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Isabelle, l'aprés-midi
Before Isabelle I knew nothing of sex.
Before Isabelle I knew nothing of freedom.
Before Isabelle I knew nothing of life.
Paris in the early Seventies. Sam, an American student, meets a woman in a bookshop. Isabelle is enigmatic, beautiful, older and, unlike Sam, experienced in love's many contradictions. Sam is instantly smitten - but wary of the wedding ring on her finger.
What begins as a regular arrangement in Isabelle’s tiny Parisian apartment transforms into a true affair of the heart, and one which lasts for decades to come.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a novel that questions what we seek, what we find, what we settle for - and shows how love, when not lived day in, day out, can become the passion of a lifetime.
Before Isabelle I knew nothing of freedom.
Before Isabelle I knew nothing of life.
Paris in the early Seventies. Sam, an American student, meets a woman in a bookshop. Isabelle is enigmatic, beautiful, older and, unlike Sam, experienced in love's many contradictions. Sam is instantly smitten - but wary of the wedding ring on her finger.
What begins as a regular arrangement in Isabelle’s tiny Parisian apartment transforms into a true affair of the heart, and one which lasts for decades to come.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a novel that questions what we seek, what we find, what we settle for - and shows how love, when not lived day in, day out, can become the passion of a lifetime.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2020
142 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Kennedy
138 books1,174 followersDouglas Kennedy was born in Manhattan in 1955. He studied at Bowdoin College, Maine and Trinity College, Dublin, returning to Dublin in 1977 with just a trenchcoat, backpack and $300. He co-founded a theatre company and sold his first play, Shakespeare on Five Dollars a Day, to Radio 4 in 1980. In 1988 he moved to London and published a travel book, Beyond the Pyramids. His debut novel The Dead Heart was published in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
August 22, 2020
I so enjoyed this book!
I enjoyed the last book this author wrote so very much and this one seemed a bit different in subject matter so I went in cautious. I didn’t need to worry though as I loved it.
This is full of turmoil so beware. Your thoughts and emotions will be all over the place, your morals will conflict with your conscience but you will see the sincerity of this story just come shinning through it all.
When these two get together one party knows for sure that this may not end well or be permanent in any way.
I loved the way this was written with so much depth and feeling.
It’s a live story, it’s a story. And a great start to my New Years Reading.
This book is due to be released 9th January 2020
I enjoyed the last book this author wrote so very much and this one seemed a bit different in subject matter so I went in cautious. I didn’t need to worry though as I loved it.
This is full of turmoil so beware. Your thoughts and emotions will be all over the place, your morals will conflict with your conscience but you will see the sincerity of this story just come shinning through it all.
When these two get together one party knows for sure that this may not end well or be permanent in any way.
I loved the way this was written with so much depth and feeling.
It’s a live story, it’s a story. And a great start to my New Years Reading.
This book is due to be released 9th January 2020
August 19, 2022
Купих си романа без да знам нищо за него. Не бях чувала за автора, признавам си. Привлече ме силно корицата, заглавието и първото изречение от анотацията - “Париж в началото на 70-те”. Получих усещане за хубав европейски филм от киномания, който задължително се гледа в “Дом на киното” или “Одеон”. За пореден път се замислих колко качествена литература се издава от Колибри! А аз ще чета още Дъглас Кенеди!
Действието се развива между Франция и Щатите, като историята се оказа много по-сериозна, отколкото очаквах и поставя страшно много теми за размисъл. Книгата не е никак лека. За пръв път не ми се иска да пиша словоизлияния затова ще ви оставя 2 цитата и началото на историята. Ако някой я прочете да ми пише, понеже много ми се дискутира и обсъжда.
——-
❤️ Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за секса.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за свободата.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за Париж - където сексът и свободата са две безкрайни теми.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за живота.
Преди Изабел …
Преди Изабел бях само момче още.
А след Изабел?
След “преди” и преси “след”… това е тъканта на всички истории. Особено онези, включващи интимни дела.
А с Изабел винаги всичко бе интимно.
Дори когато нямаше следобед на преплеплетени тела.
Следобедите и Изабел. ❤️
“Може би след двайсет години, когато наближавам шейсет, ще приема, че разочарованието е част от уравнението на живота.”
“Искаме онова, което не можем да имаме. Получим ли го, можем скоро да разберем, че вече не го искаме. Така е в любовта. И в живота въобще. Голямото преследване. Голямата недостижима мечта.”
——-
Действието се развива между Франция и Щатите, като историята се оказа много по-сериозна, отколкото очаквах и поставя страшно много теми за размисъл. Книгата не е никак лека. За пръв път не ми се иска да пиша словоизлияния затова ще ви оставя 2 цитата и началото на историята. Ако някой я прочете да ми пише, понеже много ми се дискутира и обсъжда.
