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The Little French Bistro
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop, an extraordinary novel about self-discovery and new beginnings.
Marianne is stuck in a loveless, unhappy marriage. After forty-one years, she has reached her limit, and one evening in Paris she decides to take action. Following a dramatic moment on the banks of the Seine, Marianne leaves her life behind and sets out for the coast of Brittany, also known as the end of the world.
Here she meets a cast of colorful and unforgettable locals who surprise her with their warm welcome, and the natural ease they all seem to have, taking pleasure in life's small moments. And, as the parts of herself she had long forgotten return to her in this new world, Marianne learns it s never too late to begin the search for what life should have been all along.
With all the buoyant charm that made The Little Paris Bookshop a beloved bestseller, The Little French Bistro is a tale of second chances and a delightful embrace of the joys of life in France.
Marianne is stuck in a loveless, unhappy marriage. After forty-one years, she has reached her limit, and one evening in Paris she decides to take action. Following a dramatic moment on the banks of the Seine, Marianne leaves her life behind and sets out for the coast of Brittany, also known as the end of the world.
Here she meets a cast of colorful and unforgettable locals who surprise her with their warm welcome, and the natural ease they all seem to have, taking pleasure in life's small moments. And, as the parts of herself she had long forgotten return to her in this new world, Marianne learns it s never too late to begin the search for what life should have been all along.
With all the buoyant charm that made The Little Paris Bookshop a beloved bestseller, The Little French Bistro is a tale of second chances and a delightful embrace of the joys of life in France.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Nina George
65 books2,093 followersENG (for German Bio please scroll down).
Born 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany, Nina George is a prize-winning and bestselling author (“Das Lavendelzimmer” – “The Little Paris Bookshop”) and freelance journalist since 1992, who has published 26 books (novels, mysteries and non-fiction) as well as over hundred short stories and more than 600 columns. George has worked as a cop reporter, columnist and managing editor for a wide range of publications, including Hamburger Abendblatt, Die Welt, Der Hamburger, “politik und kultur” as well as TV Movie and Federwelt. Georges writes also under three pen-names, for ex “Jean Bagnol”, a double-andronym for provence-based mystery novels.
In 2012 and 2013 she won the DeLiA and the Glauser-Prize. In 2013 she had her first bestselling book “Das Lavendelzimmer”, translated in 27 langues and sold more than 500.000 copies.
In November 2011, Nina George established the “JA zum Urheberrecht” (YES on Author’s Rights) initiative, which supports the rights of authors, artists and entertainers and is dedicated to resolving issues within the literary community as well as establishing fair and practical rights-license models for the web-distribution. 14 writers’ associations and 27 publishing partners have since joined the JA…-Initiative. George supports the “Initiative Urheberrecht” (Author’s Rights Initiative—www.urheber.info) as well as the “gib 8 aufs Wort”-campaign of the VG Wort.
In August 2014 George initiated the Amazon-protest in Germany www.fairer-buchmarkt.de, where overs 2000 germanspeaking authors – Nobelprizewinnig Elfriede Jelinek or Bestsellingauthor Nele Neuhaus – sign an open letter to Jeff Bezos and Amazon, protesting against the banned-book-methods of the giant retailer in the Hachette/Bonnier-dispute.
In 2015 George is the founder of the Initiative Fairer Buchmarkt e.V., which supports questions of law in daily business of authors – for ex in contracts, fees or author’s rights and e-Business.
George is Member to PEN, Das Syndikat (association of German-language crime writers), the Association of German Authors (VS), the Hamburg Authors’ Association (HAV), BücherFrauen (Women in Publishing), the IACW/AIEP (International Association of Crime Writers), the GEDOK (Association of female artists in Germany), PRO QUOTE and Lean In. Nina George sits on the board of the Three Seas Writers’ and Translaters’ Council (TSWTC), whose members come from 16 different countries.
Nina George teaches writing at Literaturbüro Unna, Alsterdamm Kunstschule, Wilhelmsburger Honigfabrik, where she coaches young people, adults and professional authors.
George also moderates (bilingual) readings and works as a speaker.
www.nina-george.com
find me also on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NinaGeorge.S...
www.ninageorge.de
DE
Die mehrfach ausgezeichnete Publizistin Nina George, geboren 1973, veröffentlichte bisher 23 Romane, Krimis, Science-Thriller sowie ca. 88 Kurzgeschichten und über 500 Kolumnen.
Ihr Pseudonym Anne West gehört zu den erfolgreichsten deutschsprachigen Erotika-Autorinnen.
Für ihren Roman Die Mondspielerin wurde George mit der DeLiA 2011, dem Literaturpreis für den besten Liebesroman des Jahres, ausgezeichnet. Mit dem Wendekrimi Das Licht von Dahme war George 2010 für den Friedrich-Glauser-Preis nominiert. Sie gewann ihn 2012 mit dem in Nigeria angesiedeltem Fußballkrimi „Das Spiel ihres Lebens“.
George gründete 2011 die Initiative „JA zum Urheberrecht“, mit der sie sich aktiv für die Rechte aller Kreativarbeiter und Kulturschaffenden gegen die Mentalität der Gratiskultur im Internet einsetzt.
Sie ist Mitglied im Syndikat, den Mörderischen Schwestern sowie des Verbands deutscher Schriftsteller.
Nina George lebt im Hamburger Grindelviertel.
Born 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany, Nina George is a prize-winning and bestselling author (“Das Lavendelzimmer” – “The Little Paris Bookshop”) and freelance journalist since 1992, who has published 26 books (novels, mysteries and non-fiction) as well as over hundred short stories and more than 600 columns. George has worked as a cop reporter, columnist and managing editor for a wide range of publications, including Hamburger Abendblatt, Die Welt, Der Hamburger, “politik und kultur” as well as TV Movie and Federwelt. Georges writes also under three pen-names, for ex “Jean Bagnol”, a double-andronym for provence-based mystery novels.
In 2012 and 2013 she won the DeLiA and the Glauser-Prize. In 2013 she had her first bestselling book “Das Lavendelzimmer”, translated in 27 langues and sold more than 500.000 copies.
In November 2011, Nina George established the “JA zum Urheberrecht” (YES on Author’s Rights) initiative, which supports the rights of authors, artists and entertainers and is dedicated to resolving issues within the literary community as well as establishing fair and practical rights-license models for the web-distribution. 14 writers’ associations and 27 publishing partners have since joined the JA…-Initiative. George supports the “Initiative Urheberrecht” (Author’s Rights Initiative—www.urheber.info) as well as the “gib 8 aufs Wort”-campaign of the VG Wort.
In August 2014 George initiated the Amazon-protest in Germany www.fairer-buchmarkt.de, where overs 2000 germanspeaking authors – Nobelprizewinnig Elfriede Jelinek or Bestsellingauthor Nele Neuhaus – sign an open letter to Jeff Bezos and Amazon, protesting against the banned-book-methods of the giant retailer in the Hachette/Bonnier-dispute.
In 2015 George is the founder of the Initiative Fairer Buchmarkt e.V., which supports questions of law in daily business of authors – for ex in contracts, fees or author’s rights and e-Business.
George is Member to PEN, Das Syndikat (association of German-language crime writers), the Association of German Authors (VS), the Hamburg Authors’ Association (HAV), BücherFrauen (Women in Publishing), the IACW/AIEP (International Association of Crime Writers), the GEDOK (Association of female artists in Germany), PRO QUOTE and Lean In. Nina George sits on the board of the Three Seas Writers’ and Translaters’ Council (TSWTC), whose members come from 16 different countries.
Nina George teaches writing at Literaturbüro Unna, Alsterdamm Kunstschule, Wilhelmsburger Honigfabrik, where she coaches young people, adults and professional authors.
George also moderates (bilingual) readings and works as a speaker.
www.nina-george.com
find me also on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NinaGeorge.S...
www.ninageorge.de
DE
Die mehrfach ausgezeichnete Publizistin Nina George, geboren 1973, veröffentlichte bisher 23 Romane, Krimis, Science-Thriller sowie ca. 88 Kurzgeschichten und über 500 Kolumnen.
Ihr Pseudonym Anne West gehört zu den erfolgreichsten deutschsprachigen Erotika-Autorinnen.
Für ihren Roman Die Mondspielerin wurde George mit der DeLiA 2011, dem Literaturpreis für den besten Liebesroman des Jahres, ausgezeichnet. Mit dem Wendekrimi Das Licht von Dahme war George 2010 für den Friedrich-Glauser-Preis nominiert. Sie gewann ihn 2012 mit dem in Nigeria angesiedeltem Fußballkrimi „Das Spiel ihres Lebens“.
George gründete 2011 die Initiative „JA zum Urheberrecht“, mit der sie sich aktiv für die Rechte aller Kreativarbeiter und Kulturschaffenden gegen die Mentalität der Gratiskultur im Internet einsetzt.
Sie ist Mitglied im Syndikat, den Mörderischen Schwestern sowie des Verbands deutscher Schriftsteller.
Nina George lebt im Hamburger Grindelviertel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,671 reviews
February 24, 2017
I felt so many emotions while reading this book. Initially sadness, pity and melancholy; then a mixture of heartwarming lightheartedness, joy and empowerment, with some humour mixed in. Reading 'The Little Breton Bistro' was almost like going on a journey through a rainbow of every emotion under the sun. Which is what a good author and book should be able to conjure - emotions and feelings.
Marianne is in her 60's and has been married to her husband, Lothar, since she was 19. Her husband is controlling, selfish, tight and nasty towards Marianne. She has suffered in quiet throughout their marriage, but while on holiday in Paris she suddenly decides enough is enough and she is through with this life.
A series of incidents see her initial plan to throw herself into the Seine scuppered. She finds a tile with a painting of a beautiful Brittany port inscribed with the name of the village, Kerdruc, and decides to head towards the coast in search of it. Once she reaches the picturesque village she feels like she has returned home. Her plan to be washed away on the waves of the sea is again thwarted, when she ends up sheltering in a moored boat, and encounters some of the friendly and curious locals. As Marianne says herself "life intervened" and she begins to discover herself again, as well as the joys of life.
Initially I thought this book may be a bit depressing; however once Marianne reaches the coast, the vibe of the book also started to go through a transformation, which is really what the book is all about. It's still full of poignant moments, but it's almost like that now Marianne is in a less toxic place, the entire feel of the emotions created by the book also changed.
The character development is fantastic and very believable; it was like witnessing the real Marianne emerging as a beautiful butterfly from a cocoon in which she has been trapped and bound. The descriptions of the town and the food......My stomach was making lots of grumbling noises during some parts of the book, I could almost smell the food being described.
'The Little Breton Bistro' is an all round stunning and captivating read. I loved the transformative and healing process Marianne went through, and the message of the book particularly in regards to love - not just towards others, but also yourself.
