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A Certain Smile
Françoise Sagan is best known for her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, which caused a scandal when she first published it at the age of eighteen in 1953. But her second novel, A Certain Smile, less shocking and more psychologically convincing, was preferred by many critics. Like Bonjour Tristesse, this story is set in Paris in the 1950s andtold by ayoung student bored by he...more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
October 15th 2011
by University Of Chicago Press
(first published 1956)
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Някои типажи ми се сториха познати от предишни книги на Саган, вида усещания и любовни трепети също, но бързо ме завладя историята, внимавах да не изпусна нито една дума, когато героинята описва чувствата си, себе си, защото отново откривам, че Саган го прави неповторимо. Не си спомням да съм чела типичен любовен роман (като ученичка сигурно), но ако приемем, че книгите на Саган са любовни романи , те са прекрасни – богати и дълбоки (а кратки), толкова красиво и откровено са описани много „тънки...more
I'm not a fan of short stories, but Sagan is very good at those. I enjoyed every word of this book. I agree that this type of literature isn't very deep and I'm sure that had it been first published nowadays, it wouldn't gain popularity and respect, but nonetheless these stories, and particularly A Certain Smile, are something every girl should read. I hope there'll be no stones thrown at me after these words, but really, I can't possibly imagine what could interest the male part of the populati...more
Много харесвам стила на Саган. Пише леко, меланхолично, спокойно и без излишно драматизиране, но пък достатъчно силно и въздействащо. Този начин на изразяване винаги ми е бил много близък. То е като да кажеш простичкото "обичам те", вместо да наемаш кресливи мариачи, които показно да раздират тишината под нечий прозорец. "Усмивка почти" е една трезво разказана история, без това да отнема от пълнотата на емоциите - ненатрапващи се и пазещи тишината около нас. Силни, но не крещяши. Любовта тук е т...more
This title is generally better known for the 1958 English-language film version with the accompanying title song crooned by Johnny Mathis. The original French-language novel is the short, bittersweet story of a doomed affair that nicely showcases Françoise Sagan’s signature talent for describing the confused and tumultuous emotions of young girls. Dominique, the first-person narrator, is a law student at the Sorbonne who suffers from a particularly serious case of ennui. Everything seems to bor...more
This is a simple story about a young girl who has an affair with an older married man. This novella seems very French in the best sense - the straightforward approach to sex and love, the frank way that an affair is discussed, there is little drama and things are very matter of fact. And their lives look so appealing and glamourous and…French! Young Dominique is bored and restless in Paris 1950's but for a middle aged American in 2012 it was fun reading about the cafes, the lunches, the vacation...more
This is a sweet little novel about a young girl's willing rush into love with a married man despite knowing that peril awaits, but not experienced enough to know the full consequences of heartbreak. There's a purity to this that is both artful and artless, and because it succeeds at what it sets out to do, I'm willing to overlook its faults. The book is about a brief affair; it should be viewed as a lovely, fleeting wisp, like a firefly in a summer dusk. The language is simple and thoughtful, th...more
In her follow-up to Bonjour Tristesse, 1955, Ms Sagan again made the bestseller list at #7 in 1956. The main character this time is a student at the Sorbonne who does the very French thing of having an affair with her boyfriend's uncle, a man much older than she is. Sagan's writing has improved and in fact reminded me of early novels by Simone De Beauvoir.
As the young woman goes through the steps and stages of an affair, which is pretty much the same story as any affair from a female point of vi...more
One of Sagan's novels that does exist in English. It's also one of her earliest one, which was a huge international best-seller in the fifties. Short, deceptively simple, stylish in Sagan's unique way, this is a bittersweet, melancholic love story that could be seen as pure romance but which is actually much more - in a subtle way, sagan paints love as experienced for the first time by a young girl with great psychological care, and nobody has described a certain French society the way she did.
This is a short, sweet book that's both simpler than Bonjour Tristesse and a little more grown up. Dominique is likeable despite her faults, and there's also a great sense of atmosphere.
Some of the earliest parts felt rough, but I'm inclined to chalk that up to the translation.
Some of the earliest parts felt rough, but I'm inclined to chalk that up to the translation.
I can relate to this book a bit because for a while I couldn't get over a one week holiday fling that I still think about before I sleep. 2011 was a shitheap of a year so of course I know love exists, so I'm not cynical towards this calibre of romantic fiction. It's mainly her apathy and scepticism that makes it a good story.
Sagan's second novel tells the story of Dominique, a bored twenty year old law student at the Sorbonne in mid-1950's Paris, who embarks on a love affair with a middle-aged man. Truly captures the pain of unavailable love. (only 128 pp.) Had to get it from the main city library as the Co. library does not have "old" books!
A good quality short novel that perhaps cannot get the appropriate reception today as our world has moved on so quickly in the past 50 yrs. however, if you have an understanding of France in the 1950 's you will see this book for its merits and enjoy every page.
