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Das Labyrinth der Wörter
Mit Mitte 40 und ohne festen Job haust Germain in einem alten Wohnwagen, schnitzt Holzfiguren, baut Gemüse an und trifft sich ab und zu mit Annette - ob es Liebe ist, kann er jedoch nicht sagen, denn die hat er im Leben noch nie erfahren. Bis er eines Tages im Park die zierliche Margueritte kennen lernt, die dort, genau wie er, die Tauben zählt. Obwohl sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten, sind die beiden bald ein Herz und eine Seele. Die lebenskluge alte Dame ist zudem eine passionierte Leserin, und als sie dem ungeschliffenen Hünen vorzulesen beginnt, eröffnet sich Germain eine völlig neue Welt.
221 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
November 12, 2020
This is the engaging story of two people who come together in friendship, kindness, affection, and appreciation. A remarkable and heart-rending novel that perfectly illustrates the quote:
“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”
The first lines of “Soft in the head” hooked me:
“I’ve decided to adopt Margueritte. She’ll be eighty-six any day now so there seemed no point putting it off. Old people have a tendency to die."
and I loved every word and nuance that followed.
“When people are always cutting you down, you don’t get a chance to grow.”
Germain is, by his own definition, a forty-five year old thug. A man large in both stature and heart, who has been belittled by everyone in his life, but most particularly by his mother and his teachers. He lives in a tiny caravan at the bottom of his mother’s garden. He and his mother seldom speak. She considers him an ignorant nuisance, actually goes so far as to call him a worthless halfwit, and has never shown him any hint of maternal love.
Lacking in tact and social graces, he is frequently the butt of jokes and innuendo that he almost, but not quite, understands. He is of less than average intelligence, but he has a great thirst for new words and stories. He believes that if he knew more words he would be able to get his point across better and people would think of him as being less ‘stupid’.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself…. Germain only begins to think this way after he meets up with an eighty-six year old woman by the name of Margueritte. Margueritte is a very intelligent and well read woman. And, more importantly, she has time for Germain and talks to him with respect. Respect is something that Germain has never before experienced and he finds it to be a wonderful thing.
“… she always talked to me like I was a person. And you see, that can change a man.”
She reads him passages from the book she is reading, “The plague” by Albert Camus. Germain is a good listener and he suspects that Margueritte’s love of books and reading are what make her ‘smart’.
“By accident, Margueritte had triggered a burning desire for thinking, it was like my brain had a hard on.”
Germain sees beyond her exterior. He says: “When I look at Margueritte, it’s funny, I don’t see a little old lady who weighs about forty kilos, all crumpled like a poppy, her spine a little bent and her hands all shrivelled, I see that in her head she has thousands of bookshelves all carefully catalogued and numbered."
Margueritte introduces Germain to his own potential. She gives him a dictionary with little flash cards so that he will know what order the letters come in. It is because of her that he discovers the riches that can be discovered in libraries.
What a delightful and heart-warming book! I’m going to recommend it to everyone I know. I haven’t enjoyed a little novel this much since Fredrik Backman’s "A man called Ove".
I heartily recommend this novel to bibliophiles everywhere. It is a timeless novel of human regard, respect and connection. It is also a treatise on how books and reading opens minds and exposes new worlds for the reader.
It will make you smile and weep. What more can a reader ask for?
Sincere thanks to Pushkin Press via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in consideration of a review.
“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”
The first lines of “Soft in the head” hooked me:
“I’ve decided to adopt Margueritte. She’ll be eighty-six any day now so there seemed no point putting it off. Old people have a tendency to die."
and I loved every word and nuance that followed.
“When people are always cutting you down, you don’t get a chance to grow.”
Germain is, by his own definition, a forty-five year old thug. A man large in both stature and heart, who has been belittled by everyone in his life, but most particularly by his mother and his teachers. He lives in a tiny caravan at the bottom of his mother’s garden. He and his mother seldom speak. She considers him an ignorant nuisance, actually goes so far as to call him a worthless halfwit, and has never shown him any hint of maternal love.
Lacking in tact and social graces, he is frequently the butt of jokes and innuendo that he almost, but not quite, understands. He is of less than average intelligence, but he has a great thirst for new words and stories. He believes that if he knew more words he would be able to get his point across better and people would think of him as being less ‘stupid’.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself…. Germain only begins to think this way after he meets up with an eighty-six year old woman by the name of Margueritte. Margueritte is a very intelligent and well read woman. And, more importantly, she has time for Germain and talks to him with respect. Respect is something that Germain has never before experienced and he finds it to be a wonderful thing.
“… she always talked to me like I was a person. And you see, that can change a man.”
She reads him passages from the book she is reading, “The plague” by Albert Camus. Germain is a good listener and he suspects that Margueritte’s love of books and reading are what make her ‘smart’.
“By accident, Margueritte had triggered a burning desire for thinking, it was like my brain had a hard on.”
Germain sees beyond her exterior. He says: “When I look at Margueritte, it’s funny, I don’t see a little old lady who weighs about forty kilos, all crumpled like a poppy, her spine a little bent and her hands all shrivelled, I see that in her head she has thousands of bookshelves all carefully catalogued and numbered."
Margueritte introduces Germain to his own potential. She gives him a dictionary with little flash cards so that he will know what order the letters come in. It is because of her that he discovers the riches that can be discovered in libraries.
What a delightful and heart-warming book! I’m going to recommend it to everyone I know. I haven’t enjoyed a little novel this much since Fredrik Backman’s "A man called Ove".
I heartily recommend this novel to bibliophiles everywhere. It is a timeless novel of human regard, respect and connection. It is also a treatise on how books and reading opens minds and exposes new worlds for the reader.
It will make you smile and weep. What more can a reader ask for?
Sincere thanks to Pushkin Press via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in consideration of a review.
February 25, 2024
Marie-Sabine Roger's novel Soft in the Head pays homage to friendship and books and the ability of both to change a life.
Germain is a functionally illiterate middle aged man, a bit of an odd duck who most likely has some kind of undiagnosed learning difference. The story is told from his point of view; the prose is clear and direct. Though the words are simple he gets right to the heart of things, sometimes humorously.
He meets an educated, elderly woman in the park and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Marguerite is the first person to listen to him politely and treat him with respect. Germain responds like a plant to sunlight. And then, gift of all gifts, she introduces him to great books.
"As soon as she started reading, I knew I was going to like it. I didn't really know what sort of book it was, a horror story or a thriller [Camus' The Plague], but it had grabbed me by the ears, the way you do with rabbits."
"To begin with I found Marguerite funny. And educational too, from the conversation point of view. Then little by little, I got attached to her without even realizing. Affection is something that grows on the quiet, it takes root without you knowing, then overruns the place worse than Japanese knotweed. By then it's too late: you can't dose your heart with Roundup to weed out feelings."
