Bonjour Tristesse

El libro llegó bien, en buenas condiciones y rápido.

This book was published in 1954 when Francoise Sagan was 18 and presumably takes place at roughly the same time period. When one reads biographies of Sagan, one sees parallels between her life and the events of the book, and thus one gets the feeling that the book is either quasi autobiographical or heavily drawn from personal experience. The main character, Cecile, at 17 is roughly the same age as Sagan at the time of the writing of the book. She lives with her father, Raymond, having lost her mother at the age of two. In the beginning her father is with Elsa, an attractive, 29 year old woman, one of many who has filed through her father's life but no one of any intellectual or personal substance. Soon, however, her father, becomes involved with Anne, a friend of Cecile's mother, age 42 and someone, unlike most of her father's lovers, who is highly intelligent, cultured and with more personal depth. Anne and her father become engaged. Cecile, during this time, forms a romantic attachment to Cyril, a law student. The relationship between Cecile and Anne is alternately friendly and antagonistic and there is some competition for Raymond's attentions that escalates to a climax. The book is written with great sensitivity, clarity and vividness and a writing style that borders at time on the poetic. It's better in French if you know that language. Translator's Kiss

As advertised, good condition upon arrival.

The prose of this was so lively. I read it on vacation and it made the vacation so perfect and memorable. Such a vibrant, dramatic, funny summer read. I'm excited for the movie but I don't think it'll live up to how snappy the novel was, how nihilistic and comical the main character was.

Cute story.