The writing is rich and wonderful; filled with loads of insight, secrets and intrigue. I strongly recommend it to everyone looking for a good book to really get into, although be prepared to get lost in its pages and in the lives of the residents of Kerdruc. I definitely can't wait to read more from Nina George. I am off now to buy 'The Little Paris Bookshop' on my Kindle. This book touched me so much I am also going to buy it in "a proper book" format. I believe it definitely deserves a place on my bookshelf, where I can reread it over the years as a reminder of the books message.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Marianne is in her 60's and has been married to her husband, Lothar, since she was 19. Her husband is controlling, selfish, tight and nasty towards Marianne. She has suffered in quiet throughout their marriage, but while on holiday in Paris she suddenly decides enough is enough and she is through with this life.
A series of incidents see her initial plan to throw herself into the Seine scuppered. She finds a tile with a painting of a beautiful Brittany port inscribed with the name of the village, Kerdruc, and decides to head towards the coast in search of it. Once she reaches the picturesque village she feels like she has returned home. Her plan to be washed away on the waves of the sea is again thwarted, when she ends up sheltering in a moored boat, and encounters some of the friendly and curious locals. As Marianne says herself "life intervened" and she begins to discover herself again, as well as the joys of life.
Initially I thought this book may be a bit depressing; however once Marianne reaches the coast, the vibe of the book also started to go through a transformation, which is really what the book is all about. It's still full of poignant moments, but it's almost like that now Marianne is in a less toxic place, the entire feel of the emotions created by the book also changed.
The character development is fantastic and very believable; it was like witnessing the real Marianne emerging as a beautiful butterfly from a cocoon in which she has been trapped and bound. The descriptions of the town and the food......My stomach was making lots of grumbling noises during some parts of the book, I could almost smell the food being described.
'The Little Breton Bistro' is an all round stunning and captivating read. I loved the transformative and healing process Marianne went through, and the message of the book particularly in regards to love - not just towards others, but also yourself.
The writing is rich and wonderful; filled with loads of insight, secrets and intrigue. I strongly recommend it to everyone looking for a good book to really get into, although be prepared to get lost in its pages and in the lives of the residents of Kerdruc. I definitely can't wait to read more from Nina George. I am off now to buy 'The Little Paris Bookshop' on my Kindle. This book touched me so much I am also going to buy it in "a proper book" format. I believe it definitely deserves a place on my bookshelf, where I can reread it over the years as a reminder of the books message.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 5, 2017
Apparently, my review contains some spoilers, so ...
I'm dumbfounded that I didn't enjoy this novel more, as it had all the ingredients I enjoy: French settings, older characters, love stories, starting over, happy coincidences, smaller quaint communities, food - you get the idea. Still, in spite of all these nice ingredients, the resulting mix was dry and boring - you know, like eating to survive, instead of savouring and being taken to another place by the extraordinary meal. This novel needed some seasoning, I'm not quite sure which one, as the resulting "dish" was edible but not memorable. Ok, I'll stop with the food analogies, you get the idea.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Hachette Australia, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I'm dumbfounded that I didn't enjoy this novel more, as it had all the ingredients I enjoy: French settings, older characters, love stories, starting over, happy coincidences, smaller quaint communities, food - you get the idea. Still, in spite of all these nice ingredients, the resulting mix was dry and boring - you know, like eating to survive, instead of savouring and being taken to another place by the extraordinary meal. This novel needed some seasoning, I'm not quite sure which one, as the resulting "dish" was edible but not memorable. Ok, I'll stop with the food analogies, you get the idea.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Hachette Australia, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
June 9, 2017
I received a copy of The Little French Bistro from Penguin’s First to Read program.
I was looking for something on the lighter side after reading a batch of dark, twisted thrillers and thought this tale of a middle-aged woman rediscovering herself in France would fit the bill. The book description is a bit misleading, omitting that the”dramatic moment” the main character, Marianne, experiences on the Seine is her own suicide attempt. Marianne is very melancholy - she feels she has wasted over 40 years of her life in a loveless marriage to an unfeeling man. Her life feels empty and she wants to end it all but her desire to kill herself is thwarted by a gentleman who pulls her out of the Seine and calls an ambulance.
After her husband visits her in the hospital, scolds her and leaves her feeling miserable, she flees and makes her way to the beautiful and charming coast of Brittany. There she easily (a bit too easily, in my opinion) ends up working in a French bistro. I feel that everything just falls into place without much effort once she arrives. Everyone loves her and makes her feel welcome. It’s all just so nice - and dull and a bit empty. I had to force myself to continue reading. Even in this beautiful place with so many nice people, she still contemplates ending it all. The characters she meets and interacts with in Brittany all just run together for me. There are a lot of them, vying for the reader’s attention but, despite complicated relationships or illness, etc., no one really stood out, many are one-dimensional and cardboard. A few were interesting but just didn’t hold my interest. It felt like quantity over quality.
I really had a difficult time staying interested in The Little French Bistro. I love reading books set in France and really hoped that this would be a win but it just feels personality-less. I also love reading about characters overcoming difficult circumstances and getting a second chance but everything feels flat. It just doesn’t seem to have much depth. Also, at times, Marianne feels like a minor character, taking a backseat to these other characters. In the end, it was just wasn’t my taste. I think I’ll stick with Antoine Laurain when I want a charming book set in France.
I was looking for something on the lighter side after reading a batch of dark, twisted thrillers and thought this tale of a middle-aged woman rediscovering herself in France would fit the bill. The book description is a bit misleading, omitting that the”dramatic moment” the main character, Marianne, experiences on the Seine is her own suicide attempt. Marianne is very melancholy - she feels she has wasted over 40 years of her life in a loveless marriage to an unfeeling man. Her life feels empty and she wants to end it all but her desire to kill herself is thwarted by a gentleman who pulls her out of the Seine and calls an ambulance.
After her husband visits her in the hospital, scolds her and leaves her feeling miserable, she flees and makes her way to the beautiful and charming coast of Brittany. There she easily (a bit too easily, in my opinion) ends up working in a French bistro. I feel that everything just falls into place without much effort once she arrives. Everyone loves her and makes her feel welcome. It’s all just so nice - and dull and a bit empty. I had to force myself to continue reading. Even in this beautiful place with so many nice people, she still contemplates ending it all. The characters she meets and interacts with in Brittany all just run together for me. There are a lot of them, vying for the reader’s attention but, despite complicated relationships or illness, etc., no one really stood out, many are one-dimensional and cardboard. A few were interesting but just didn’t hold my interest. It felt like quantity over quality.
I really had a difficult time staying interested in The Little French Bistro. I love reading books set in France and really hoped that this would be a win but it just feels personality-less. I also love reading about characters overcoming difficult circumstances and getting a second chance but everything feels flat. It just doesn’t seem to have much depth. Also, at times, Marianne feels like a minor character, taking a backseat to these other characters. In the end, it was just wasn’t my taste. I think I’ll stick with Antoine Laurain when I want a charming book set in France.
March 3, 2017
Marianne has had enough of her dowdy, meaningless life. She has lived with her husband for forty years, who neither loves her, nor respects her.
On a trip to Paris with her husband, she quietly slips out of a dinner party and makes her way down to the river Seine. Carefully removing her few possessions, she jumps into the river hoping to end her life.
Unfortunately for her, she is pulled to the bank by a homeless man, and an ambulance is called, taking her to the local hospital. Once there, her husband turns up, though sorrow and pity are the last things on his mind. He is upset with her, telling her what she has attempted will look bad on him. He also decides that she needs to see a psychologist.
Marianne then comes across a tile with the beautiful port town of Kerdruc, Brittany on it. She decides there and then that she is going to find a way to get to this beautiful place, and leave her past behind her.
I was honoured to have read an advanced copy of Nina George’s last book, ‘The Little Paris Bookshop‘ in 2015, and loved every page of it. So when I became aware that Nina had written another book, I was eager to read this one too.
Nina writes with pure passion. She goes against the grain with her stories, and fills them with characters that don’t normally make the cut in novels, the older generation.
There is an air of sophistication about Nina’s work, you don’t just read her words, but you feel them too.
The Little Brenton Bistro, is a complex story, one told by a sixty-year-old woman who has had enough with this life. She wants some happiness, and if that means finding it in death, then so be it.
Being ground down by the man who is supposed to love her really has taken its toll on Marianne. She no longer cares what people say about her. She no longer cares what her husband thinks about her. Unfortunately, it feels like she no longer cares about herself as well. So when a spur of the moment idea seeps into her head, she has nothing to lose.
This book could be seen as a sad book, with a depressing undertone at times, but it is also uplifting. It is an inspiration to anyone that has ever felt lost in this world to discover, even if only in fiction, what life could be like. Don’t be fooled by the chick-lit-esque cover, as this is far from one.
Nina George will grab hold of your emotions and toss them around during ‘The Little Brenton Bistro. The story is awe-inspiring, captivating and completely masterful from beginning to end, and is a must read for 2017. I can see this book winning some awards this year.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
On a trip to Paris with her husband, she quietly slips out of a dinner party and makes her way down to the river Seine. Carefully removing her few possessions, she jumps into the river hoping to end her life.
Unfortunately for her, she is pulled to the bank by a homeless man, and an ambulance is called, taking her to the local hospital. Once there, her husband turns up, though sorrow and pity are the last things on his mind. He is upset with her, telling her what she has attempted will look bad on him. He also decides that she needs to see a psychologist.
Marianne then comes across a tile with the beautiful port town of Kerdruc, Brittany on it. She decides there and then that she is going to find a way to get to this beautiful place, and leave her past behind her.
I was honoured to have read an advanced copy of Nina George’s last book, ‘The Little Paris Bookshop‘ in 2015, and loved every page of it. So when I became aware that Nina had written another book, I was eager to read this one too.
Nina writes with pure passion. She goes against the grain with her stories, and fills them with characters that don’t normally make the cut in novels, the older generation.
There is an air of sophistication about Nina’s work, you don’t just read her words, but you feel them too.
The Little Brenton Bistro, is a complex story, one told by a sixty-year-old woman who has had enough with this life. She wants some happiness, and if that means finding it in death, then so be it.
Being ground down by the man who is supposed to love her really has taken its toll on Marianne. She no longer cares what people say about her. She no longer cares what her husband thinks about her. Unfortunately, it feels like she no longer cares about herself as well. So when a spur of the moment idea seeps into her head, she has nothing to lose.
This book could be seen as a sad book, with a depressing undertone at times, but it is also uplifting. It is an inspiration to anyone that has ever felt lost in this world to discover, even if only in fiction, what life could be like. Don’t be fooled by the chick-lit-esque cover, as this is far from one.