This is a story with heart and no mawkish or saccharine leanings. It was an enjoyable read after a heavy, enveloping one.
Note to Mark: Germain learns what a metaphor is and comes to be able to spot them. 😁
Publication 2008, Translation 2016.
Germain is a functionally illiterate middle aged man, a bit of an odd duck who most likely has some kind of undiagnosed learning difference. The story is told from his point of view; the prose is clear and direct. Though the words are simple he gets right to the heart of things, sometimes humorously.
He meets an educated, elderly woman in the park and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Marguerite is the first person to listen to him politely and treat him with respect. Germain responds like a plant to sunlight. And then, gift of all gifts, she introduces him to great books.
"As soon as she started reading, I knew I was going to like it. I didn't really know what sort of book it was, a horror story or a thriller [Camus' The Plague], but it had grabbed me by the ears, the way you do with rabbits."
"To begin with I found Marguerite funny. And educational too, from the conversation point of view. Then little by little, I got attached to her without even realizing. Affection is something that grows on the quiet, it takes root without you knowing, then overruns the place worse than Japanese knotweed. By then it's too late: you can't dose your heart with Roundup to weed out feelings."
This is a story with heart and no mawkish or saccharine leanings. It was an enjoyable read after a heavy, enveloping one.
Note to Mark: Germain learns what a metaphor is and comes to be able to spot them. 😁
Publication 2008, Translation 2016.
December 23, 2016
SOFT IN THE HEAD is as billed “Brilliant and uplifting”. It’s written by a French author, and MUST be translated by a British translator because of phraseology. At any rate, it’s about a forty-four-year-old man named Germain who has been told all his life that he’s slow, or soft in the head. The reader soon learns it’s because his unwed mother, who wasn’t pleased to be an unwed mother, treated him terribly. In fact, the kid was basically a street urchin. As such, he learned to speak based upon common street language that mostly included swearing and poor grammar. Germain tells the reader that he was surprised to learn that one could form a sentence without swear words peppered liberally. He was surprised to learn that there were other words to express his feelings.
All this changes when he is at a park and counting pigeons, a favorite pass time of his. He meets a nice old “granny” who chooses to start a conversation with him. The novel is basically about his relationship with the granny, Margueritte. Margueritte opens his eyes to the world. She treats him as a person and compliments him on his curiosity. She encourages him to learn and think.
This is a short novel, 216 pages, easily read in a sitting or two short ones. It’s inspiring in that one never knows who one can positively effect a person. It’s contemplative in who we initially judge someone based upon their language, when we don’t know circumstances. It’s a novel that makes the reader want to be a better person.
All this changes when he is at a park and counting pigeons, a favorite pass time of his. He meets a nice old “granny” who chooses to start a conversation with him. The novel is basically about his relationship with the granny, Margueritte. Margueritte opens his eyes to the world. She treats him as a person and compliments him on his curiosity. She encourages him to learn and think.
This is a short novel, 216 pages, easily read in a sitting or two short ones. It’s inspiring in that one never knows who one can positively effect a person. It’s contemplative in who we initially judge someone based upon their language, when we don’t know circumstances. It’s a novel that makes the reader want to be a better person.
May 27, 2016
Such a beautiful and elegant story of a young man, middle-aged really, who's learning ability has always been below the norm, and an elderly woman, who meet in what I imagine to be a quaint, lovely park, both unaware that they each count the pigeons that land and run and peck for crumbs.
Marguerite is friendly and gentle to Germaine, and does not call attention to some of the mistakes he makes with words, or his confusion about many things he really doesn't understand.
She becomes his caring teacher, while he becomes her eager student and fond caretaker.
This is a story you will not want to miss as their relationship grows.
Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this book. Highly recommend this.
Marguerite is friendly and gentle to Germaine, and does not call attention to some of the mistakes he makes with words, or his confusion about many things he really doesn't understand.
She becomes his caring teacher, while he becomes her eager student and fond caretaker.
This is a story you will not want to miss as their relationship grows.
Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this book. Highly recommend this.
January 20, 2024
I find that French Authors have a beautiful style of writing that is so unique. Whimsical, gentle, lyrical. An intuitive ability to tell a story well in a way which washes you along with the characters.
I picked up this book one lunch break, and was intrigued as it reminded me of a film I'd seen many years previously as part of The French Film Festival (which Sydney holds as a yearly event). It turns out I was correct! Yes, the movie was based around this book, and the book is even more delightful, as it brings to life the unique relationship between Germaine (6 foot plus of solid bulk) and Margueritte (a tiny sparrow of a woman in her 80s). Over a park bench, while counting pigeons, the two strike up a most unlikely friendship. Their daily catch up at the park becomes something that both look forward to and goes from strength to strength.
If you're looking for a delightful read, this is the book for you.
I picked up this book one lunch break, and was intrigued as it reminded me of a film I'd seen many years previously as part of The French Film Festival (which Sydney holds as a yearly event). It turns out I was correct! Yes, the movie was based around this book, and the book is even more delightful, as it brings to life the unique relationship between Germaine (6 foot plus of solid bulk) and Margueritte (a tiny sparrow of a woman in her 80s). Over a park bench, while counting pigeons, the two strike up a most unlikely friendship. Their daily catch up at the park becomes something that both look forward to and goes from strength to strength.
If you're looking for a delightful read, this is the book for you.
June 17, 2016
Translated from the original 2008 French. A sweet story about what happens when Germain (45) meets Margueritte (85) in the park one day. Germain has intellectual deficiencies (which are not exactly clear since he is the narrator of the story so we are limited to what he knows), and has been bullied and abused at home and with friends his whole life because of that. Margueritte listens to him and speaks to him as an equal - which causes his whole world to blossom. I love how she opened the world of reading, books and words to him. He makes many astute, deep observations which I really enjoyed.
An overall uplifting story, without getting sappy. The ending was a little abrupt, though.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Pushkin Press!
An overall uplifting story, without getting sappy. The ending was a little abrupt, though.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Pushkin Press!
May 18, 2016
I loved this book! I wanted more!
Germain is a 45-year old man who meets Margueritte, 85, in the park as they sit to watch and feed the pigeons. There couldn't be a greater contrast between the two new friends. Germain has been told his whole life that he was "soft in the head" by his verbally abusive mother. He can't read, can't spell and has trouble expressing himself appropriately, yet he possesses an insight into his own behavior that many with education or intelligence do not. Margueritte is well-traveled and well-read and has recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Upon hearing this, Germain learns to read and to spell so he can read to Margueritte when her eyesight fails. She is the patient teacher and he is an eager learner, perhaps for the first time in his life.
"She told me that reading starts with listening. Me, I would have thought it started with reading. But, she said: No, no, don't you believe it, Germain. To cultivate a love of reading in children, you have to read to them aloud. And she explained that if you did it properly, they were hooked, like it was a drug. Then, as they grow up, they need books. I was astonished, but, thinking about it I realized it made sense."
