitake Koga.
Like The Courage to be Disliked, this novel follows a teacher/student relationship that helps the pupil character find more meaning in their life.
The novel's protagonist is Camille. She is a 38 year old wife and bother who is over-booked, disconnected, and burdened by her stressful life. She is likeable and sympathetic as a main character, if slightly one dimensional. Her mentor, Claude, is a dashing elder gentleman with wild ideas about recreating a new life within the old one.
The idea of routinology is definitely a bit goofy, and the suggestions Camille follows to find happiness are sometimes eyeroll-worthy. And while unsurprising in a French novel, I can definitely see how some are put off reading about her weight-related journey. Still, it's a cute story and though the outcome is one that is unlikely, it follows a framework that makes for a satisfying end to a story.
I enjoyed it, and I think most will if going into it understanding the limitations of translation as well as the time and place it was written/takes place in.
Like The Courage to be Disliked, this novel follows a teacher/student relationship that helps the pupil character find more meaning in their life.
The novel's protagonist is Camille. She is a 38 year old wife and bother who is over-booked, disconnected, and burdened by her stressful life. She is likeable and sympathetic as a main character, if slightly one dimensional. Her mentor, Claude, is a dashing elder gentleman with wild ideas about recreating a new life within the old one.
The idea of routinology is definitely a bit goofy, and the suggestions Camille follows to find happiness are sometimes eyeroll-worthy. And while unsurprising in a French novel, I can definitely see how some are put off reading about her weight-related journey. Still, it's a cute story and though the outcome is one that is unlikely, it follows a framework that makes for a satisfying end to a story.
I enjoyed it, and I think most will if going into it understanding the limitations of translation as well as the time and place it was written/takes place in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment