Simon, Garance and Lola flee a family wedding that promises to be dull to visit their younger brother, Vincent, who is working as a guide at a cht...
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reviews
Sep 07, 2011
Trish
rated it: 
It is no surprise that this novel became a bestseller in France, as it captures a moment like a bird in flight—that sunny moment of refusing to acknowledge the weight of cares and celebrating the silly, the mad, and the wild. We are led in this madcap adventure by the irrepressibly sassy Garance, who travels from Paris by car with her brother and his wife to a relative’s wedding. Travelling wearing her thong because her skirt was too tight or slathering depilatory cream on her legs in the car (
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Sep 07, 2011
Fani
rated it: 
Well, it was not worth the 9.50 euros I paid for the 140-pages paperback edition in Greek, in any case. But it was fun, even if it was full of references to French culture that I ignore. And the first part about the silly sister-in-law touched my heart:) But all in all, it seemed more like a few pages taken out of the author's diary than a novel. If I hadn't paid as much money for it as I did, I might even have enjoyed it more, lol!
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Feb 18, 2012
Rebeccahowden
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The complexities of sibling relationships and the bittersweet passage of time are at the heart of this charming little gem of a novella. Short, meandering, and told with Anna Gavalda’s characteristic lightness of touch, Breaking Away has a warmth and hilarity that belies the depth of emotion simmering beneath the surface. This is the latest of Gavalda’s works to be translated into English, and it can be easily devoured in one sitting – from the very first paragraph, the greater challenge would b
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Feb 15, 2011
Kaloyana
rated it: 
Първо да уточня - според мен това не е роман, както пише на корицата. Това са 100 страници, по които текстът толкова е разлят, че може спокойно да се събере е на 30-40 максиму. Книжката се чете за час. А цялата форма е точно като разказ. И само дотук човек се чувства измамен. Освен това раказът не е добър. Идеята му е чудесна, но е написан толкова набързо и толкова недовършено и недоизпипано, че ме хвана яд, понеже знам, че Гавалда може да пише добре и това си личи дори от тази книжка. Само че н
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Nov 30, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
This book is billed as a novella, but it's really more of a longish short story. Because Gavalda's writing style is so light on description and heavy on dialogue, her books always go by very quickly and have an airy, upbeat pace that feels more like the rhythm of real life compared to other books. All of that makes for a very pleasant reading experience, at least for me.
The basic premise is that four adult siblings decide to escape a dull, stuffy wedding and the nagging wife of one o More...
The basic premise is that four adult siblings decide to escape a dull, stuffy wedding and the nagging wife of one o More...
Jan 17, 2012
Stela
rated it:
La Gavalda, c'est une ancienne étudiante à moi qui me l'a fait découvrir et elle ne cesse pas de m'émerveiller, depuis. Je l'ai déjà dit: elle maîtrise l'art du croquis, quelques traits de crayon et voici tout un monde, charmant, mystérieux et discret, d'une beauté et d'une grâce ineffables: un coin de rue, une silhouette élégante, un chapeau audacieux, un chien sans défense, des contours qui suggèrent sans jamais définir. Une impression de la vie telle qu'elle pourrait être plutôt qu'une tranch
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Apr 29, 2011
Klim
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Легкое, непринужденное чтиво в, как всегда, привычной для Гавальды манере повествования, плавно погружающей читателя в маленький мир ее персонажей.
Книга из серии "Сел и запоем прочитал". Но главное чтобы она попала вам под нужное настроение.
А настроение у меня было как раз располагающее для истории о 2-х братьях и 2-х сестрах из одной семьи, которые давно уже разлетелись из своего гнезда. Кто-то женился, кто-то наоборот развелся, кто-то живет одним днем, а кто-то мечтатель More...
Книга из серии "Сел и запоем прочитал". Но главное чтобы она попала вам под нужное настроение.
А настроение у меня было как раз располагающее для истории о 2-х братьях и 2-х сестрах из одной семьи, которые давно уже разлетелись из своего гнезда. Кто-то женился, кто-то наоборот развелся, кто-то живет одним днем, а кто-то мечтатель More...
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May 28, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
I'd never heard the phrase French Leave before this book. It seemed like a strange title when I was in the bookstore. Why would a French author title the book with an English idiom? And, of course, she didn't. That's from the translator or publisher (we will never know). The original title is L'Echappée Belle, which could also translate to "The Great Escape," and that is the problem with this book.