And so, Germain, at 45, becomes a reader. In doing so, the rest of his world changes, too. His relationships with his girlfriend and his friends seem to blossom. He is no longer the butt of their jokes for not being the "sharpest knife in the drawer." Learning to read is the beginning of a renassiance for Germain as he experiences the thrill of learning and the power of knowledge for the first time.
"All this leads me to the conclusion that with people, it's just the same: just because you're uncultivated doesn't mean you're not cultivable. You just need to stumble on the right gardener."
This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year! If you're a fan of Fredrik Backman's books, I would highly recommend reading Soft in the Head. You will fall in love with Germain and Margueritte just like I did!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this fabulous book!
Germain is a 45-year old man who meets Margueritte, 85, in the park as they sit to watch and feed the pigeons. There couldn't be a greater contrast between the two new friends. Germain has been told his whole life that he was "soft in the head" by his verbally abusive mother. He can't read, can't spell and has trouble expressing himself appropriately, yet he possesses an insight into his own behavior that many with education or intelligence do not. Margueritte is well-traveled and well-read and has recently been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Upon hearing this, Germain learns to read and to spell so he can read to Margueritte when her eyesight fails. She is the patient teacher and he is an eager learner, perhaps for the first time in his life.
"She told me that reading starts with listening. Me, I would have thought it started with reading. But, she said: No, no, don't you believe it, Germain. To cultivate a love of reading in children, you have to read to them aloud. And she explained that if you did it properly, they were hooked, like it was a drug. Then, as they grow up, they need books. I was astonished, but, thinking about it I realized it made sense."
And so, Germain, at 45, becomes a reader. In doing so, the rest of his world changes, too. His relationships with his girlfriend and his friends seem to blossom. He is no longer the butt of their jokes for not being the "sharpest knife in the drawer." Learning to read is the beginning of a renassiance for Germain as he experiences the thrill of learning and the power of knowledge for the first time.
"All this leads me to the conclusion that with people, it's just the same: just because you're uncultivated doesn't mean you're not cultivable. You just need to stumble on the right gardener."
This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year! If you're a fan of Fredrik Backman's books, I would highly recommend reading Soft in the Head. You will fall in love with Germain and Margueritte just like I did!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this fabulous book!
March 21, 2011
Ist leichte Debilität charmant?
Überall lese ich das Wort BEZAUBERND, wenn es um dieses Buch geht.
Nein, ich habe ungeduldig das Ende herbeigesehnt.
Wen haben wir?
Germain Chazes , Mitte 40, “ein Mann wie ein Bär“, recht schlicht gestrickt und euphemistisch als bildungsfern zu bezeichnen.
Margueritte Escoffier, Greisin, zarte Statur (schon recht “klapprig“) und gebildet.
So weit – so holzschnittartig.
Und was geschieht?
Surprise, surprise
Na sie freunden sich an und treten in eine Symbiose, die für mich nicht bezaubernd war.
Nichts war bezaubernd.
Betulich und gestelzt wirkt diese ganze Sache – sie liest mit ihm Camus (aus dem Nichts zu Camus) und er hilft ihr dann auch……
Für mich ist es nicht bezaubernd, wenn eine intelligente, gebildete Frau einen erwachsenen Mann unwürdig behandelt.
Jeder kennt das: da kommt ein dreijähriges Kind und hält ein selbstgemaltes Gekritzel (quasi Bild) hoch und wird dafür sehr ernst und pseudoaufrichtig gelobt. Das Kind merkt natürlich noch nicht, wie verräterisch es ist, wenn man erst fragen muss, was gezeichnet wurde, um erst dann den wunderbaren Baum zu preisen.
Das ist bei Kleinkindern mehr oder weniger in Ordnung, bei einem erwachsenen Mann nur demütigend.
Das ist nicht bezaubernd.
Oder wird die Gute auch etwas senil?
Nein, bei ihr verfällt der Körper und bei ihm wächst der Geist.
Dieser klebrig-süsse Weltverbessererschleim à la François Lelord oder Antoine Marie Roger Vicomte de Saint-Exupéry ist nicht nach meinem Geschmack.
Vielleicht sollte ich bezaubernde Franzosen meiden - Marie-Sabine Roger schreibt mir zu platt, zu rosa, zu süss, zu drüber……
Das Ende setzt noch einen drauf und man ertrinkt im flüssigen Zucker.
Dort wird einfach alles gut – selbst in seiner Stammkneipe gibt es nach einer Trennung ein HAPPY END….
Es wird alles, alles, alles zugekleistert.
Nichts gegen märchenhafte Bücher, nichts gegen zauberhafte Geschichten…. aber das Touchieren der Welt, in der wir leben, hätte m.E. dieser Geschichte nur gut getan.
Eigentlich hätte Germaine an seiner Jugend und Kindheit fast zerbrechen müssen – au contraire.
Da hilft es doch ein wenig tumb zu sein (welch Glück?) und schon ist auch insofern alles wieder rosa.
Die Freundschaft der beiden Protagonisten wird nur als wundervoll beschrieben – Tiefe hat sie nicht.
Freundschaften mit Gegensätzen sind ganz grossartig, es muss aber stimmig und rund sein.
Selbst der Weltverbesserer der Musikindustrie hat es verstanden:
Xavier Naidoo – Sie sieht mich einfach nicht
“……..Es gibt Grenzen,die man trotz Millionen von Soldaten
wegwischt, aber unsere überwindet man nicht…….“
“……Man kann so vieles ändern,wenn man zu kämpfen bereit,
ist aber nicht diese Ungerechtigkeit…….“
Sag ich doch.
Überall lese ich das Wort BEZAUBERND, wenn es um dieses Buch geht.
Nein, ich habe ungeduldig das Ende herbeigesehnt.
Wen haben wir?
Germain Chazes , Mitte 40, “ein Mann wie ein Bär“, recht schlicht gestrickt und euphemistisch als bildungsfern zu bezeichnen.
Margueritte Escoffier, Greisin, zarte Statur (schon recht “klapprig“) und gebildet.
So weit – so holzschnittartig.
Und was geschieht?
Surprise, surprise
Na sie freunden sich an und treten in eine Symbiose, die für mich nicht bezaubernd war.
Nichts war bezaubernd.
Betulich und gestelzt wirkt diese ganze Sache – sie liest mit ihm Camus (aus dem Nichts zu Camus) und er hilft ihr dann auch……
Für mich ist es nicht bezaubernd, wenn eine intelligente, gebildete Frau einen erwachsenen Mann unwürdig behandelt.