Nina George will grab hold of your emotions and toss them around during ‘The Little Brenton Bistro. The story is awe-inspiring, captivating and completely masterful from beginning to end, and is a must read for 2017. I can see this book winning some awards this year.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
October 4, 2017
Beautiful, breathtaking prose, romantic, succulent foods, vivid scenery, dreamy settings, realistic lovable characters that are easily connected with and so many life awakening quotable moments. The main characters are mature, well lived, full of experiences and yet full of wonder. Oh it's fantastic. I adore this author's style. This is the second book I've read from her, the first being The Little Paris Bookshop. I loved that one but this one held on to my heart a bit more and never let go, so far it's my favorite. Good luck topping this one Ms. George.
May 1, 2017
4.5 stars.
Have you ever been desperate enough to want to escape life? To throw yourself in the Seine and end it all! No? Well Marianne does, life has passed her by, she is deeply unhappy and sees no other way out. However when her effort to bring her sad life to a close is thwarted by a stranger she eventually finds herself on the way to Brittany and possibly ready to listen to herself and her own needs and desires.
The more I read on in this story the more I was captivated by Marianne and the people she meets up with. I loved them all and especially Emile and Pascal - one who suffers from Parkinson's and the other from Dementia but ... they are happy and love each other.
I felt like I was there in Brittany, in the cafe, by the sea amongst the various characters. I loved seeing Marianne uncovering the things she loves and needs, the people she loves and needs. I read this book over Easter and truly if there was ever a book about death and resurrection this was it. Such an important message to us all, to live who we truly are, without worrying about what others think.
While this may have been about a woman who needed to bring alive the powers within her, the men in the story are not left out, they too need to have the courage to live out their wildest dreams. I did despair that Jean-Remy, a young chef, would ever get there and claim his love...
Ultimately an uplifting and life affirming story that I'll remember for a long while.
Have you ever been desperate enough to want to escape life? To throw yourself in the Seine and end it all! No? Well Marianne does, life has passed her by, she is deeply unhappy and sees no other way out. However when her effort to bring her sad life to a close is thwarted by a stranger she eventually finds herself on the way to Brittany and possibly ready to listen to herself and her own needs and desires.
The more I read on in this story the more I was captivated by Marianne and the people she meets up with. I loved them all and especially Emile and Pascal - one who suffers from Parkinson's and the other from Dementia but ... they are happy and love each other.
I felt like I was there in Brittany, in the cafe, by the sea amongst the various characters. I loved seeing Marianne uncovering the things she loves and needs, the people she loves and needs. I read this book over Easter and truly if there was ever a book about death and resurrection this was it. Such an important message to us all, to live who we truly are, without worrying about what others think.
While this may have been about a woman who needed to bring alive the powers within her, the men in the story are not left out, they too need to have the courage to live out their wildest dreams. I did despair that Jean-Remy, a young chef, would ever get there and claim his love...
Ultimately an uplifting and life affirming story that I'll remember for a long while.
May 14, 2017
I've abandoned Breton Bistro in annoyance, it's not charming and life affirming but written by a simpleton and much like a romcom. It begins with someone trying to kill themselves and seemed intriguing but almost half way in, the clichés of getting a make over and the description of her transformation made me want to vomit. The other characters were a mixed bag, the couple growing old were interesting but the chef pining over fancying the waitress was irritating. A book with a similar opening premise which was indeed life affirming is "A Man Called Ove".
July 6, 2017
I have to say, I was very disappointed with this book. The first few chapters were interesting and sucked me in, but then it went off on a dozen tangents. There were so many side characters that served no purpose and got way too much time spent on them. Halfway through the book, I wasn't even sure what it was about anymore. And I found the main character so aggravating and annoying. Her character kept changing for no reason and she couldn't make up her mind about anything! Yet everyone kept fawning over her as if she was something unbelievably special. In reality, everyone would be completely fed up with her. I thought the writing was weak and messy and the editing was awful...nothing flowed in this book. I somehow finished it, but it just got worse and worse. I can not recommend this book...it was just a mess.
April 21, 2017
Wow... I am not sure what it is about Nina George's writing but it hits me deep within my soul. I loved "The little Paris Bookshop" and was so excited when I won this book in a goodreads giveaway, and this book did not disappoint! I am not sure if it is the richness of the characters or the exquisite picture that George's writing conjure up within my mind, plus adding a delightfully heart warming engaging story line that makes this book such an unbelievable read. The little Breton Bistro is a work of art that will be admired discussed and loved!!!
September 8, 2017
If you love a book with words that sparkle, Nina George is the author for you. The prose is warm and feels like silky moonlight dancing on a warm summer pool. The Little Paris Bookshop is one of my favorite books. This did not grab me the same way as that. This is a good book and I enjoyed it. Nina does such a great job with emotions and the interplay between people in a relationship.
This is about a woman who is stuck in a marriage and it opens with her failed suicide attempt. This is actually the beginning of her life. She makes her way to Brittany France at the end of the world where she learns to live her life again. I so enjoyed taking part in these characters lives. I will miss this book.
This is about a woman who is stuck in a marriage and it opens with her failed suicide attempt. This is actually the beginning of her life. She makes her way to Brittany France at the end of the world where she learns to live her life again. I so enjoyed taking part in these characters lives. I will miss this book.
March 12, 2017
A little disappointing - too many characters were too similar and became indistinguishable at times.
August 15, 2017
“The Little French Bistro” is a story with a message that you are never too old to find your passion and to live a full life. The story opens with a sad Marianne Messman in Paris on holiday deciding to end her miserable life. She’s been married to Lothar for forty-one browbeaten years. As the reader learns of her married years, it’s no wonder that the Seine river is looking attractive: she’s done with life. Unexpectedly, a homeless man rescues her after she jumps into the Seine. Her husband Lothar is furious that she humiliated him and he now has to deal with her. The good news is Lothar is so selfish that he goes home without her, expecting the insurance to pay for her return with a hospital employee.
Marianne is a plucky sixty-year old who is determined to find another way to end her life. And with that, she is off, with little money, no belongings, just her determination. It is here that author Nina George begins her sweet story of a woman (who considers herself to be past the “use by” date in her life) who finds her way into a life she never even dreamed she was worthy. Her journey leads her to Brittany where she finds an enclave of eccentric characters. Through chance she falls into a job, a life, and a passion that leads to self-discovery.
It’s a satisfying and uplifting read. It’s a great beach read!
Marianne is a plucky sixty-year old who is determined to find another way to end her life. And with that, she is off, with little money, no belongings, just her determination. It is here that author Nina George begins her sweet story of a woman (who considers herself to be past the “use by” date in her life) who finds her way into a life she never even dreamed she was worthy. Her journey leads her to Brittany where she finds an enclave of eccentric characters. Through chance she falls into a job, a life, and a passion that leads to self-discovery.
It’s a satisfying and uplifting read. It’s a great beach read!
June 19, 2017
While I think her writing can be very lovely, I didn't have much empathy for these characters. I just wanted to smack most of them upside the head and tell them to stop acting like fools.
February 7, 2017
I really, really, really struggled with this book. I found it very, very hard to read and to get into. Mainly because of it opening with someone killing themselves and the subsequent chapters deal with the backlash of this. Yes it is a journey of discovery ect ect. But I just couldn't make myself want to read it. I thought it was going to be a sweet happy book. But it was dark and twisted and not really for me.
June 28, 2017
What dreck! I feel like the author had fairies and pixie dust clogging her brain when she wrote this because this book is full of cliched characters, silly plot developments, sappy language, fulsome imagery and ridiculous storylines. It takes a lot for me to really dislike a book about 1) some fabulous place in France and 2) a heroine getting a makeover, but boy this book was bad enough to achieve that tricky feat. That's about all it achieves aside from tiredness and sloppiness. Listen, I don't mind a book with some silliness, some unrealistic plots or hard to believe characters, but this book was not even written well and was full of little gems like, the sea knew the truth in her eyes or the cat saw into her soul. Blech. I enjoyed this author's previous novel even though it too, had a certain amount of thick soulfulness incorporated into it, but it was light as a feather and imminently more delightful compared to this leaden, unhumorous plodding mess of a novel.
July 10, 2017
I almost didn't keep reading this one as the story began. I just couldn't jive with the main character and the story wasn't pulling me in.. then I set it down for a day or two... came back.. and.. BAM I was hooked. As soon as Marianne tries her first raw oyster and the luscious description of the foods prepared by Jean Remy were described, I had to know more. Nina George has such a talent for describing the locations in which she sets her books. You feel the emotion and ties she must have had to the area to set her book location there. I especially loved the power of music in this book for Marianne. This was such a lovely story about self discovery for all the characters, second chances, amazing food, and ultimately love.
March 18, 2019
Confession time: I absolutely LOVED Nina George's previous book, The Little Paris Bookshop! Quite possibly because of the following reasons:
1. I'm a sucker for books about books. More so, if the book incorporates a canal barge, and books being used as a means to satiate one's most pressing needs (as identified through the eyes of the bookseller).
2. I have a romantic streak a mile wide. Literally, one mile. I measured it.
3. I read it on the beach in the gloriously tropical heat of the Dominican Republic.
These three factors, I believe, contributed to the creation of the literary equivalent of a perfect storm. Only with more reading and significantly less stormy death. But essentially, it's the same thing. No, really.
Anyway, whatever the reasons, I REALLY loved that book, and wanted this one to be equally as wonderful. Was it? Very nearly, but not quite. And that's not bad.
Marianne is 60. She is deeply unhappy with her 40 year marriage, and her horribly controlling and psychologically abusive husband. Her solution is to finally take matters into her own hands. Fortunately, events don't unfold as she intends them to and, via a series of fortuitous connections, she finds herself in an idyllic town on the Brittany coast. Here she meets a diverse cast of characters - lots of people plus a cat - who offer the love, friendship, and support, that allow Marianne to rediscover her love of life, and resurrect those fragments of herself that had become lost in an oppressive relationship.
Marianne is lovely. In fact, she's a borderline angel. However, I admit that I frequently alternated between wanting to give her enormous hugs (when it seemed she was about to break and/or make terrible choices), and throttling her (for occasionally making the aforementioned terrible choices). Then again, I feel that way about most people I know really, so as you were.
Ultimately, this is a warm and caring kind of a book. The pages resonate with friendship, love, and discovering that it's never too late to change your life. It's poignant and overflowing with genuine positivity. Let's face it, in the world of 2019, this is an incredibly welcome attribute! I imagine it would be difficult to walk away from this story without feeling infinitely better about life and things in general.
I don't know about you but I would dearly love to live in the small fishing port of Kerdruc on the French coast, surrounded by individuals as wonderful as those that populate this book. One day perhaps...
1. I'm a sucker for books about books. More so, if the book incorporates a canal barge, and books being used as a means to satiate one's most pressing needs (as identified through the eyes of the bookseller).
2. I have a romantic streak a mile wide. Literally, one mile. I measured it.
3. I read it on the beach in the gloriously tropical heat of the Dominican Republic.
These three factors, I believe, contributed to the creation of the literary equivalent of a perfect storm. Only with more reading and significantly less stormy death. But essentially, it's the same thing. No, really.
