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111th out of 199 books
—
547 voters
Gigi
by
Colette
A story of burgeoning womanhood and blossoming love, Colette's masterpiece reveals the author's grasp of the politics of relationships. With music, drama, and the charm of French-inflected English, this unabridged novella follows Gigi's training as a courtesan.
Paperback, 182 pages
Published
by Livre de Poche
(first published 1944)
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694)
Jul 14, 2009
Greg
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
girls-girls-girls
Kind of a like Proust, if Proust had been into satisfying men..., oh wait, that might not do. Ok, how about this. Kind of like Proust if you were finding out how Albertine was being groomed to be the way she was, well not all the ways she is, but the ways she is when she's around Marcel.
I really liked this, there is something nice about turn of the century-ish era French society things. I have no idea if this is a whole story, or an excerpt from something else. It bothers me not to know, but no...more
I really liked this, there is something nice about turn of the century-ish era French society things. I have no idea if this is a whole story, or an excerpt from something else. It bothers me not to know, but no...more
J'ai beaucoup aimé ce texte, qui est en fait un recueil de nouvelles, et qui m'a permis de découvrir Colette. J'ai adoré sa plume fluide, belle, simple et en même temps si construite et recherchée. J'ai adoré ces nouvelles qui nous plongent dans des univers différents mais qui sont toutes passionnantes. Gigi, la première nouvelle, nous laisse découvrir une petite fille sûre d'elle et naturelle à qui sa mère tente d'inculquer l'étiquette et aussi le comportement à adopter pour plaire aux hommes....more
Gigi is a charming story and also one of the last novellas by Colette. Having written most of her work largely based on her experiences in love, relationships and life going on in the french Belle Epoque, Gigi could possibly reflect some degree of cynicism she felt towards the end of her life in regards to the shallow and impermenant attitudes of these kinds of relationships in a rather decadent and prudish society. Gigi is a young girl, about 15, being trained by her Grandmother and Great Aunt...more
At first appearances, the short novella is cute, light fare seeped in the richness of the Gilded Age in France. It soon turns into a witty satire of love and relationships. [return][return]Raised by her grandmother, Gigi is a girl on the verge of womanhood who is being primed for a life as a courtesan. She comes from generations of courtesans, with their own moral system and rules, of which Gigi must learn in her lessons with her Aunt Alicia. The hypocricy and silliness of these lessons is not l...more
Je n'ai pas beaucoup aimé ce texte...je n'ai trouvé ni Gigi ni les autres personnages d'être les personnages sympas. L'oncle me perturbe. Le cadre de ce romain, c'est ce que j'ai adoré! Si vous aimez la culture française, et particulièrement celle de cette époque, ce petit romain mérite une lecture, mais féministes: attention! Ne lisez pas cette histoire en tenant l'espoir qu'elle engendrera une catharsis qui réchauffe le coeur...
It is a short quick cute romance centered around a family and Paris. It could be a very good book, however by the time you actually really get into the characters the story is almost over. It would have been a wonderful romantic story centered around an eccentric family who live in Paris if it was longer and more in depth. But since it isn't it reads more of a short version or summary of a story something like sparknotes, except with more detail. What I had expected the novel to be it did become...more
15 year old Gigi is being groomed to become a courtesan. I loved the following passage, where her tante Alicia, a great courtesan herself in her day, is evaluating Gigi's chances with her usual objectivity:
- Fais attention à ce que je te dis : tu peux plaire. Tu as un petit nez impossible, une bouche sans style, les pommettes un peu moujikes...
- Oh! tante! gémit Gilberte.
- ... mais tu as de quoi t'en tirer avec les yeux, les cils, les dents et les cheveux, si tu n'es pas complètement idiote. Et...more
- Fais attention à ce que je te dis : tu peux plaire. Tu as un petit nez impossible, une bouche sans style, les pommettes un peu moujikes...
- Oh! tante! gémit Gilberte.
- ... mais tu as de quoi t'en tirer avec les yeux, les cils, les dents et les cheveux, si tu n'es pas complètement idiote. Et...more
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This is an intimate study of the training of a young woman to be a mistress in 1899 Paris. The movie Gigi captures nearly all of the dialogue, and adds some scenes from Gaston's perspective, as well as that of his uncle. I really enjoyed the story, but was glad that I have seen the movie because it made it much easier to picture the scenes described, as it was truly a different world.
I thought this was an excellent short story. As I read it, I discovered that all the best lines in the musical came from the book. It's very tightly written and makes more sense than the film. I definitely want to read more of Colette's work.
My nana got me addicted to the American film when I was 3. I love Gaston and Gigi.
I adored this novella. It was perfect in its simplicity. The film is a bit better if only because of the singing and the sexy Louise Jourdan! :)
I adored this novella. It was perfect in its simplicity. The film is a bit better if only because of the singing and the sexy Louise Jourdan! :)
I actually read it in a publication where it was combined with one other of Colette's works, but cannot figure out which one that it, since it was long ago. Interesting contrast to the musical version.
Colette does not disappoint. Such a sweet (if somewhat complicated) love story, with an ending I was happy about.
A little dense, but it was nice to read a happy French story for a change!
Lettura molto scorrevole. Gigi è adorabile.
Sep 23, 2011
Alex
marked it as to-read
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved the ending paragraph. There are also some very good tips on how to take care of yourself as a woman in this story. Not all of us had approachable relatives.
-A
-A
Mar 16, 2013
-Marimar-
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
romance
¡Que pequeña joya me he encontrado! ¡Menudo caracter el de Gigi!
Me lo he leído de una sentada y me ha encantado.
Me lo he leído de una sentada y me ha encantado.
Checked this out from the library as a teen and really enjoyed it. Charming tale from what I remember!
Gigi by Colette (1995)
May 20, 2013
Misty
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Karen
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2013
Nora
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Sarah D'souza
added it
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Colette was the pen name of the French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. She is best known, at least in the English-speaking world, for her novel Gigi, which provided the plot for a Lerner & Loewe musical film and stage musical.
More about Colette...
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Mar 29, 2009 08:17am