Jeder kennt das: da kommt ein dreijähriges Kind und hält ein selbstgemaltes Gekritzel (quasi Bild) hoch und wird dafür sehr ernst und pseudoaufrichtig gelobt. Das Kind merkt natürlich noch nicht, wie verräterisch es ist, wenn man erst fragen muss, was gezeichnet wurde, um erst dann den wunderbaren Baum zu preisen.
Das ist bei Kleinkindern mehr oder weniger in Ordnung, bei einem erwachsenen Mann nur demütigend.
Das ist nicht bezaubernd.
Oder wird die Gute auch etwas senil?
Nein, bei ihr verfällt der Körper und bei ihm wächst der Geist.
Dieser klebrig-süsse Weltverbessererschleim à la François Lelord oder Antoine Marie Roger Vicomte de Saint-Exupéry ist nicht nach meinem Geschmack.
Vielleicht sollte ich bezaubernde Franzosen meiden - Marie-Sabine Roger schreibt mir zu platt, zu rosa, zu süss, zu drüber……
Das Ende setzt noch einen drauf und man ertrinkt im flüssigen Zucker.
Dort wird einfach alles gut – selbst in seiner Stammkneipe gibt es nach einer Trennung ein HAPPY END….
Es wird alles, alles, alles zugekleistert.
Nichts gegen märchenhafte Bücher, nichts gegen zauberhafte Geschichten…. aber das Touchieren der Welt, in der wir leben, hätte m.E. dieser Geschichte nur gut getan.
Eigentlich hätte Germaine an seiner Jugend und Kindheit fast zerbrechen müssen – au contraire.
Da hilft es doch ein wenig tumb zu sein (welch Glück?) und schon ist auch insofern alles wieder rosa.
Die Freundschaft der beiden Protagonisten wird nur als wundervoll beschrieben – Tiefe hat sie nicht.
Freundschaften mit Gegensätzen sind ganz grossartig, es muss aber stimmig und rund sein.
Selbst der Weltverbesserer der Musikindustrie hat es verstanden:
Xavier Naidoo – Sie sieht mich einfach nicht
“……..Es gibt Grenzen,die man trotz Millionen von Soldaten
wegwischt, aber unsere überwindet man nicht…….“
“……Man kann so vieles ändern,wenn man zu kämpfen bereit,
ist aber nicht diese Ungerechtigkeit…….“
Sag ich doch.
Read
January 3, 2019Mutlu olmak, büyük oranda karşılaştırmalara dayanır. Ve artı, dünyada mutluluğu kaybetmek üzere olan bir sürü insan var, Amazon yerlilerini, gorilleri ya da ozon tabakasını.
Mutluluk herkese eşit dağıtılmıyor. Yoksa herkes alırdı.
Şans dedikleri komünist değilmiş meğer.
//
Karakterler ve diyalogları hakikaten çok sevimli fakat söylendiği kadar müthiş ve başucu kitabı niteliğinde değil bence.
Mutluluk herkese eşit dağıtılmıyor. Yoksa herkes alırdı.
Şans dedikleri komünist değilmiş meğer.
//
Karakterler ve diyalogları hakikaten çok sevimli fakat söylendiği kadar müthiş ve başucu kitabı niteliğinde değil bence.
January 16, 2019
Una historia preciosa, muy tierna, en la que un patán, un hombre sin educación (formal) y sin conocimiento se encuentra con una anciana que le va abriendo los ojos al mundo simplemente tratándolo bien y leyéndole novelas.
October 30, 2017
"Daydreaming helps me think."
This book has been such a delightful and sweet story, a great companion of mine for the past two weeks. It deals with Germain, a 45 year old man who one day meets Margueritte, a very educated old woman who starts reading to him and who teaches him the value and the beauties of words. Germain is not sharp witted, his friends call him names and his mother has shamed him for it his entire life. He's reluctant when it comes to books. He cannot really read, words get messed up in his brain and he cannot spell them when he wants to look them up in the dictionary. Margueritte though doesn't mind and, above all else, opens up discussions about life, family and love. Germain notices how much he's grown since he's known the old woman and she has finally found herself someone caring who'll take care of her during the last years of her life.
"Books should not be loved selfishly."
Believe me when I say that I was heartbroken when the book came to an end and I had tears in my eyes when I finally did it. Beautiful!
I received this book from its publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has been such a delightful and sweet story, a great companion of mine for the past two weeks. It deals with Germain, a 45 year old man who one day meets Margueritte, a very educated old woman who starts reading to him and who teaches him the value and the beauties of words. Germain is not sharp witted, his friends call him names and his mother has shamed him for it his entire life. He's reluctant when it comes to books. He cannot really read, words get messed up in his brain and he cannot spell them when he wants to look them up in the dictionary. Margueritte though doesn't mind and, above all else, opens up discussions about life, family and love. Germain notices how much he's grown since he's known the old woman and she has finally found herself someone caring who'll take care of her during the last years of her life.
"Books should not be loved selfishly."
Believe me when I say that I was heartbroken when the book came to an end and I had tears in my eyes when I finally did it. Beautiful!
I received this book from its publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2021
Das Buch lag eine halbe Ewigkeit auf meinem Stapel ungelesener Bücher und jetzt durch das Hörbuch hatte ich endlich einmal die Muße dazu, es zu lesen. Vor einiger Zeit hatte ich schon einmal damit angefangen und es hatte mir recht gut gefallen, aber irgendwie sprang der Funke nie über. Auch jetzt hätte es wohl ohne das Hörbuch nicht geklappt, aber der Sprecher war so toll, dass ich sehr schnell sehr froh darüber war, zu diesem Hörbuch gelangt zu sein. Er brachte mir Germain sehr nahe und ich mochte die Art, wie der Sprecher seine Geschichte aus seinem Munde erzählt hatte, wirklich gern. Er hatte ihn charakterlich für mich gut getroffen.
Ich hatte zuvor auch schon den Film gesehen, auch das ist schon ein paar Jahre her, und mochte ihn trotz Gerard Depardieu in der Rolle von Germain nicht unbedingt. Ich bin ein Fan von französischen Filmen, aber dieser brachte für mich keine richtig schöne Aussage rüber. Er war nicht fesselnd.
Das Buch hingegen hatte durch Germains Erzählung in der Ich-Perspektive sehr viel mehr Atmosphäre und Authentizität, was mir die Geschichte auf schöne Weise nahebrachte. Ich hatte viel Spaß mit dem süßen großen Dummkopf und der kleinen, gebildeten Marguerite. Ein tolles Team, eine tolle Freundschaft, die zeigt, dass man nicht immer aus derselben Schicht kommen muss oder aus derselben Altersklasse, um sich hervorragend zu verstehen. Und zu mögen. (:
PS: An Tiefgründigkeit mangelt es auch nicht - und die kam rüber trotz dem liebenswerten Dummerchen, das uns diese Geschichte erzählt. (Für mich ist er das nicht einmal. Er weiß viel, was andere gar nicht bemerken. Er tut es.)