Anyway, whatever the reasons, I REALLY loved that book, and wanted this one to be equally as wonderful. Was it? Very nearly, but not quite. And that's not bad.
Marianne is 60. She is deeply unhappy with her 40 year marriage, and her horribly controlling and psychologically abusive husband. Her solution is to finally take matters into her own hands. Fortunately, events don't unfold as she intends them to and, via a series of fortuitous connections, she finds herself in an idyllic town on the Brittany coast. Here she meets a diverse cast of characters - lots of people plus a cat - who offer the love, friendship, and support, that allow Marianne to rediscover her love of life, and resurrect those fragments of herself that had become lost in an oppressive relationship.
Marianne is lovely. In fact, she's a borderline angel. However, I admit that I frequently alternated between wanting to give her enormous hugs (when it seemed she was about to break and/or make terrible choices), and throttling her (for occasionally making the aforementioned terrible choices). Then again, I feel that way about most people I know really, so as you were.
Ultimately, this is a warm and caring kind of a book. The pages resonate with friendship, love, and discovering that it's never too late to change your life. It's poignant and overflowing with genuine positivity. Let's face it, in the world of 2019, this is an incredibly welcome attribute! I imagine it would be difficult to walk away from this story without feeling infinitely better about life and things in general.
I don't know about you but I would dearly love to live in the small fishing port of Kerdruc on the French coast, surrounded by individuals as wonderful as those that populate this book. One day perhaps...
June 5, 2017
I didn’t realize when I started reading Nina George’s The Little French Bistro that I would enjoy it as much as I did. The book was relatively short (Goodreads shows it at 336 pages but the proof copy I received was actually a little under 300 pages), yet it was rich in charm. I found it easy to get into the book from the start and truly enjoyed getting to know all of the delightful characters in a picturesque setting that was a “feel-good” read pretty much all the way through.
The story starts off with a 60-year-old woman named Marianne who has been stuck in a loveless marriage for 41 years and has finally decided that, for once in her life, she would do what she wants to do rather than what others dictate that she do. On a trip to France, she decides to jump into the Seine river in the hopes of ending her life – a decision that she bravely and unhesitatingly makes because it made her feel free and happy and useful for the first time in her adult life. However, it was not meant to be, as she is saved by a homeless man who happened to be nearby and sent to the hospital to recover. When she is reunited with her husband Lothar at the hospital, he not only doesn’t show an ounce of concern for her well-being, he actually berates her for being stupid and ruining his vacation. He then decides to return home to Germany by himself and, as a “punishment” of sorts, he leaves Marianne behind to make the trip back with a psychologist. During her stay at the hospital, Marianne comes across a beautifully painted tile of a place called Kerdruc, which she later finds out is a picturesque little port village in Brittany, on France’s western coast. Inexplicably attracted to the beauty of the town depicted in the tile and still wanting to end her own life, Marianne escapes from the hospital and sets off for Kerdruc with barely anything to her name. Once there, Marianne is surprised and overwhelmed by the warm welcome she receives from the locals, a colorful cast of characters who quickly embrace her into their world and without knowing it, help Marianne get her life back. While at first it might seem like the story should be sad and maybe even depressing due to Marianne’s suicide attempts and the unhappy life that she led for so many years, it actually ends up being far from that. Everything that Marianne experiences in Kerdruc as well as the people she meets there turned the story into a heartwarming, uplifting story of hope and second chances.
I loved the writing in this book and the way the author used just the right amount of descriptiveness to make us feel as though we were there in Kerdruc alongside Marianne. The way the little town was described made me want to visit there someday (though admittedly I know so little about France’s geography that I have no clue whether that town actually exists or not). Aside from the setting though, what really drew me into the story were the characters – not just Marianne, but also the wonderful “supporting” characters who each had side stories of their own, yet did not detract from the main story involving Marianne. I loved reading about each of the characters and even though all of them go through their fair share of issues, it is their attitude of finding happiness in life’s small moments and the spirit of living life to the fullest regardless of whatever setbacks may come their way that made them so endearing to me. My favorite characters were Emile and Pascale Goichon – an elderly couple living in a house in the forest surrounded by dozens of stray cats and dogs. Emile suffers from the early stages of Parkinson’s while Pascale has dementia and at times can barely remember who her husband is, yet the love this couple has for each other spans 50 years and they would go to the ends of the earth for each other if given the chance. I enjoyed reading about this sweet elderly couple, along with all the other characters I got to meet along the way – from the lovesick chef Jean-Remy to uptight bistro owner Madame Ecollier to young waitress Laurine, the painter Yann Game, also Paul, Simon, Colette, Marie-Claude – too many characters to name, all with flawed personalities but yet endearing and likeable.
We don’t see a whole lot of books nowadays where the central characters are older generation folks in a sort of reverse coming-of-age story, which I felt was the most unique aspect of this book. Most of the characters were in their 50s and 60s, with a few who were older and only two (it could have been three?) characters who were “young” enough to be the older characters sons or daughters (the younger characters’ exact ages weren’t given in the story but I’m assuming they were in their 30s or 40s?). Even though I’m relatively young in comparisons to majority of the characters in the book, that did not stop me from appreciating the message that the story attempts to deliver: namely that it is never too late to follow your dreams and find true love.
Received ARC from Random House via Penguin First-to-Read program.
The story starts off with a 60-year-old woman named Marianne who has been stuck in a loveless marriage for 41 years and has finally decided that, for once in her life, she would do what she wants to do rather than what others dictate that she do. On a trip to France, she decides to jump into the Seine river in the hopes of ending her life – a decision that she bravely and unhesitatingly makes because it made her feel free and happy and useful for the first time in her adult life. However, it was not meant to be, as she is saved by a homeless man who happened to be nearby and sent to the hospital to recover. When she is reunited with her husband Lothar at the hospital, he not only doesn’t show an ounce of concern for her well-being, he actually berates her for being stupid and ruining his vacation. He then decides to return home to Germany by himself and, as a “punishment” of sorts, he leaves Marianne behind to make the trip back with a psychologist. During her stay at the hospital, Marianne comes across a beautifully painted tile of a place called Kerdruc, which she later finds out is a picturesque little port village in Brittany, on France’s western coast. Inexplicably attracted to the beauty of the town depicted in the tile and still wanting to end her own life, Marianne escapes from the hospital and sets off for Kerdruc with barely anything to her name. Once there, Marianne is surprised and overwhelmed by the warm welcome she receives from the locals, a colorful cast of characters who quickly embrace her into their world and without knowing it, help Marianne get her life back. While at first it might seem like the story should be sad and maybe even depressing due to Marianne’s suicide attempts and the unhappy life that she led for so many years, it actually ends up being far from that. Everything that Marianne experiences in Kerdruc as well as the people she meets there turned the story into a heartwarming, uplifting story of hope and second chances.
I loved the writing in this book and the way the author used just the right amount of descriptiveness to make us feel as though we were there in Kerdruc alongside Marianne. The way the little town was described made me want to visit there someday (though admittedly I know so little about France’s geography that I have no clue whether that town actually exists or not). Aside from the setting though, what really drew me into the story were the characters – not just Marianne, but also the wonderful “supporting” characters who each had side stories of their own, yet did not detract from the main story involving Marianne. I loved reading about each of the characters and even though all of them go through their fair share of issues, it is their attitude of finding happiness in life’s small moments and the spirit of living life to the fullest regardless of whatever setbacks may come their way that made them so endearing to me. My favorite characters were Emile and Pascale Goichon – an elderly couple living in a house in the forest surrounded by dozens of stray cats and dogs. Emile suffers from the early stages of Parkinson’s while Pascale has dementia and at times can barely remember who her husband is, yet the love this couple has for each other spans 50 years and they would go to the ends of the earth for each other if given the chance. I enjoyed reading about this sweet elderly couple, along with all the other characters I got to meet along the way – from the lovesick chef Jean-Remy to uptight bistro owner Madame Ecollier to young waitress Laurine, the painter Yann Game, also Paul, Simon, Colette, Marie-Claude – too many characters to name, all with flawed personalities but yet endearing and likeable.
We don’t see a whole lot of books nowadays where the central characters are older generation folks in a sort of reverse coming-of-age story, which I felt was the most unique aspect of this book. Most of the characters were in their 50s and 60s, with a few who were older and only two (it could have been three?) characters who were “young” enough to be the older characters sons or daughters (the younger characters’ exact ages weren’t given in the story but I’m assuming they were in their 30s or 40s?). Even though I’m relatively young in comparisons to majority of the characters in the book, that did not stop me from appreciating the message that the story attempts to deliver: namely that it is never too late to follow your dreams and find true love.
Received ARC from Random House via Penguin First-to-Read program.
May 31, 2020
Υπάρχουν ορισμένοι συγγραφείς που έχουν το μαγικό χάρισμα να προκαλούν, με την πένα και τις ιστορίες τους, μια πληθώρα συναισθημάτων στον αναγνώστη· η Nina George είναι μια τέτοια συγγραφέας και το «Τραγούδι της σελήνης» είναι ένα τέτοιο βιβλίο.
Κεντρική ηρωίδα η Μαριάνε, μια εξηντάρα Γερμανίδα που νιώθει πως η ζωή της έχει τελειώσει και αποφασίζει να αυτοκτονήσει, πέφτοντας στον Σηκουάνα. Όμως τελικά δεν τα καταφέρνει και τότε συνειδητοποιεί πως η ζωή τής δίνει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία. Έτσι αποφασίζει να αφήσει πίσω της τον εδώ και χρόνια αποτυχημένο γάμο της, τον σύζυγό της που πάντα αδιαφορούσε για την ίδια και τις ανάγκες της και τη μίζερη καθημερινότητά της και να ακολουθήσει τις επιταγές της καρδιάς της. Σπρωγμένη από το ένστικτό της κι από ένα ζωγραφισμένο τουριστικό πλακάκι με ένα μικρό ψαροχώρι της Βρετάνης, αποφασίζει πως πρέπει να επισκεφτεί οπωσδήποτε το μέρος εκείνο.
Φτάνοντας στο Κερντρίκ, η αρχική της απόφαση να δώσει τέλος στη ζωή της αρχίζει να ατονεί. Αντικρίζοντας μια απίστευτη ομορφιά γύρω της, βγαλμένη σαν από κάποιο παραμύθι, και συγκινημένη από τη θερμή υποδοχή των κατοίκων, η Μαριάνε νιώθει, για πρώτη φορά στη ζωή της, πως ανήκει κάπου. Οι κάτοικοι του χωριού είναι κάπως παράξενοι και υπερήφανοι, αλλά επίσης ζεστοί και φιλόξενοι. Από την πρώτη στιγμή την αγκαλιάζουν και τη θεωρούν δικό τους άνθρωπο, αλλά επίσης δείχνουν να εκτιμούν τις ικανότητες και την προσωπικότητά της – κάτι που δεν έκανε ποτέ ο άντρας της.
