false 71458 2253150711 9782253150718 603 67 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170779651m/71458.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71458.Stupeur_Et_Tremblements 40416 Amélie Nothomb 3735 342 3 1 false Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 27 15:08:20 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 27 15:15:52 -0800 2008
Ms Nothomb makes the occasional atrocious grammar mistake. But then so do practically all so-called French "authors" and by the latter benchmark she is certainly above average despite her style being dull, verging occasionally on the vulgar.

Her book, however, is funny, sometimes hilariously so. The author is clearly an acute observer of human nature and her insight into the pettiness and absurd traditions of Japanese chauvinism brought back memories of Lost in Translation. I don't think I will be joining her fan club, but the book was amusing and, by abysmally low contemporary French literary standards, passably written.]]>