Ich hatte zuvor auch schon den Film gesehen, auch das ist schon ein paar Jahre her, und mochte ihn trotz Gerard Depardieu in der Rolle von Germain nicht unbedingt. Ich bin ein Fan von französischen Filmen, aber dieser brachte für mich keine richtig schöne Aussage rüber. Er war nicht fesselnd.
Das Buch hingegen hatte durch Germains Erzählung in der Ich-Perspektive sehr viel mehr Atmosphäre und Authentizität, was mir die Geschichte auf schöne Weise nahebrachte. Ich hatte viel Spaß mit dem süßen großen Dummkopf und der kleinen, gebildeten Marguerite. Ein tolles Team, eine tolle Freundschaft, die zeigt, dass man nicht immer aus derselben Schicht kommen muss oder aus derselben Altersklasse, um sich hervorragend zu verstehen. Und zu mögen. (:
PS: An Tiefgründigkeit mangelt es auch nicht - und die kam rüber trotz dem liebenswerten Dummerchen, das uns diese Geschichte erzählt. (Für mich ist er das nicht einmal. Er weiß viel, was andere gar nicht bemerken. Er tut es.)
July 12, 2017
Ich hab gerade 'ne schöne und leichte kleine Geschichte gebraucht und es war genau richtig. ♥️
April 30, 2016
This is one of those rare times that I will say that if this were made into a movie, I would probably like the movie more than the book. The blurb about this story - a 45 year old dim-witted man becoming friends with an 85 year old woman - sounded amazing. I couldn't wait to read it. While the concept is fabulous, the execution didn't quite meet my hopes and expectations.
This story is written from Germain's POV, but this writing style is primarily internal dialogue with frequent train of thought changes. Germain best describes the story's format by way of explaining his thought process:
"I don't always explain things the right way round like educated people: first a, then b, then c" and "I always stray from the point. I start off with one thing, that leads to another and another and another, and by the time I get to the end of the sentence, I don't even remember what I was talking about. And if I get interrupted, I get even more confused and end up in a complete muddle."
This is exactly how the story progresses. Now, things start to clear up toward the end, particularly as Germain grows into himself. But if this type of writing isn't your thing, like me, it detracts from the enjoyment of the story.
I really liked the developing relationship between Germain and Margueritte. It was beautiful how they stumbled upon each other, and fate matched these two family-less strangers into an adoptive family of their own. A teacher and a student. A grandmother and a grandson. Knowing Germain's abusive upbringing and Margueritte's lonely advanced age, it was sweet and touching to see them together. I just wish more of the story was about them.
We learn a lot about Germain's life, his childhood, his horrible mother, his delayed learning, his interesting friends, his patient and gentle girlfriend. This was all important in order to see Germain's life transform, though the scenes with them were in excess of what I thought the story would be about (Germain and Margueritte). But I definitely liked seeing his growth, how he came into himself, how his life changed, and even how he affected those around him.
"And gradually, you see everything differently."
The big picture of the story was lovely. If Germain and Margueritte were the true stars of the show, I would have loved it more. The writing style, however, was less than ideal. I will say that the second half improved, and the ending was very sweet and hopeful.
This story is written from Germain's POV, but this writing style is primarily internal dialogue with frequent train of thought changes. Germain best describes the story's format by way of explaining his thought process:
"I don't always explain things the right way round like educated people: first a, then b, then c" and "I always stray from the point. I start off with one thing, that leads to another and another and another, and by the time I get to the end of the sentence, I don't even remember what I was talking about. And if I get interrupted, I get even more confused and end up in a complete muddle."
This is exactly how the story progresses. Now, things start to clear up toward the end, particularly as Germain grows into himself. But if this type of writing isn't your thing, like me, it detracts from the enjoyment of the story.
I really liked the developing relationship between Germain and Margueritte. It was beautiful how they stumbled upon each other, and fate matched these two family-less strangers into an adoptive family of their own. A teacher and a student. A grandmother and a grandson. Knowing Germain's abusive upbringing and Margueritte's lonely advanced age, it was sweet and touching to see them together. I just wish more of the story was about them.
We learn a lot about Germain's life, his childhood, his horrible mother, his delayed learning, his interesting friends, his patient and gentle girlfriend. This was all important in order to see Germain's life transform, though the scenes with them were in excess of what I thought the story would be about (Germain and Margueritte). But I definitely liked seeing his growth, how he came into himself, how his life changed, and even how he affected those around him.
"And gradually, you see everything differently."
The big picture of the story was lovely. If Germain and Margueritte were the true stars of the show, I would have loved it more. The writing style, however, was less than ideal. I will say that the second half improved, and the ending was very sweet and hopeful.
April 13, 2016
You may think this is a small book....it is not.
You may think this is a quick read...it is not.
You may judge this book by its cover but you will change your mind.
From Pushkin Press: "His mother called him a worthless halfwit while his fellow drunks at the local bar ensure he's the butt of all their jokes. He spends his days whittling wood, counting pigeons and adding his own name to the bottom of the list on the town war memorial. So how could Germain possibly understand what a casual encounter on a park bench with eighty-five year old Margueritte could mean?"
It's a heart tugging tale about an unlikely friendship where a conversation opens a door into a new world of books & ideas for Germain.
You will laugh. You will cringe. You will smile while reading. You will also slow down and savour the ideas, the words and the relationship.
Did I love this novel? YES! It's a book for book lovers!
It'll be in bookstores on June 28, 2016 & if it's not - DEMAND it!
You may think this is a quick read...it is not.
You may judge this book by its cover but you will change your mind.
From Pushkin Press: "His mother called him a worthless halfwit while his fellow drunks at the local bar ensure he's the butt of all their jokes. He spends his days whittling wood, counting pigeons and adding his own name to the bottom of the list on the town war memorial. So how could Germain possibly understand what a casual encounter on a park bench with eighty-five year old Margueritte could mean?"
It's a heart tugging tale about an unlikely friendship where a conversation opens a door into a new world of books & ideas for Germain.
You will laugh. You will cringe. You will smile while reading. You will also slow down and savour the ideas, the words and the relationship.
Did I love this novel? YES! It's a book for book lovers!
It'll be in bookstores on June 28, 2016 & if it's not - DEMAND it!
July 4, 2020
"Words are boxes that we use to store thoughts the better to present them to others. Show them to their best advantage."
A couple of years ago I enjoyed the film "My Afternoons with Margueritte" not knowing at the time that it was based on a book. "Soft in the Head" by Marie-Sabine Roger is that book. A touching story of an uneducated man meeting an elderly woman in the park and learning about words, books and his true worth in life.