Σ’ αυτή τη μικρή γωνιά της Βρετάνης, η Μαριάνε θα ανακαλύψει ξανά μερικά από τα ομορφότερα συναισθήματα που υπάρχουν στη ζωή – την αυτοεκτίμηση, τη φιλία, την αφοσίωση σε έναν σκοπό, ακόμα και τον έρωτα. Θα ξαναβρεί τον εαυτό που νόμιζε πως είχε από χρόνια χάσει, θα θυμηθεί πώς είναι να ονειρεύεσαι, να ζεις και να δημιουργείς, να έχεις κάτι να περιμένεις… Θα συνειδητοποιήσει πως είναι μια γυναίκα πολύ πιο δυνατή, ξεχωριστή και δυναμική απ’ όσο νόμιζαν οι γύρω της και η ίδια, αλλά και πως ποτέ στη ζωή δεν είναι αργά για ένα καινούριο ξεκίνημα και για να ζήσεις όλα όσα κάποτε ονειρεύτηκες και δεν τόλμησες να κάνεις. Γιατί η ζωή είναι όμορφη· είναι εκεί έξω και σε περιμένει…
Πραγματικά, δεν ξέρω τι να πρωτοαναφέρω γι’ αυτό το υπέροχο βιβλίο! Ξεχειλίζει ολόκληρο από εικόνες και συναισθήματα. Οι περιγραφές των τοπίων είναι απλά μαγευτικές· έχεις την αίσθηση πως η συγγραφέας σε παίρνει από το χέρι και σε οδηγεί βήμα βήμα σε ολόκληρη τη διαδρομή από το Παρίσι ως το Κερντρίκ. Η Βρετάνη είναι, ούτως ή άλλως, ένα μέρος ιδιαίτερο, γραφικό, πανέμορφο – το ιδανικό σκηνικό για να ξυπνήσει στην ηρωίδα μια νέα θέληση για ζωή, με την ομορφιά του να αποτελεί το μεγαλύτερο κίνητρο για να αναζητήσει και εκείνη με τη σειρά της την εσωτερική ομορφιά που κρύβεται μέσα της. Κάθε αναφορά στην εξοχή, τη θάλασσα, τον ουρανό -τη φύση, γενικότερα- ενισχύει ολοένα περισσότερο την πεποίθηση της Μαριάνε πως αυτό το μέρος παίζει καρμικό ρόλο στη ζωή της.
Όλοι οι ήρωες είναι σκιαγραφημένοι με απόλυτη αληθοφάνεια, και γι’ αυτόν τον λόγο επιτυχημένοι. Είναι ολοκληρωμένοι, ανθρώπινοι, παθιασμένοι, επίμονοι, περήφανοι και πεισματάρηδες· μα, το σπουδαιότερο, με μια καρδιά μεγάλη και τόσο όμορφη, όσο ο τόπος όπου ζουν. Οι περισσότεροι δεν διανύουν πια την πρώτη τους νιότη -έχουν περάσει τα εξήντα, όπως η Μαριάνε- και κάθε μέρα είναι γι’ αυτούς μια αναμέτρηση. Με όσα έζησαν ή δεν πρόλαβαν να ζήσουν, με όσα τους επιφυλάσσει το αύριο, με τους φόβους και τις ελπίδες τους, με τα λάθη που ακόμα τους στοιχειώνουν, με όσα θέλουν να πουν και δεν βρίσκουν τα κατάλληλα λόγια. Στο πρόσωπο της Μαριάνε βλέπουν μια φίλη, μια σύμμαχο, μια γενναία γυναίκα που τόλμησε να αλλάξει τη ζωή της, επειδή δεν της άρεσε άλλο πια. Και παίρνουν δύναμη από αυτήν, κάνοντας εκείνο το βήμα που τόσο ποθούσαν, αλλά έως τώρα δεν τόλμησαν.
Φυσικά, η ίδια η Μαριάνε είναι εκείνη που χαρακτηρίζει ολόκληρο το βιβλίο· εκείνη επέλεξε η συγγραφέας για να ζωγραφίσει επάνω της μια ολόκληρη παλέτα χρωμάτων και συναισθημάτων. Αρχικά, η μορφή της γυναίκας αυτής εξέφραζε τη λύπη, την παραίτηση, τη μελαγχολία και την κατάθλιψη. Χρειάστηκε μια ώθηση και αρκετή τόλμη για να μετατραπεί το μεμψίμοιρο πλάσμα των πρώτων σελίδων σε μια γυναίκα αποφασιστική, σίγουρη για τον εαυτό της και τα θέλω της, αποφασισμένη να διεκδικήσει όλα όσα στερήθηκε στα σαράντα χρόνια που έζησε εγκλωβισμένη σε έναν ανικανοποίητο γάμο. Η Μαριάνε συμβολίζει κάθε γυναίκα που έχει ��ιώσει παρόμοιες καταστάσεις· κάθε γυναίκα που πιστεύει πως είναι αργά για να ονειρευτεί ξανά· κάθε γυναίκα που θεωρεί πως η ζωή την προσπέρασε και δεν υπάρχει χρόνος -ή λόγος- να τρέξει πια πίσω της. Η Μαριάνε είναι μια εικόνα όλων μας, και είναι μια εικόνα άφατης ελπίδας και αισιοδοξίας.
Το «Τραγούδι της σελήνης» είναι ένα από τα ωραιότερα βιβλία του είδους του· ένας ύμνος στην αισιοδοξία, την ελπίδα, την αγάπη, τη φιλία, τα όνειρα… Ένα βιβλίο που αξίζει να μπει στα ράφια σας, όπως οπωσδήποτε θα μπει και στις καρδιές σας!
Κεντρική ηρωίδα η Μαριάνε, μια εξηντάρα Γερμανίδα που νιώθει πως η ζωή της έχει τελειώσει και αποφασίζει να αυτοκτονήσει, πέφτοντας στον Σηκουάνα. Όμως τελικά δεν τα καταφέρνει και τότε συνειδητοποιεί πως η ζωή τής δίνει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία. Έτσι αποφασίζει να αφήσει πίσω της τον εδώ και χρόνια αποτυχημένο γάμο της, τον σύζυγό της που πάντα αδιαφορούσε για την ίδια και τις ανάγκες της και τη μίζερη καθημερινότητά της και να ακολουθήσει τις επιταγές της καρδιάς της. Σπρωγμένη από το ένστικτό της κι από ένα ζωγραφισμένο τουριστικό πλακάκι με ένα μικρό ψαροχώρι της Βρετάνης, αποφασίζει πως πρέπει να επισκεφτεί οπωσδήποτε το μέρος εκείνο.
Φτάνοντας στο Κερντρίκ, η αρχική της απόφαση να δώσει τέλος στη ζωή της αρχίζει να ατονεί. Αντικρίζοντας μια απίστευτη ομορφιά γύρω της, βγαλμένη σαν από κάποιο παραμύθι, και συγκινημένη από τη θερμή υποδοχή των κατοίκων, η Μαριάνε νιώθει, για πρώτη φορά στη ζωή της, πως ανήκει κάπου. Οι κάτοικοι του χωριού είναι κάπως παράξενοι και υπερήφανοι, αλλά επίσης ζεστοί και φιλόξενοι. Από την πρώτη στιγμή την αγκαλιάζουν και τη θεωρούν δικό τους άνθρωπο, αλλά επίσης δείχνουν να εκτιμούν τις ικανότητες και την προσωπικότητά της – κάτι που δεν έκανε ποτέ ο άντρας της.
Σ’ αυτή τη μικρή γωνιά της Βρετάνης, η Μαριάνε θα ανακαλύψει ξανά μερικά από τα ομορφότερα συναισθήματα που υπάρχουν στη ζωή – την αυτοεκτίμηση, τη φιλία, την αφοσίωση σε έναν σκοπό, ακόμα και τον έρωτα. Θα ξαναβρεί τον εαυτό που νόμιζε πως είχε από χρόνια χάσει, θα θυμηθεί πώς είναι να ονειρεύεσαι, να ζεις και να δημιουργείς, να έχεις κάτι να περιμένεις… Θα συνειδητοποιήσει πως είναι μια γυναίκα πολύ πιο δυνατή, ξεχωριστή και δυναμική απ’ όσο νόμιζαν οι γύρω της και η ίδια, αλλά και πως ποτέ στη ζωή δεν είναι αργά για ένα καινούριο ξεκίνημα και για να ζήσεις όλα όσα κάποτε ονειρεύτηκες και δεν τόλμησες να κάνεις. Γιατί η ζωή είναι όμορφη· είναι εκεί έξω και σε περιμένει…
Πραγματικά, δεν ξέρω τι να πρωτοαναφέρω γι’ αυτό το υπέροχο βιβλίο! Ξεχειλίζει ολόκληρο από εικόνες και συναισθήματα. Οι περιγραφές των τοπίων είναι απλά μαγευτικές· έχεις την αίσθηση πως η συγγραφέας σε παίρνει από το χέρι και σε οδηγεί βήμα βήμα σε ολόκληρη τη διαδρομή από το Παρίσι ως το Κερντρίκ. Η Βρετάνη είναι, ούτως ή άλλως, ένα μέρος ιδιαίτερο, γραφικό, πανέμορφο – το ιδανικό σκηνικό για να ξυπνήσει στην ηρωίδα μια νέα θέληση για ζωή, με την ομορφιά του να αποτελεί το μεγαλύτερο κίνητρο για να αναζητήσει και εκείνη με τη σειρά της την εσωτερική ομορφιά που κρύβεται μέσα της. Κάθε αναφορά στην εξοχή, τη θάλασσα, τον ουρανό -τη φύση, γενικότερα- ενισχύει ολοένα περισσότερο την πεποίθηση της Μαριάνε πως αυτό το μέρος παίζει καρμικό ρόλο στη ζωή της.
Όλοι οι ήρωες είναι σκιαγραφημένοι με απόλυτη αληθοφάνεια, και γι’ αυτόν τον λόγο επιτυχημένοι. Είναι ολοκληρωμένοι, ανθρώπινοι, παθιασμένοι, επίμονοι, περήφανοι και πεισματάρηδες· μα, το σπουδαιότερο, με μια καρδιά μεγάλη και τόσο όμορφη, όσο ο τόπος όπου ζουν. Οι περισσότεροι δεν διανύουν πια την πρώτη τους νιότη -έχουν περάσει τα εξήντα, όπως η Μαριάνε- και κάθε μέρα είναι γι’ αυτούς μια αναμέτρηση. Με όσα έζησαν ή δεν πρόλαβαν να ζήσουν, με όσα τους επιφυλάσσει το αύριο, με τους φόβους και τις ελπίδες τους, με τα λάθη που ακόμα τους στοιχειώνουν, με όσα θέλουν να πουν και δεν βρίσκουν τα κατάλληλα λόγια. Στο πρόσωπο της Μαριάνε βλέπουν μια φίλη, μια σύμμαχο, μια γενναία γυναίκα που τόλμησε να αλλάξει τη ζωή της, επειδή δεν της άρεσε άλλο πια. Και παίρνουν δύναμη από αυτήν, κάνοντας εκείνο το βήμα που τόσο ποθούσαν, αλλά έως τώρα δεν τόλμησαν.