I read this immediately after Sagan's first work (Bonjour Tristesse) and much preferred it. The writing seems much more mature, although it was written only two years later.
Bored with her studies and boyfriend, Dominique sets out on a flirtation-turned-affair with his uncle. Sagan, who was the same age as her protagonist, writes convincingly and with authority, and the emotional tide feels very true-to-life.
Recommended.
Bored with her studies and boyfriend, Dominique sets out on a flirtation-turned-affair with his uncle. Sagan, who was the same age as her protagonist, writes convincingly and with authority, and the emotional tide feels very true-to-life.
Recommended.
Невероятно легкая, наполненная непонятной светлой грустью и апатией, история о любви, которая заведомо существует без будущего. Просто как самозабвение, как добровольный самообман, без грамма надежды, как будущее обреченное быть прошедшим. Было очень приятно читать. Красивый слог, яркая героиня.
I liked the last lines very very much and I like the ability of Sagan's characters to put things into perspective.
Dominique was completely interchangeable with Cecile from Bonjour Tristesse, however, and it's honestly not that interesting to read about people who are constantly bored.
Dominique was completely interchangeable with Cecile from Bonjour Tristesse, however, and it's honestly not that interesting to read about people who are constantly bored.
Although this is a tiny novel, it took me a long time to read. I couldn't really get into it and wasn't interested in any of the characters. I preferred 'Bonjour Tristesse'
Such a short novel and it took me such a long time to read it. I found it quite boring and predictable. Maybe I should have read it when I was 20 or so, I think I would have liked it more. I read "Bonjour tristesse" when I was 18 and I liked it a lot. Perhaps there is an age for every novel and "A Certain Smile" is for 20 year-olds. I don't know. The idea is that, except for the occasionally poetic language, this book didn't transmit much.
One is tempted to call Sagan "Jean Rhys-lite" (she certainly has her melancholia) but Sagan's novels are also jazzy, kicky and cool.
parfait. tout est juste. de la sensibilite a la realite en passant par les mots et le style. n'est pas sagan qui veut
Nothing special, but if you're bored and want to read some simple love story - it's perfect for you.
On s'est aimé, on ne s'aime plus, et puis voila. Pas de quoi faire la grimace.
Хареса ми, но не ме развълнува особено.
J'avais oublié qu'il ne représentait rien, sinon pour moi l'occasion de souffrir.
A cute story about love and treason in love.
l'avventura tra dominique, studentessa universitaria intellettuale e annoiata e luc, quarantenne di successo, viveur e viaggiatore, sposato con la placida e luminosa françoise. uno strano triangolo (da cui è quasi subito escluso il fidanzato della ragazza e nipote di luc)che sfocerà in due settimane di passione e vita di coppia a cannes e diventerà un amour fou divorante e non corrisposto. quanta infelicità, quanti compromessi in così poche pagine; finale di una tristezza lacerante.
I'm fascinated by this book. It touche me so truly and I felt it very close to me. I find constantly myself in thinking of the main character. "A Certain Smile" influence so strongly. A wonderful way to express love. The beautiful and at the same time available and simple author`s language makes you feel the book as part of your own life and reality. I will certainly read more books by Sagan. I really enjoyed it.
My only complaint is that it ended too abruptly. Love her writing style and such a fun story to experience it in.
Sagan books are so oddly satisfying. They all seem to be pretty much alike, all with the same type of narrator (a young woman, involved in some potentially disastrous love affair) who all have the same painfully naive sophistication. It's sort of like reading old mysteries: you know the formula, you know how it's all going to end up, and they're so pleasurable.
Mar 02, 2013
Cari
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013,
coming-of-age,
french-writers,
incite-to-write,
love-stories,
novellas,
paris,
sensual
A simple story with evocative writing. While I certainly haven't been in the narrator's position, I think we're all familiar with the sense of loss and heartbreak that comes with unrequited love described in Part Three. A beautiful little book.
I really loved this book. Reading it was very much like a personal release for my own feelings.
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Born Françoise Quoirez, she grew up in a French, Catholic, bourgeois family. She was an independent thinker and avid reader as a young girl, and upon failing her examinations for continuing at the Sorbonne, she became a writer.
She went to her family's home in the south of France and wrote her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, at age 18. She submitted it to Editions Juillard in January 1954 and it...more
More about Françoise Sagan...
She went to her family's home in the south of France and wrote her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, at age 18. She submitted it to Editions Juillard in January 1954 and it...more
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“The questions I would have liked to ask people were: ‘Are you in love? What are you reading?”
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46 people liked it
“I was thinking that I should be content to kiss him until the break of day. Bertrand ran out of kisses too soon; desire made them superfluous in his eyes. They were only a stage on the road to pleasure, not something inexhaustible and self-sufficient, as Luc had revealed them to me.”
—
5 people liked it
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Sep 19, 2011 06:57am