A couple of years ago I enjoyed the film "My Afternoons with Margueritte" not knowing at the time that it was based on a book. "Soft in the Head" by Marie-Sabine Roger is that book. A touching story of an uneducated man meeting an elderly woman in the park and learning about words, books and his true worth in life.
June 15, 2016
Eine schöne, herzerwärmende Geschichte für zwischendurch. Über die Kraft von Wörtern und die Liebe zum Lesen. Über eine ungleiche Freundschaft und über die Entwicklung eines ganz besonderen, hinreißenden Charakters.
July 12, 2016
This book was incredible!! I read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, I reevaluated my relationships. I already want to read it again.
January 8, 2019
Hat mir gut gefallen. Das Labyrinth der Wörter ist eine kurze, leicht lesbare, leise Geschichte über Germain, der zugegebenermaßen nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte ist und die alte, sehr belesene Dame Margueritte, die Freunde werden. Germain hat es nicht immer leicht gehabt im Leben, ist nie gefördert worden, hat keine liebevolle Kindheit erlebt und begegnet mit Margueritte zum ersten Mal einer Person, die ihn annimmt wie er ist und die ihm mit Respekt begegnet. Es ist schön zu lesen, wie Germain über sich hinauswächst, anfängt zu lesen und wie sich Wissensdurst bei ihm bemerkbar macht. Margueritte ist einfach nur entzückend, wie sie sich alle Mühe gibt Germain das lesen schmackhaft zu machen.
So wie ich das gelesen habe, war Das Labyrinth der Wörter vor allem ein Plädoyer für das Lesen, denn lesen ist für alle und es ist nie zu spät mal ein Buch in die Hand zu nehmen. Ich finde im Übrigen, das dieses Buch von jedem angehendem Lehrer gelesen werden sollte, die Verantwortung die man als solcher hat, ist vielen meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht klar genug.
Ich hab mich ein klein wenig darüber geärgert, dass Germain immer als beschränkt dagestellt wird, denn obwohl seine ildung vielleicht nicht die beste ist - seine Gedankengänge zeigen ganz klar, dass er intelligent ist. Außerdem war es mir auch ein winziges bisschen zu seicht, ich hätte mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht, vor allem in den Szenen mit Margueritte.
Insgesamt aber ein sehr charmantes Buch, das mir viel Spaß gemacht hat! Leseempfehlung!
So wie ich das gelesen habe, war Das Labyrinth der Wörter vor allem ein Plädoyer für das Lesen, denn lesen ist für alle und es ist nie zu spät mal ein Buch in die Hand zu nehmen. Ich finde im Übrigen, das dieses Buch von jedem angehendem Lehrer gelesen werden sollte, die Verantwortung die man als solcher hat, ist vielen meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht klar genug.
Ich hab mich ein klein wenig darüber geärgert, dass Germain immer als beschränkt dagestellt wird, denn obwohl seine ildung vielleicht nicht die beste ist - seine Gedankengänge zeigen ganz klar, dass er intelligent ist. Außerdem war es mir auch ein winziges bisschen zu seicht, ich hätte mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht, vor allem in den Szenen mit Margueritte.
Insgesamt aber ein sehr charmantes Buch, das mir viel Spaß gemacht hat! Leseempfehlung!
May 25, 2016
Review originally published here: http://girlwithherheadinabook.co.uk/2...
This has to be one of the sweetest books that I have read this year – Soft In The Head may be gruffly spoken but it has an undeniably warm heart. The protagonist introduces himself with the words ‘I’ve decided to adopt Margueritte. She’ll be eighty-six any day now so there seemed no point putting it off. Old people have a tendency to die.’ Germain Chazes is forty-five and is fairly at piece with being known in the neighbourhood for being ‘soft in the head.’ Functionally illiterate, the frequent butt of his friends’ jokes and living in a caravan at the bottom of his mother’s garden, Germain is someone with a tendency to trudge through life. Until, that is, one day in the park, he meets Margueritte.
Bonding over a mutual interest in counting pigeons, Germain and Margueritte take to each other immediately and Germain is surprised how much he enjoys it when the old lady starts reading to him. There has been little kindness in Germain’s life – with a runaway father and a mother who blamed him for all of her misfortunes in life (getting pregnant, traumatic labour, lifelong poverty …), Germain has never been encouraged to better himself. Margueritte by contrast is ready to think the best of him, pleased to see him and interested in what what he has to say.
One glorious day, Marguerritte begins reading to Germain and from there a beautiful world is opened to him that he never imagined could have existed before. I loved the way that Marguerritte praises Germain for being a good reader since ‘reading starts with listening’. I loved how even when he was confused by the content, the reader can see how Germain’s mind is being broadened by the experience. Most of all, I loved the idea of how a chance encounter has the power to alter someone’s life for the better. His friends are astounded when Germain begins making reference to the work of Albert Camus and stops telling off-colour jokes. Germain has grown to be a defensive soul, he tries hard to down-play his interest in books, to protect himself from the prospect of mockery but he cannot help himself – he wants to hear more.
I was reminded of The Rosie Project at several points in this story – like Don, Germain is adrift in a world that has little time for him. Previous to his relationship with Rosie, Don too had a bond with an elderly lady, until it was tragically cut short by her worsening dementia. The biggest parallel though was how both Don and Germain gain a better understanding of love – Germain is handicapped more so than Don perhaps due to his lack of intelligence, we see him make crushingly insensitive remarks while attempting to comfort the newly-dumped cafe-owner and then wandering off unawares while she dissolves into tears – but yet, I found him easier as a protagonist to warm to than Don; Germain is frank, even blunt, whereas Don was always heavier on tactlessness. What was obvious from the beginning too though was just how starved of affection he has been – he is not someone who fails to understand love, he has simply never experienced it.
We see him wary of showing too much interest in Marguerritte lest she will reject him, embarrassed of revealing his difficulty in reading in case he earns her contempt – but instead, she is briskly understanding and brushes past any embarrassment. The bond between the two of them is so beautiful – I spent large tracts of the novel with a fizzy nose and fuzzy eyes. I always like novels that feature relationships that have a great complexity than a simple romantic will they/won’t they. We know from the opening paragraph that Germain is looking to adopt Marguerritte as his grandmother, ostensibly so that in case of emergency, he can trundle up and find out information without difficulty. It reminded me of my relationship with own stepgrandparents; it was a long journey before I was happy referring to any of my step-family without the four letter prefix, but it is a relief to set aside. Above all, I loved how Soft in the Head depicts how there are relationships in life which are more profound than ‘friend’ – the people who change us, who wander into our lives and who we will never want to let go.