Φυσικά, η ίδια η Μαριάνε είναι εκείνη που χαρακτηρίζει ολόκληρο το βιβλίο· εκείνη επέλεξε η συγγραφέας για να ζωγραφίσει επάνω της μια ολόκληρη παλέτα χρωμάτων και συναισθημάτων. Αρχικά, η μορφή της γυναίκας αυτής εξέφραζε τη λύπη, την παραίτηση, τη μελαγχολία και την κατάθλιψη. Χρειάστηκε μια ώθηση και αρκετή τόλμη για να μετατραπεί το μεμψίμοιρο πλάσμα των πρώτων σελίδων σε μια γυναίκα αποφασιστική, σίγουρη για τον εαυτό της και τα θέλω της, αποφασισμένη να διεκδικήσει όλα όσα στερήθηκε στα σαράντα χρόνια που έζησε εγκλωβισμένη σε έναν ανικανοποίητο γάμο. Η Μαριάνε συμβολίζει κάθε γυναίκα που έχει ��ιώσει παρόμοιες καταστάσεις· κάθε γυναίκα που πιστεύει πως είναι αργά για να ονειρευτεί ξανά· κάθε γυναίκα που θεωρεί πως η ζωή την προσπέρασε και δεν υπάρχει χρόνος -ή λόγος- να τρέξει πια πίσω της. Η Μαριάνε είναι μια εικόνα όλων μας, και είναι μια εικόνα άφατης ελπίδας και αισιοδοξίας.
Το «Τραγούδι της σελήνης» είναι ένα από τα ωραιότερα βιβλία του είδους του· ένας ύμνος στην αισιοδοξία, την ελπίδα, την αγάπη, τη φιλία, τα όνειρα… Ένα βιβλίο που αξίζει να μπει στα ράφια σας, όπως οπωσδήποτε θα μπει και στις καρδιές σας!
July 18, 2017
I hesitated buying this book. I had loved Nina George's previous novel, The Little Paris Bookshop, but the synopsis of this one put me off a little. Then, because I loved that earlier one and was looking for something with charm to listen to driving to and from the lake this summer, I bought this one.
Good move, Barbara. Yes, it was heavy at the opening, as I feared from the synopsis. But once I got into it, I got INTO it.
The Little French Bistro is a love story, not only one of romantic love but even more of self-love. The central character is a woman who feels unloved by everything in the world, first and foremost by the man to whom she’s been married for forty years. Her despair is so great that she throws herself into the Seine, intent on drowning. After a good Samaritan thwarts that plan, she stumbles from one experience to the next until she lands on the northwest coast of Brittany, where, little by little she discovers a side of herself that she never imagined. Of course, there is still the husband to contend with, though the woman she has become is very different from the one who disappeared in Paris.
There are a lot of characters in The Little French Bistro, but they are wonderful and diverse. They are good people. And there is humor. The setting is every bit as flavorful as that in Ms. George's earlier book. As the protagonist comes to appreciate the sounds and smells of the coast, as she connects with the water, so do we. There is a tiny element of the supernatural here, but it is done so lightly and works so well with the prose, that even die-hard realists won’t mind.
One late-plot twist involving the protagonist's husband bothered me. I’m not sure I’d have written the story quite this way. But then, this wasn’t my book to write.
Another tiny element bothered me, and if any of you reading this review have thoughts on it, I could use your help. The title is The Little French Bistro. But is there an actual bistro in this book? I listened to the audiobook. Perhaps in a print edition the "restaurant" is occasionally called the "bistro." Yes? No? I understand the author and/or publisher wanting to capitalize on the popularity of the first book by picking a comparable title, and "bistro" has more charm than the plain old "restaurant." But as marketing ploys went, I felt this was too much.
Is The Little French Bistro too predictable, as some critics complained? I didn't think so. The end had twists I did not expect. Still, if this book is viewed as a woman's personal journey, yes, she does find herself. Does a happy ending make a book predictable? Or, conversely, do we need a tragic ending in order to be considered innovative?
Did I like The Little French Bistro as much as I liked The Little Paris Bookshop? Hard to judge. The two are different. One thing is for sure: This new one has a central theme of hope that sticks with me.
Good move, Barbara. Yes, it was heavy at the opening, as I feared from the synopsis. But once I got into it, I got INTO it.
The Little French Bistro is a love story, not only one of romantic love but even more of self-love. The central character is a woman who feels unloved by everything in the world, first and foremost by the man to whom she’s been married for forty years. Her despair is so great that she throws herself into the Seine, intent on drowning. After a good Samaritan thwarts that plan, she stumbles from one experience to the next until she lands on the northwest coast of Brittany, where, little by little she discovers a side of herself that she never imagined. Of course, there is still the husband to contend with, though the woman she has become is very different from the one who disappeared in Paris.
There are a lot of characters in The Little French Bistro, but they are wonderful and diverse. They are good people. And there is humor. The setting is every bit as flavorful as that in Ms. George's earlier book. As the protagonist comes to appreciate the sounds and smells of the coast, as she connects with the water, so do we. There is a tiny element of the supernatural here, but it is done so lightly and works so well with the prose, that even die-hard realists won’t mind.
One late-plot twist involving the protagonist's husband bothered me. I’m not sure I’d have written the story quite this way. But then, this wasn’t my book to write.
Another tiny element bothered me, and if any of you reading this review have thoughts on it, I could use your help. The title is The Little French Bistro. But is there an actual bistro in this book? I listened to the audiobook. Perhaps in a print edition the "restaurant" is occasionally called the "bistro." Yes? No? I understand the author and/or publisher wanting to capitalize on the popularity of the first book by picking a comparable title, and "bistro" has more charm than the plain old "restaurant." But as marketing ploys went, I felt this was too much.
Is The Little French Bistro too predictable, as some critics complained? I didn't think so. The end had twists I did not expect. Still, if this book is viewed as a woman's personal journey, yes, she does find herself. Does a happy ending make a book predictable? Or, conversely, do we need a tragic ending in order to be considered innovative?
Did I like The Little French Bistro as much as I liked The Little Paris Bookshop? Hard to judge. The two are different. One thing is for sure: This new one has a central theme of hope that sticks with me.
May 19, 2019
Nina George has become one of my favorite authors in just two books. I loved this book so much. Lyrical, magical, uplifting, heartbreaking, amazing. All these words and so many more describe this book for me. One I didn't want to put down. A story I didn't want to end. So, so, so, SO beautiful.
March 15, 2017
3 1/2 stars
I had a hard time getting through the Little French Bistro, an unusual occurrence for me. The book was not what I had expected, and the cheery title doesn't match the story. I enjoyed Nina George's The Little Paris Bookshop, and I was expecting something similar from this book.
The book started out in a very depressing way, with Marianne running away from her husband to Paris and trying to kill herself. She gets to the Breton region of France rather improbably, and accidentally becomes a cook in a bistro. She keeps up the running away/changing her mind through most of the book, even after she got into what seemed to be a happy and safe position. I lost patience with her and her attitude.
On the positive side, the descriptions of the Breton region of France were evocative and the rest of the characters were sympathetic and likeable. I like Nina George's writing, but was not fond of this particular book.
My thanks to Crown and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I had a hard time getting through the Little French Bistro, an unusual occurrence for me. The book was not what I had expected, and the cheery title doesn't match the story. I enjoyed Nina George's The Little Paris Bookshop, and I was expecting something similar from this book.
The book started out in a very depressing way, with Marianne running away from her husband to Paris and trying to kill herself. She gets to the Breton region of France rather improbably, and accidentally becomes a cook in a bistro. She keeps up the running away/changing her mind through most of the book, even after she got into what seemed to be a happy and safe position. I lost patience with her and her attitude.
On the positive side, the descriptions of the Breton region of France were evocative and the rest of the characters were sympathetic and likeable. I like Nina George's writing, but was not fond of this particular book.
My thanks to Crown and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
March 9, 2018
alright... so my second attempt at a nina george novel has also not gone well. she's so popular in france and germany. in my first outing (with The Little Paris Bookshop), i thought maybe i just did it wrong, so wanted to try again. i tried. i really did.
this is a very melancholy story which is not really well supported by its plot or characters. i'm not sure if this will make sense to anyone, but it's a novel filled with events yet somehow manages to feel uneventful. the supporting characters were more of a draw for me than marianne... but all were underused and felt very surface-y. i wanted more depth from it all. there are dabblings with magical realism light that don't add much to the overall story. mostly, i am annoyed that, once again, a woman's purpose and strength and value is shown as being found in the love of a man - no matter the skills or talents she amazingly possesses. i did like the setting vey much. so there's that.
this is a very melancholy story which is not really well supported by its plot or characters. i'm not sure if this will make sense to anyone, but it's a novel filled with events yet somehow manages to feel uneventful. the supporting characters were more of a draw for me than marianne... but all were underused and felt very surface-y. i wanted more depth from it all. there are dabblings with magical realism light that don't add much to the overall story. mostly, i am annoyed that, once again, a woman's purpose and strength and value is shown as being found in the love of a man - no matter the skills or talents she amazingly possesses. i did like the setting vey much. so there's that.
June 2, 2017
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Well, that was definitely one lovely journey.
Nina George's books always make me feel two things: 1) that i'm hungry almost every time i pick any of her books up, and 2) that i want to pack a bag and run away somewhere.
Despite the fact that George's books are about adults and the difficulties they face while trying to navigate their lives, i always feel like i'm on an adventure whenever i'm reading a story of hers.
The story of the Little French Bistro was bold, fearless, vibrant, colourful. Not at first, but eventually. And it's one of those books that you read and start writing down places that you want to visit and see, it's one of those books that open your eyes to other parts, traditions and bits of history of different parts of the world. It also never fails to each you a little something extra about life.
June 27, 2023
I want to call this a coming-of-age story, but the main character is 60 years old.
Is it possible to come of age at 60?
When you haven’t lived, but suddenly awaken to life, perhaps this could be true?
I want to believe anything is possible, and this story certainly opens one up to that possibility.
Beautiful, breathtaking prose, romantic, succulent foods, vivid scenery, dreamy settings, realistic lovable characters that are easily connected with and so many life awakening quotable moments.
The main characters are mature, well lived, full of experiences and yet full of wonder.
It truly is a lovely story.
This is the second book I've read from this author, the first being The Little Paris Bookshop.