My French isn't great. I took six years of it in high school and college and More...
My French isn't great. I took six years of it in high school and college and More...
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Jul 26, 2011
Shui
rated it:
I've always loved Anna Gavalda's writing style and she is one of the few French author's whose books I will always buy. I think she is sassy and smart. This book is also an echappee belle for the reader (sorry no accents on my keyboard here) like a daydream, short and sweet. A story of family and close-knitted siblings who escape and relive childhood closeness by "running away" from a wedding they are all supposed to attend and instead hunting out the one sibling who wasn't going to ma
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Oct 04, 2011
Lindsay (Little Reader Library)
rated it:
Garance is traveling to a family wedding in the car with her brother Simon and his wife Carine. Along the journey, their sister Lola joins them. We share in Garance’s thoughts about Carine and her reminisces about childhood times with Lola, and Simon and fourth sibling Vincent, about their various alliances as they grew up, and her thoughts about her siblings now. They arrive for Hubert’s wedding, but then a snap decision is made and the three of them, minus Carine, drive off to visit their bro
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Jun 18, 2011
Susan
rated it:
" The Bourgueil was nicely chilled. We nibbled on some rillons and spread rillettes thick as pillows on our bread, and slowly savored some warm, sweet tomatoes, pyramids of ashy goat cheese, and orchard pears.
How good it felt. The water gurgling, the wind in the trees and the chatter of the birds. The sun glistened on the river, shooting sparks here, vanishing there, bursting against the clouds or running along the riverbanks. My dog was dreaming about soft squelchy Tarmac More...
Dec 18, 2011
Haman
rated it:
«انچه ان هنگام زندگي ميكرديم، و هر چهارتامان از ان اگاه بوديم، اين بود: چيزي شبيه يك روز مرخصي اضافي حين خدمت ، كمي مهلت، فاصله بين دو پرانتز، يك لحظه لطافت. چند ساعتي كه از ديگران ربوده بوديم... تا چه زمان ياراي ان را خواهيم داشت كه اين چنين خويش را از بند روزمرگي برهانيم و جانانه نفسي تازه كنيم؟ زندگي هنوز چند روز مرخصي برايمان اندوخته بود؟ و نيز چند تا دماغ سوخته؟ چند تا دلخوشي كوچك؟ كي همديگر را از دست ميداديم و رشته ها چگونه ميگسستند؟ »
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Jul 20, 2011
Jennifer
rated it: 
A pleasant little book - barely over 100 pages - that I think might read better in one sitting than broken into bits & pieces. The story takes place in only a few hours as a brother and two sisters skip out on a family wedding to go visit their other brother. An appealing escapist premise - who hasn't felt like playing hooky for a day and just disappearing from your regularly scheduled life? Gavalda does a good job of establishing relationships with very few words, conveying the sense of the
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Mar 24, 2011
Rooserd
rated it:
Beschrijvig 'geplukt' van http://www.boekbeschrijvingen.nl/gavalda...
Garance, Lola en hun broer Simon (met - hoe kan het ook anders - een zeurende schoonzus) zijn onderweg naar een familiebruiloft, met tegenzin. Broer Vincent besluit helemaal niet mee te gaan.
Wat een saaie dag vol opsmuk en taart beloofde te worden, verandert plotseling in een groot avontuur wanneer Garance, Lola en Simon besluiten om ertussenuit te knijpen en broer Vincent op te zoeken, die als gids op een a More...
Garance, Lola en hun broer Simon (met - hoe kan het ook anders - een zeurende schoonzus) zijn onderweg naar een familiebruiloft, met tegenzin. Broer Vincent besluit helemaal niet mee te gaan.
Wat een saaie dag vol opsmuk en taart beloofde te worden, verandert plotseling in een groot avontuur wanneer Garance, Lola en Simon besluiten om ertussenuit te knijpen en broer Vincent op te zoeken, die als gids op een a More...