This is such a warm book – a true elegy to friendship no matter your age, background, education, whatever – there are two good people who both count pigeons and they form an iron-clad friendship. But also, I loved how beautiful its perspective was on reading. From Marguerritte’s first reading to Germain to the finale when he is at last able to return the favour, the power of books is valued highly. I imagine we hear the voice of Roger herself when Germain observes ‘books should not be loved selfishly‘ – for the boy Germain who was scared off reading so long ago, books have been closed to him. As he begins to venture beyond the cover, we feel his mind open. As observers from his perspective, we can see how his very voice has been changed through his exploration of the dictionary – a whole host of new words have been unleashed.
Soft in the Head is a lovely novel for the summer, managing to be life-affirming without being saccharine – Germain never has to stop being himself, there is not a redemption story, but rather one of a belated blossoming. I did feel like something of a failure for not having read it in the original language though – no matter how high the quality of the translation (and this one is very good), there is still a certain something about texts in translation. Anyway, in the course of my research, I discovered that it was made into a film six years ago starring (who else) Gerard Depardieu in the lead role – definitely one to watch out for, it is a wonderful piece of casting and now I can’t picture Germain as anyone else! Fans of The Hundred Year Old Man and The Library of Unrequited Love are sure to enjoy this lovely story, a book to truly treasure.
This has to be one of the sweetest books that I have read this year – Soft In The Head may be gruffly spoken but it has an undeniably warm heart. The protagonist introduces himself with the words ‘I’ve decided to adopt Margueritte. She’ll be eighty-six any day now so there seemed no point putting it off. Old people have a tendency to die.’ Germain Chazes is forty-five and is fairly at piece with being known in the neighbourhood for being ‘soft in the head.’ Functionally illiterate, the frequent butt of his friends’ jokes and living in a caravan at the bottom of his mother’s garden, Germain is someone with a tendency to trudge through life. Until, that is, one day in the park, he meets Margueritte.
Bonding over a mutual interest in counting pigeons, Germain and Margueritte take to each other immediately and Germain is surprised how much he enjoys it when the old lady starts reading to him. There has been little kindness in Germain’s life – with a runaway father and a mother who blamed him for all of her misfortunes in life (getting pregnant, traumatic labour, lifelong poverty …), Germain has never been encouraged to better himself. Margueritte by contrast is ready to think the best of him, pleased to see him and interested in what what he has to say.
One glorious day, Marguerritte begins reading to Germain and from there a beautiful world is opened to him that he never imagined could have existed before. I loved the way that Marguerritte praises Germain for being a good reader since ‘reading starts with listening’. I loved how even when he was confused by the content, the reader can see how Germain’s mind is being broadened by the experience. Most of all, I loved the idea of how a chance encounter has the power to alter someone’s life for the better. His friends are astounded when Germain begins making reference to the work of Albert Camus and stops telling off-colour jokes. Germain has grown to be a defensive soul, he tries hard to down-play his interest in books, to protect himself from the prospect of mockery but he cannot help himself – he wants to hear more.
I was reminded of The Rosie Project at several points in this story – like Don, Germain is adrift in a world that has little time for him. Previous to his relationship with Rosie, Don too had a bond with an elderly lady, until it was tragically cut short by her worsening dementia. The biggest parallel though was how both Don and Germain gain a better understanding of love – Germain is handicapped more so than Don perhaps due to his lack of intelligence, we see him make crushingly insensitive remarks while attempting to comfort the newly-dumped cafe-owner and then wandering off unawares while she dissolves into tears – but yet, I found him easier as a protagonist to warm to than Don; Germain is frank, even blunt, whereas Don was always heavier on tactlessness. What was obvious from the beginning too though was just how starved of affection he has been – he is not someone who fails to understand love, he has simply never experienced it.
We see him wary of showing too much interest in Marguerritte lest she will reject him, embarrassed of revealing his difficulty in reading in case he earns her contempt – but instead, she is briskly understanding and brushes past any embarrassment. The bond between the two of them is so beautiful – I spent large tracts of the novel with a fizzy nose and fuzzy eyes. I always like novels that feature relationships that have a great complexity than a simple romantic will they/won’t they. We know from the opening paragraph that Germain is looking to adopt Marguerritte as his grandmother, ostensibly so that in case of emergency, he can trundle up and find out information without difficulty. It reminded me of my relationship with own stepgrandparents; it was a long journey before I was happy referring to any of my step-family without the four letter prefix, but it is a relief to set aside. Above all, I loved how Soft in the Head depicts how there are relationships in life which are more profound than ‘friend’ – the people who change us, who wander into our lives and who we will never want to let go.
This is such a warm book – a true elegy to friendship no matter your age, background, education, whatever – there are two good people who both count pigeons and they form an iron-clad friendship. But also, I loved how beautiful its perspective was on reading. From Marguerritte’s first reading to Germain to the finale when he is at last able to return the favour, the power of books is valued highly. I imagine we hear the voice of Roger herself when Germain observes ‘books should not be loved selfishly‘ – for the boy Germain who was scared off reading so long ago, books have been closed to him. As he begins to venture beyond the cover, we feel his mind open. As observers from his perspective, we can see how his very voice has been changed through his exploration of the dictionary – a whole host of new words have been unleashed.
Soft in the Head is a lovely novel for the summer, managing to be life-affirming without being saccharine – Germain never has to stop being himself, there is not a redemption story, but rather one of a belated blossoming. I did feel like something of a failure for not having read it in the original language though – no matter how high the quality of the translation (and this one is very good), there is still a certain something about texts in translation. Anyway, in the course of my research, I discovered that it was made into a film six years ago starring (who else) Gerard Depardieu in the lead role – definitely one to watch out for, it is a wonderful piece of casting and now I can’t picture Germain as anyone else! Fans of The Hundred Year Old Man and The Library of Unrequited Love are sure to enjoy this lovely story, a book to truly treasure.
May 24, 2025
It reminded me of Forrest Gump. This time, he meets a highly educated old lady on a park bench—she’s the one who introduces him to the world of books. And Germaine is the one telling you this story, in his own clumsy, honest way. It makes you smile, but with a heavy heart.
December 17, 2024
Kann man dieses Buch überhaupt schlecht bewerten??? Ich jedenfalls nicht und daher gebe ich gerne 5 Sterne für puren Lesegenuss
August 19, 2021
This is a relly sweet book. I loved how Germain described Margeritte all the time (small, fragile, like a child), it really make want to go and hug her too. I liked how real the character of Germain was, because it was not that at the end of the book he turned himself in someone who loved to read, and who was really smart, no. The changes he go through were believable, and it was the love he felt for Margueritte that made him try harder, even if it still difficult to accomplish.
For me, this story is about how one person can touch you and change your life, even if you are not looking for that. And it doesn't have to be a romantic love.