I loved that one (because as you know I am a fan of any book that professes to be about bookshops and/or libraries), but this one held on to my heart a bit more and never let go.
Is it possible to come of age at 60?
When you haven’t lived, but suddenly awaken to life, perhaps this could be true?
I want to believe anything is possible, and this story certainly opens one up to that possibility.
Beautiful, breathtaking prose, romantic, succulent foods, vivid scenery, dreamy settings, realistic lovable characters that are easily connected with and so many life awakening quotable moments.
The main characters are mature, well lived, full of experiences and yet full of wonder.
It truly is a lovely story.
This is the second book I've read from this author, the first being The Little Paris Bookshop.
I loved that one (because as you know I am a fan of any book that professes to be about bookshops and/or libraries), but this one held on to my heart a bit more and never let go.
October 23, 2019
Loved it - This is story of a woman who has denied herself the right to be an individual, to love and beloved, to have dreams. These denials led to a moment in her life when she decided she had lived long enough. However, she would begin to realize through events, that she had not lived for many years. Once she found joy, love, life and happiness, she had to confront herself to discover whether she deserved this new life. Left me smiling for all the people who became a part of her story... Definitely a must read.
July 26, 2018
Oh I was hoping for this book to be another five star read like Nina George’s other book, The Little Paris Bookshop. Maybe I hyped it up in my head too much and there for it couldn’t live up to what I pictured.
Pros:
The writing was beautiful! A quote that a whole analytical essay could be written on, is: “to expect something greater after life was to forget that life was the greatest thing of all”. What a powerful and beautiful quote!
I found the character Colette intriguing and I wanted more information about her life and story. I really loved that she was the only one to tell the main character, Marianne, the mistake she was making close to the end.
There was a mixture of languages and one of them was French! While there was only basic and minimum French in the book it was still good information to have to for my studies.
Cons:
Too many characters! I was so lost in the beginning.
I rooted for Marianne the whole book, until the ending. How many times does she need to put herself down or let others put her down to know she deserved better?! However, I am glad she found her happiness in the end.
Conclusion: I found this book beautifully written but something was missing and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Pros:
The writing was beautiful! A quote that a whole analytical essay could be written on, is: “to expect something greater after life was to forget that life was the greatest thing of all”. What a powerful and beautiful quote!
I found the character Colette intriguing and I wanted more information about her life and story. I really loved that she was the only one to tell the main character, Marianne, the mistake she was making close to the end.
There was a mixture of languages and one of them was French! While there was only basic and minimum French in the book it was still good information to have to for my studies.
Cons:
Too many characters! I was so lost in the beginning.
I rooted for Marianne the whole book, until the ending. How many times does she need to put herself down or let others put her down to know she deserved better?! However, I am glad she found her happiness in the end.
Conclusion: I found this book beautifully written but something was missing and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
April 19, 2021
Ich liebe Nina Georges Bücher und wie sie Sehnsucht nach LEBEN auslösen können. Wunderbar.
November 21, 2017
Γνωρίσαμε τη Nina George μέσω του "Μικρού Παριζιάνικου Βιβλιοπωλείου" της, ένα βιβλίο που δίχασε το αναγνωστικό κοινό αλλά που κανένας δεν αμφισβήτησε την ιδιαίτερη ταυτότητά του και τον καθαρά προσωπικό του, ξεχωριστό χαρακτήρα. Φέτος, η συγγραφέας, επιστρέφει στην ελληνική αγορά μ' ένα νέο βιβλίο, και πάλι με την υπογραφή των εκδόσεων Κλειδάριθμος, διατηρώντας το ίδιο ύφος κι αισθητική με τα οποία μας συστήθηκε, προσφέροντάς μας μια γλυκόπικρη ιστορία που παντρεύει τον ρεαλισμό και τη μαγεία, την πραγματικότητα με το όνειρο, και που μέσα από μια παράξενη και γεμάτη εμπειρίες, εικόνες και συναισθήματα διαδρομή, μας χαρίζει ένα κομμάτι αισιοδοξίας και πίστης απέναντι στην ίδια τη ζωή και τη δύναμη αυτής, που ίσως να έχουμε ξεχάσει.
Η Μαριάνε ζει μια καθημερινότητα μονότονη, μίζερη, πο�� την πνίγει και της στερεί κάθε διάθεση για ζωή. Εγκλωβισμένη σ' έναν γάμο που δεν της προσφέρει καμία συναισθηματική ασφάλεια, περικυκλωμένη από τα "πρέπει" που δεν αντέχει άλλο πια, παίρνει μια μεγάλη και τρελή απόφαση. Ένα βράδυ, πέφτει στον ποταμό Σηκουάνα. Όμως, αντίθετα με τους σκοπούς της, η Μαριάνε διασώζεται, και η δραματική αυτή εμπειρία την οδηγεί στο ν' αναθεωρήσει τη ζωή και την ύπαρξή της. Σε μια προσπάθεια να ξαναβρεί τον εαυτό της και την χαμένη της αυτοπεποίθηση, θα ταξιδέψει μέχρι στις μαγευτικές ακτές της Βρετάνης. Εκεί, σ' αυτό το νέο για εκείνη, γραφικό και γεμάτο εικόνες τόπο, θα γνωρίσει νέους ανθρώπους, θα θυμηθεί πως είναι να βιώνεις όλα εκείνα τα ανθρώπινα συναισθήματα που σε κάνουν να ονειρεύεσαι και να ελπίζεις, ενώ θα ξαναζήσει τι θα πει ν' αγαπάς και ν' αγαπιέσαι.
Η George έχει ένα μοναδικό χάρισμα να δημιουργεί εικόνες. Οι αφηγήσεις της αποτελούν λογοτεχνικά πορτρέτα, ρεαλιστικές αναπαραστάσεις ανθρώπων και τοποθεσιών που σε ταξιδεύουν σε κόσμους που αν και δεν τους έχεις δει ποτέ από κοντά, νομίζεις πως περιπλανιέσαι στους δρόμους τους, στα μικρά τους σοκάκια. Κάθε εικόνα απ' αυτές είναι πλημμυρισμένη στο φως, στα χρώματα, είναι κεντημένη με νότες και ήχους φυσικούς που σε παρασύρουν σε βήματα ανθρώπινων ψυχών, που στο πέρασμά τους από εκεί κάτι άφησαν πίσω τους, ένα κομμάτι της ψυχής τους που έχει ν' αφηγηθεί ιστορίες και να μοιραστεί συναισθήματα. Εικόνες που αναδίδουν αρώματα βγαλμένα από άλλες εποχές, μ' έναν αέρα νοσταλγίας και μια τρυφερότητα που ζει και τρέφεται με το αίμα των καρδιών εκείνων που την βίωσαν και κατάφεραν, κόντρα στους καιρούς, να την διατηρήσουν βαθιά μέσα τους αλώβητη, ζωντανή, ζεστή και πρόθυμη να εκφραστεί. Αυτό είναι το χάρισμα της George. Να μην αφηγείται απλά ιστορίες, αλλά να γεννά συναισθήματα μέσω αυτών.
Η Μαριάνε είναι μια καθόλα σύγχρονη γυναίκα, ένας άνθρωπος με τον οποίο μπορεί να ταυτιστεί ο καθένας από εμάς, και όχι μόνο όσοι μοιράζονται την ίδια ταυτότητα φύλου μ' εκείνη. Ζει με τους φόβους, τις ανασφάλειες και τις αγωνίες που κάθε άνθρωπος κρύβει βαθιά μέσα του. Τρέφει, ασυνείδητα πολλές φορές, τα άγχη και τις αδυναμίες της, τα χειρότερα σημεία του εαυτού της, ξεχνώντας το πόσο υπέροχη είναι και, κυρίως, το πόσο υπέροχη μπορεί να είναι η ζωή. Εκεί, όμως, είναι που η Βρετάνη, η πραγματική πρωταγωνίστρια της ιστορίας αυτής, μπαίνει στη ζωή της για να της θυμίσει όλα όσα είχε ξεχάσει, όσα είχε λησμονήσει, όσα είχε εγκαταλείψει σε μια γωνιά του μυαλού της επειδή, κατά βάθος, αυτό πίστευε πως ήταν το φυσιολογικό. Η Βρετάνη, και οι υπέροχοι κάτοικοί της, βγαλμένοι σαν από παραμύθι, της κλέβουν την καρδιά και της θυμίζουν πως να είναι ο εαυτός της, πως να είναι ευτυχισμένη, γιατί κάθε άνθρωπος αξίζει να είναι ευτυχισμένος, ακόμα κι αν το ξεχνάει μερικές φορές, ή κάποιες άλλες χάνει το δρόμο του.
Η ζωή είναι αυτό που την κάνεις εσύ να είναι! Αυτό είναι κάτι που πιστεύω ξεκάθαρα και απόλυτα, και πάνω ακριβώς σ' αυτήν την ιδέα θα έλεγα πως βασίζεται και "Το τραγούδι της σελήνης". Γιατί, όπως και το προηγούμενο βιβλίο της George, έτσι κι αυτό, ακριβώς γι' αυτό μιλάει. Για τη ζωή! Για τη δύναμη και τη σπουδαιότητα αυτής, για την αξία που θα έπρεπε να έχει για τον καθέναν από εμάς, γιατί ζούμε μονάχα μια φορά, και στην πορεία της τρελής αυτής διαδρομής, πρέπει να τα δώσουμε όλα, να τα κάνουμε όλα, να τα ζήσουμε όλα, ακόμα κι αν πληγωθούμε, ακόμα κι αν πονέσουμε, γιατί μονάχα αν περάσουμε μέσα από σκοπέλους και θύελλες, θα μπορέσουμε πραγματικά να εκτιμήσουμε τη λιακάδα και τη ζεστασιά αυτής. Γιατί, αν σκέφτεσαι θετικά, αν προσπαθείς κι αν δεν χάνεις την ελπίδα σου, σε κάθε σκοτεινή διαδρομή, στο τέλος, δεν μπορεί παρά να σε περιμένει ο ήλιος. Γι' αυτό να ζείτε την κάθε μέρα, την κάθε στιγμή σας, σαν να μην υπάρχει επόμενη. Να ζείτε να γελάτε, ν' αγαπάτε, να ονειρεύεστε με όλο σας το είναι. Η ζωή είναι εδώ και δεν σηκώνει εκπτώσεις!