Dec 24, 2011
Sandra
rated it:
Well, I haven't been able to finish a book in a long time, so I decided to read something small and by an author who I liked (hunting and gathering). Yippe I actually finished a book!!! (cheers to me!)
not bad...not great. It was kind of choppy at times, but I think it was written this was because it was a first person account of a weekend and the person was kind of flighty. The story is about siblings who are going to a family wedding, but decide to skip the wedding and meet up with a broth More...
not bad...not great. It was kind of choppy at times, but I think it was written this was because it was a first person account of a weekend and the person was kind of flighty. The story is about siblings who are going to a family wedding, but decide to skip the wedding and meet up with a broth More...
Jul 26, 2011
Emma
rated it:
This is a very quick read, it took me about an hour, a nice pleasant summer read I would say. It has a flow to it, and I enjoyed the characters as they break from their conventional daily lives to go back to the beauty and simplicity of spontaneous sibling life, far from the requirements of the city and its duties. The dialogues sound very authentic, even in translation. I have to admit I did not find in it the depth I found in the 2 other books published by Europa I read before that – the 2 bo
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Apr 22, 2011
Antoaneta
rated it:
Имах чувството, че докато отворя книгата и вече съм на последната страница. Толкова кратки книги трябва да са изключително силни и въздействащи, за да не ме оставят с чувство на недоумение - и за какво беше всичко това?... Уви, тази книга на Гавалда, която по принцип много харесвам, ме остави с точно такова чувство. Леко объркване, празнота и никаква следа.
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Jul 18, 2011
Emily
rated it:
Loved it! It was the perfect little book to read in an afternoon, yet one that will resonate for awhile. It's a novel about four siblings who are getting older, getting more responsibility and getting farther apart from each other in life. So they decide to ditch a family wedding (and a spouse) in order to reconnect for the last carefree time.
I really liked the writing style but i'm not so sure if this was as a result of it being a translation from the original language or if this i More...
I really liked the writing style but i'm not so sure if this was as a result of it being a translation from the original language or if this i More...
Jul 07, 2011
Ellie
rated it:
First published in French as L'Échappée belle, Anna Gavalda's Breaking Away is indeed a beautiful escape. Short, yet prefectly formed, it's more of a novella at 142 pages of charmimg prose translated into English by Alison Anderson.
"I hadn't even sat down yet, one buttock still hovering, my hand on the car door, and already my sister-in-law was on the attack."
Whilst the plot is simple, a car journey to a wedding, the relationships between siblings are at the cor More...
"I hadn't even sat down yet, one buttock still hovering, my hand on the car door, and already my sister-in-law was on the attack."
Whilst the plot is simple, a car journey to a wedding, the relationships between siblings are at the cor More...
Aug 27, 2011
Victoria
rated it:
After reading ‘Breaking Away’ by Anna Gavalda, I realised that it’s easy to miss the beautiful moments in life because you’re too preoccupied with responsibilities.
I found this novel easy-to-follow and a perfect holiday read, nice and light with a realistic portrayal of families. The characters are easy to identify with the growing nostalgia of a family who, nearing middle age, reflect on missed opportunities and disappointments.
I found the story both funny and touching in More...
I found this novel easy-to-follow and a perfect holiday read, nice and light with a realistic portrayal of families. The characters are easy to identify with the growing nostalgia of a family who, nearing middle age, reflect on missed opportunities and disappointments.
I found the story both funny and touching in More...
Jan 29, 2012
Tash
rated it:
This is my first Gavalda novel and it will definitely not be my last.
This story is told from the perspective of Garance, one fourth of a sibling sect. Although we do learn bits and pieces about we mainly learn about those around her via her observations. I loved the gentle comedy of this book and I think that a lot of people will relate to some of the sentiments shared in this book regarding adulthood and disappointment. I finished the book feeling closer to Garance than I expected a More...
This story is told from the perspective of Garance, one fourth of a sibling sect. Although we do learn bits and pieces about we mainly learn about those around her via her observations. I loved the gentle comedy of this book and I think that a lot of people will relate to some of the sentiments shared in this book regarding adulthood and disappointment. I finished the book feeling closer to Garance than I expected a More...
Sep 15, 2010
Feli
rated it:
2 Sterne + 1 Sternchen für das letzte Kapitel:
Das letzte Kapitel ist Anna Gavalda pur - darauf habe ich das ganze Buch lang gewartet.