For me, this story is about how one person can touch you and change your life, even if you are not looking for that. And it doesn't have to be a romantic love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2016
Was das Buch betrifft, kann ich die bisherigen positiven, aber auch negativen, Kritiken nachvollziehen. In jedem Fall ist es angenehm und schnell zu lesen. Es ist eine Art Entwicklungsroman, auch ein durchaus poetischer. Was aber am Wichtigsten ist, meiner Meinung nach: Es ist ein Roman über Bücher, über das Lesen und über die Kraft von Wörtern, wobei klar gestellt wird, dass Lesen und Literatur für Jede/n ist und es nie zu spät ist mit dem Lesen anzufangen. Aus pädagogischer Sicht sagt die Geschichte auch ganz klar, was für die (kindliche/jugendliche) Entwicklung wichtig ist bzw. wäre - daher sollten sowohl angehende Lehrer/innen, aber auch generell jede/r Erwachsene, das Büchlein jedenfalls lesen! Ja, und auch für Jugendliche empfehlenswert, weil, manchmal muss man von Erwachsenen ja auch etwas einfordern können. ;)
April 2, 2016
"Bir yaşlı vefat ettiğinde, bir kütüphane yok olur."
Ben bu duygu yüklü , buram buram kitap kokulu kitap için ne söylesem boş...
Kitabı filminden, filmi kitabından güzel.
Hikayenin baş karakteri Germain, sesli kitap okurken ,okulda öğretmeni tarafından küçümsendiği günden beri , kitaplardan uzak kalmıştır. Bir gün parkta güvercinlere yem verirken çok şirin , kafasının içi raf raf kitaplarla dolu yaşlı bir hanım teyze ile karşılaşır ve sonra...
Sonrasını kitaptan okuyun ...
Ben çok ama çok sevdim. Kitaplığımın en kıymetli kitaplarından biri oldu.
Unutulmaz bir kitap unutulmaz bir film .
Ben bu duygu yüklü , buram buram kitap kokulu kitap için ne söylesem boş...
Kitabı filminden, filmi kitabından güzel.
Hikayenin baş karakteri Germain, sesli kitap okurken ,okulda öğretmeni tarafından küçümsendiği günden beri , kitaplardan uzak kalmıştır. Bir gün parkta güvercinlere yem verirken çok şirin , kafasının içi raf raf kitaplarla dolu yaşlı bir hanım teyze ile karşılaşır ve sonra...
Sonrasını kitaptan okuyun ...
Ben çok ama çok sevdim. Kitaplığımın en kıymetli kitaplarından biri oldu.
Unutulmaz bir kitap unutulmaz bir film .
January 5, 2022
Un livre qui résonne particulièrement en moi. Et qui est aussi drôle, touchant, attachant ❤️
October 4, 2024
Auf dem Campus meiner Uni gibt es eine Art "Tausch-Regal". Da kann man allerlei Dinge hinbringen, die man nicht mehr will, aber die vielleicht einer anderen Person noch Freude bereiten könnten. "Das Labyrinth der Wörter" habe ich aufgrund des spannenden Titels in die Hand genommen und mal aufgeschlagen. Der erste Satz schon hat mich gepackt. Ich habe mich also hingesetzt und mal die erste, dann die zweite und dann die dritte Seite gelesen. Dann habe ich es verschlungen.
Es ist ein herzwärmendes Buch: Germain und seine Geschichte haben mich sehr berührt. Ich musste immer wieder laut lachen, sogar im öV (und das passiert mir also wirklich kaum). Oft habe ich einfach still vor mich hin gelächelt. Oder war traurig oder wütend wegen der Ungerechtigkeiten, die Germain in seinem Leben widerfahren sind. Das Buch spricht das Leben ganzheitlich an und so habe ich mich oder mir nahestehende Menschen immer wieder erkannt.
Sehr leichte, unterhaltende Lektüre voller Tiefgang. Sehr zu empfehlen.
Es ist ein herzwärmendes Buch: Germain und seine Geschichte haben mich sehr berührt. Ich musste immer wieder laut lachen, sogar im öV (und das passiert mir also wirklich kaum). Oft habe ich einfach still vor mich hin gelächelt. Oder war traurig oder wütend wegen der Ungerechtigkeiten, die Germain in seinem Leben widerfahren sind. Das Buch spricht das Leben ganzheitlich an und so habe ich mich oder mir nahestehende Menschen immer wieder erkannt.
Sehr leichte, unterhaltende Lektüre voller Tiefgang. Sehr zu empfehlen.
September 30, 2021
This is a lovely story, very soothing and entertaining. Do not expect a great plot twist or cliffhangers, is not that kind of book. But there certainly is character development. This books tells a story of how a man that never received the love or attention a kid would need to grow, finally receives it from a random old granny that he meets one day. Little by little this interaction causes several changes in the man, and he suddenly finds himself trying to do things he never did or simply questioning the things he has always done. It is also very realistic, the changes that he will undergo are not impossible things to happend in real life. I would totally recommend it as a travel book, a book for people that wants to start reading, or for book lovers that just wanna read a short and lovely story.
March 4, 2018
an awkward 45yo lunkhead (who's not really a lunkhead but has just been convinced of this over his lifetime) finds acceptance, friendship, and love with and 86yo woman. they meet and bond over their shared fascination with pigeons and go on to create their own grandmother-grandson relationship of choice.
this was a charming read, rough at moments - when learning about germain and his background - but this is smoothed out by the grace and kindness margueritte brings to his life. ('rough' in context with germain's personality and experiences.) family can often be a fraught landscape. it's nice to read about people who manage to carve their own spaces and find their people.
this was a charming read, rough at moments - when learning about germain and his background - but this is smoothed out by the grace and kindness margueritte brings to his life. ('rough' in context with germain's personality and experiences.) family can often be a fraught landscape. it's nice to read about people who manage to carve their own spaces and find their people.
April 12, 2023
Una novelita entrañable protagonizada por dos personajes muy dispares, un cuarentón rudo e ignorante y una anciana culta, adorable, amante de la lectura.
Cada tarde coinciden en un parque, a raíz de ello se crea una peculiar relación de amistad entre ellos. La anciana le va mostrando el placer por la lectura y poco a poco vamos viendo cómo este va apreciando el valor de los libros y cambiando su percepción acerca de muchos ámbitos de la vida.
Me han encantado la ternura con la que están escritas sus páginas, una revolución de sentimientos, que va desde la falta de afecto y la soledad, hasta la amistad y las nuevas oportunidades.
¡Una delicia de lectura súper recomendable! ❤️
Cada tarde coinciden en un parque, a raíz de ello se crea una peculiar relación de amistad entre ellos. La anciana le va mostrando el placer por la lectura y poco a poco vamos viendo cómo este va apreciando el valor de los libros y cambiando su percepción acerca de muchos ámbitos de la vida.
Me han encantado la ternura con la que están escritas sus páginas, una revolución de sentimientos, que va desde la falta de afecto y la soledad, hasta la amistad y las nuevas oportunidades.
¡Una delicia de lectura súper recomendable! ❤️
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