Η Μαριάνε ζει μια καθημερινότητα μονότονη, μίζερη, πο�� την πνίγει και της στερεί κάθε διάθεση για ζωή. Εγκλωβισμένη σ' έναν γάμο που δεν της προσφέρει καμία συναισθηματική ασφάλεια, περικυκλωμένη από τα "πρέπει" που δεν αντέχει άλλο πια, παίρνει μια μεγάλη και τρελή απόφαση. Ένα βράδυ, πέφτει στον ποταμό Σηκουάνα. Όμως, αντίθετα με τους σκοπούς της, η Μαριάνε διασώζεται, και η δραματική αυτή εμπειρία την οδηγεί στο ν' αναθεωρήσει τη ζωή και την ύπαρξή της. Σε μια προσπάθεια να ξαναβρεί τον εαυτό της και την χαμένη της αυτοπεποίθηση, θα ταξιδέψει μέχρι στις μαγευτικές ακτές της Βρετάνης. Εκεί, σ' αυτό το νέο για εκείνη, γραφικό και γεμάτο εικόνες τόπο, θα γνωρίσει νέους ανθρώπους, θα θυμηθεί πως είναι να βιώνεις όλα εκείνα τα ανθρώπινα συναισθήματα που σε κάνουν να ονειρεύεσαι και να ελπίζεις, ενώ θα ξαναζήσει τι θα πει ν' αγαπάς και ν' αγαπιέσαι.
Η George έχει ένα μοναδικό χάρισμα να δημιουργεί εικόνες. Οι αφηγήσεις της αποτελούν λογοτεχνικά πορτρέτα, ρεαλιστικές αναπαραστάσεις ανθρώπων και τοποθεσιών που σε ταξιδεύουν σε κόσμους που αν και δεν τους έχεις δει ποτέ από κοντά, νομίζεις πως περιπλανιέσαι στους δρόμους τους, στα μικρά τους σοκάκια. Κάθε εικόνα απ' αυτές είναι πλημμυρισμένη στο φως, στα χρώματα, είναι κεντημένη με νότες και ήχους φυσικούς που σε παρασύρουν σε βήματα ανθρώπινων ψυχών, που στο πέρασμά τους από εκεί κάτι άφησαν πίσω τους, ένα κομμάτι της ψυχής τους που έχει ν' αφηγηθεί ιστορίες και να μοιραστεί συναισθήματα. Εικόνες που αναδίδουν αρώματα βγαλμένα από άλλες εποχές, μ' έναν αέρα νοσταλγίας και μια τρυφερότητα που ζει και τρέφεται με το αίμα των καρδιών εκείνων που την βίωσαν και κατάφεραν, κόντρα στους καιρούς, να την διατηρήσουν βαθιά μέσα τους αλώβητη, ζωντανή, ζεστή και πρόθυμη να εκφραστεί. Αυτό είναι το χάρισμα της George. Να μην αφηγείται απλά ιστορίες, αλλά να γεννά συναισθήματα μέσω αυτών.
Η Μαριάνε είναι μια καθόλα σύγχρονη γυναίκα, ένας άνθρωπος με τον οποίο μπορεί να ταυτιστεί ο καθένας από εμάς, και όχι μόνο όσοι μοιράζονται την ίδια ταυτότητα φύλου μ' εκείνη. Ζει με τους φόβους, τις ανασφάλειες και τις αγωνίες που κάθε άνθρωπος κρύβει βαθιά μέσα του. Τρέφει, ασυνείδητα πολλές φορές, τα άγχη και τις αδυναμίες της, τα χειρότερα σημεία του εαυτού της, ξεχνώντας το πόσο υπέροχη είναι και, κυρίως, το πόσο υπέροχη μπορεί να είναι η ζωή. Εκεί, όμως, είναι που η Βρετάνη, η πραγματική πρωταγωνίστρια της ιστορίας αυτής, μπαίνει στη ζωή της για να της θυμίσει όλα όσα είχε ξεχάσει, όσα είχε λησμονήσει, όσα είχε εγκαταλείψει σε μια γωνιά του μυαλού της επειδή, κατά βάθος, αυτό πίστευε πως ήταν το φυσιολογικό. Η Βρετάνη, και οι υπέροχοι κάτοικοί της, βγαλμένοι σαν από παραμύθι, της κλέβουν την καρδιά και της θυμίζουν πως να είναι ο εαυτός της, πως να είναι ευτυχισμένη, γιατί κάθε άνθρωπος αξίζει να είναι ευτυχισμένος, ακόμα κι αν το ξεχνάει μερικές φορές, ή κάποιες άλλες χάνει το δρόμο του.
Η ζωή είναι αυτό που την κάνεις εσύ να είναι! Αυτό είναι κάτι που πιστεύω ξεκάθαρα και απόλυτα, και πάνω ακριβώς σ' αυτήν την ιδέα θα έλεγα πως βασίζεται και "Το τραγούδι της σελήνης". Γιατί, όπως και το προηγούμενο βιβλίο της George, έτσι κι αυτό, ακριβώς γι' αυτό μιλάει. Για τη ζωή! Για τη δύναμη και τη σπουδαιότητα αυτής, για την αξία που θα έπρεπε να έχει για τον καθέναν από εμάς, γιατί ζούμε μονάχα μια φορά, και στην πορεία της τρελής αυτής διαδρομής, πρέπει να τα δώσουμε όλα, να τα κάνουμε όλα, να τα ζήσουμε όλα, ακόμα κι αν πληγωθούμε, ακόμα κι αν πονέσουμε, γιατί μονάχα αν περάσουμε μέσα από σκοπέλους και θύελλες, θα μπορέσουμε πραγματικά να εκτιμήσουμε τη λιακάδα και τη ζεστασιά αυτής. Γιατί, αν σκέφτεσαι θετικά, αν προσπαθείς κι αν δεν χάνεις την ελπίδα σου, σε κάθε σκοτεινή διαδρομή, στο τέλος, δεν μπορεί παρά να σε περιμένει ο ήλιος. Γι' αυτό να ζείτε την κάθε μέρα, την κάθε στιγμή σας, σαν να μην υπάρχει επόμενη. Να ζείτε να γελάτε, ν' αγαπάτε, να ονειρεύεστε με όλο σας το είναι. Η ζωή είναι εδώ και δεν σηκώνει εκπτώσεις!
March 1, 2017
Marianne and Lothar are in Paris, but even in this vibrant city Lothar manages to kill Marianne's joy and after forty-one years of marriage she can't take it anymore. Lothar doesn't see her, he's unkind, he cheats and he doesn't want his wife to have anything. He has never given her the idea that he loves her. Marianne kept waiting for a gesture, a token of love, but she now knows Lothar will never give it to her. She sacrifices and suffers and there's only one person who can make it stop. That's why she and the Seine become one for a short time. While she thinks this will be the end of her life it's actually only the beginning.
After receiving a sign Marianne travels from Paris to Kerdruc in Bretagne. It's where she thinks she's supposed to be, at least for the time being, for the short existence she still has left. She finds a job in Ar Mor, a restaurant with friendly, but suffering people. Slowly Marianne uncovers a side of herself that went missing in her marriage with Lothar. The healing effects of Kerdruc turn her into a different woman. However, Lothar is still her husband and she isn't in Kerdruc to stay, or is she?
The Little Breton Bistro is a book to fall in love with. It's a story I could and will read over and over again. Marianne never learned to choose herself. She always did what Lothar expected of her and what's left is an empty shell. She has to go through something terrible to be able to hold on to life and maybe even dare living it. I loved her gentleness. She has such a big heart and she only gives and never takes. Her physical and spiritual journeys are both beautiful and it was amazing to see her grow, to become the most she could be. Marianne finds her brave side and discovers how gorgeous she can be, both on the outside and the inside. Age doesn't matter when it comes to finding love and happiness, as long as you're alive it's never too late, and that's an important lesson nobody should ever forget.
Marianne finds the most delightful friends in Kerdruc. The inhabitants of the small coastal village are spirited, generous and caring. They discover love in the most unexpected circumstances and just like Marianne they have to learn to be courageous and they have to open their eyes before they can actually see what's always been right in front of them. That is what I loved the most about The Little Breton Bistro. To truly notice and be noticed is the most scary thing there is, but it's also the most rewarding. I enjoyed reading about every single character and they've all got a special place in my heart.
Nina George has a stunning writing style. Her sentences always manage to enchant me from the very beginning of her stories. She perfectly captures the magic of France and describes Bretagne vividly and accurately. She makes it come to life the way it deserves and I could see the small village, taste the food and breathe in the air, which is something that can only be accomplished by a brilliant storyteller. I loved how Marianne doesn't only embrace her new surroundings, she also becomes part of them. I liked reading about the sea, the traditions and the wonderful celebrations. I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face at the same time. Marianne struggles, but she perseveres and even though her path to become the woman she can be isn't smooth she always finds the right direction. Her life goes from bitter to sweet and back again several times. It's something I could easily feel and sympathize with. The ending of her story is romantic, spellbinding and terrific. It's a lovely surprising finale of a precious plot. I highly recommend The Little Breton Bistro, it's an absolute must-read.
After receiving a sign Marianne travels from Paris to Kerdruc in Bretagne. It's where she thinks she's supposed to be, at least for the time being, for the short existence she still has left. She finds a job in Ar Mor, a restaurant with friendly, but suffering people. Slowly Marianne uncovers a side of herself that went missing in her marriage with Lothar. The healing effects of Kerdruc turn her into a different woman. However, Lothar is still her husband and she isn't in Kerdruc to stay, or is she?
The Little Breton Bistro is a book to fall in love with. It's a story I could and will read over and over again. Marianne never learned to choose herself. She always did what Lothar expected of her and what's left is an empty shell. She has to go through something terrible to be able to hold on to life and maybe even dare living it. I loved her gentleness. She has such a big heart and she only gives and never takes. Her physical and spiritual journeys are both beautiful and it was amazing to see her grow, to become the most she could be. Marianne finds her brave side and discovers how gorgeous she can be, both on the outside and the inside. Age doesn't matter when it comes to finding love and happiness, as long as you're alive it's never too late, and that's an important lesson nobody should ever forget.
Marianne finds the most delightful friends in Kerdruc. The inhabitants of the small coastal village are spirited, generous and caring. They discover love in the most unexpected circumstances and just like Marianne they have to learn to be courageous and they have to open their eyes before they can actually see what's always been right in front of them. That is what I loved the most about The Little Breton Bistro. To truly notice and be noticed is the most scary thing there is, but it's also the most rewarding. I enjoyed reading about every single character and they've all got a special place in my heart.
Nina George has a stunning writing style. Her sentences always manage to enchant me from the very beginning of her stories. She perfectly captures the magic of France and describes Bretagne vividly and accurately. She makes it come to life the way it deserves and I could see the small village, taste the food and breathe in the air, which is something that can only be accomplished by a brilliant storyteller. I loved how Marianne doesn't only embrace her new surroundings, she also becomes part of them. I liked reading about the sea, the traditions and the wonderful celebrations. I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face at the same time. Marianne struggles, but she perseveres and even though her path to become the woman she can be isn't smooth she always finds the right direction. Her life goes from bitter to sweet and back again several times. It's something I could easily feel and sympathize with. The ending of her story is romantic, spellbinding and terrific. It's a lovely surprising finale of a precious plot. I highly recommend The Little Breton Bistro, it's an absolute must-read.
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