"...Na Junge, was hast du uns schönes zusammen gemixt? ... Commom People von Pulp, die uns mehr Englisch beigebracht hatten als alle Lehrer zusammen. ...Halleluja, gesungen von Jeff Buckley. Bei den ersten Gitarrenklängen biss ich mir auf die Lippen und fixierte angestrengt die Deckenleuchte, um die Tränen herunterzuschlucken. ... ich bin super-su More...
Das letzte Kapitel ist Anna Gavalda pur - darauf habe ich das ganze Buch lang gewartet.
"...Na Junge, was hast du uns schönes zusammen gemixt? ... Commom People von Pulp, die uns mehr Englisch beigebracht hatten als alle Lehrer zusammen. ...Halleluja, gesungen von Jeff Buckley. Bei den ersten Gitarrenklängen biss ich mir auf die Lippen und fixierte angestrengt die Deckenleuchte, um die Tränen herunterzuschlucken. ... ich bin super-su More...
May 08, 2011
Lolly LKH
rated it:
A very short novella about four siblings that ditch a wedding to take a mini break away from their lives. I particularly enjoyed the ribbing of the tight laced sister-in-law and the short moment with the gypsies but other than that, it wasn't as captivating as Gavalda's other work. I understand it was meant as a short read but maybe I am greedy and wanted more. I had just read Consolation, which is epic by comparison. For those who have not read Gavalda, start with Hunting and Gathering, ease in
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Jan 31, 2011
Addycyclette
rated it:
J'aime lire Gavalda.
Mais là, non... Non non et non... J'avais l'impression qu'elle en faisait trop, qu'elle s'enfonçait... j'avais l'impression que ses personnages se moquaient des gens comme moi, qu'elle disait qu'ils étaient mieux que le commun des mortels... Vraiment antipathiques.
Tant pis.
Mais là, non... Non non et non... J'avais l'impression qu'elle en faisait trop, qu'elle s'enfonçait... j'avais l'impression que ses personnages se moquaient des gens comme moi, qu'elle disait qu'ils étaient mieux que le commun des mortels... Vraiment antipathiques.
Tant pis.
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Jan 12, 2010
Hayley
rated it:
Une très jolie histoire familiale. Une histoire courte, bien écrite, émouvante et divertissante: une belle échappée!
Je pense toutefois que ce livre émeut plus les personnes issues d'une grande fratrie comme moi! Les émotions et relations entre les personnages doivent mieux nous interpeller.
Je pense toutefois que ce livre émeut plus les personnes issues d'une grande fratrie comme moi! Les émotions et relations entre les personnages doivent mieux nous interpeller.
Dec 17, 2009
Anne
rated it:
Un petit bouquin vite lu, à l'histoire un peu improbable - ça existe des fratries pareilles? - qui laisse sur sa faim. Le Dilettante aurait-il mis la pression sur notre chère Anna pour qu'elle ponde qqch en attendant le prochain 600 pages? Ceci étant dit, c'est formidablement écrit comme d'habitude!
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Nov 22, 2011
April
rated it:
Very short book about a day among siblings, enjoying their connection and savoring perhaps the last care-free get-together they'll have. Anna Gavalda is a dynamo with setting and dialogue. Love her style and humor. Highly recommend to those who appreciate short stories and minimalism.
Aug 17, 2011
Ingrid
rated it:
I loved this short novel! Anna Gavalda captures that idyllic time of irresponsible youth and inevitable point when we all must grow up. And her portrayal of these four siblings left me wanting to read more about this family and their close-knit ties.
5/5 stars and I cannot wait to read more work from her.
5/5 stars and I cannot wait to read more work from her.
May 19, 2011
Ann
rated it:
I liked it as I always like her novels. But I love her long novels the best, cause then she have time to let me get to know the characters better. In this short novel I would like to know the characters better. But I like the plot, and I like the feeling the book gives me!
Jul 01, 2010
Chloé
rated it:
Depuis quelques temps j'ai l'impressionque le livres d'Anna Gavalda sont de moins en moins bien. "Je voudrais que quelqu'un m'attende quelque part" et "nsemble c'est tout" étaiint des petits bijoux mais on a l'impresssion qu'elle tombe dans la caricature pour les autres. C'est sympa,c'est marrant mais c'est pas folichon-folichon. J'ai quand même bien ri et j'adore toujours son style d'écriture assez "parlé" d'où le 3*