——-
❤️ Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за секса.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за свободата.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за Париж - където сексът и свободата са две безкрайни теми.
Преди Изабел не знаех нищо за живота.
Преди Изабел …
Преди Изабел бях само момче още.
А след Изабел?
След “преди” и преси “след”… това е тъканта на всички истории. Особено онези, включващи интимни дела.
А с Изабел винаги всичко бе интимно.
Дори когато нямаше следобед на преплеплетени тела.
Следобедите и Изабел. ❤️
“Може би след двайсет години, когато наближавам шейсет, ще приема, че разочарованието е част от уравнението на живота.”
“Искаме онова, което не можем да имаме. Получим ли го, можем скоро да разберем, че вече не го искаме. Така е в любовта. И в живота въобще. Голямото преследване. Голямата недостижима мечта.”
——-
January 13, 2020
I hate to disagree with the previous critiques, but this new one from Douglas Kennedy is a step above a schlock dime-store romance novel. I have liked Kennedy's early work, particularly "The Big Picture", but this is another one (in a long line of them) where he uses the same tired motifs: bad father, distant mother, a tawdry affair, loads of sophomoric and heavy-handed 'philosophies' about 'life'. Kennedy shows his age...and his attempt at skewing his fiction to cater to the tastes of older, lonely women. Skip this one. Try the new Margaret Atwood instead if you're looking for meaningful content.
March 27, 2023
Me ha fallado un poco el ritmo narrativo desigual (bastante lento al comienzo y aceleradísimo hacia el final), pero... me da igual. Me ha encantado la historia, la forma de contarla, las absolutas imperfecciones de los personajes... Un (casi) 10.
December 18, 2019
Be prepared for emotional turmoil…
Be prepared to be bereft…
Isabelle in the Afternoon by Douglas Kennedy is about to be released into the world and it will completely capture your heart and soul.
Due for publication with Hutchinson (Penguin) on January 9th 2020, Isabelle in the Afternoon is described as ‘a novel that questions what we seek, what we find, what we settle for – and shows how love, when not lived day in, day out, can become the passion of a lifetime'
Read on for more…..
Where do I start with my thoughts on this book, this affecting novel that just touched me in so many ways. When reading it, in my mind I was listening to the incredible soundtrack by Gabriel Yared from that classic 1980s French movie Betty Blue (37°2 Le Matin) If you have seen this famous movie, you will know why. If you have never listened to this soundtrack, please do……
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a book that depicts an intense passion, a dramatic love story of two star crossed lovers, a very moving tale of heartbreak and desperation.
Paris in the 1970s was a bohemian place to be, a place to hang out and find oneself. With expectations of impending adulthood ahead and all that that entails, Sam, an American student, wanted to experience this eclectic life before his Harvard education began. Sam’s home-life was stilted. His mother had passed away and his father was a man who expressed very little emotion. On a budget and a dream, Sam headed to Paris. Initially Sam was excited at the prospect ahead but as the days passed, he discovered that Paris alone was a very lonely experience. But a chance meeting in a bookshop with the enigmatic Isabelle was to change Sam’s life forever.
Sam was immediately smitten with Isabelle, this older and beautiful Parisian woman. She was everything he could possibly have dreamed of and more, but Isabelle was different, complex. Her demands from their very first encounter were clear cut. This was to be a ‘classic French arrangement’ otherwise known as a cinq à sept. Sam was to call to Isabelle’s bijoux apartment between the hours of five and seven a few days a week. This was to be a straight forward affair, no ties, no complications. Neither expected what happened next…
Isabelle was married. Her husband was a respected member of Parisian society. She returned to this life after her time with Sam but as the days passed, Sam fell in love with Isabelle. She was passionate, hot-headed, loving and strong willed. Sam wanted her. Sam wanted her for himself only and his jealousy was no longer something he was able to hide. Isabelle was impatient with Sam’s needling, his demands. She admired him, she loved being with him for that two hour slot but for Isabelle that was all their relationship would ever be. She believed in the rules she had established from the beginning of their affair and was not prepared to shift this arrangement in any way.
Isabelle was a fascinating character to read about. Plagued with her own demons and trapped in a very unhappy place, those two hours with Sam gave her the breathing space and the ability to cope with everything else in her life. Isabelle is very French with the cinq à sept arrangement accepted as part of her routine. Her husband, Charles, also had his own dalliances and Isabelle was very accepting of their choices as a married couple.
But for Sam these strict rules were frustrating and upsetting. He was swept along on this insane roller-coaster of emotions, with his intermittent resentment for Isabelle as evident as his passion. As the months passed, the inevitable happened, Sam had to go home, return to his life in the States, leaving Isabelle behind. But Sam’s heart remained in that bijoux apartment with his ardent passion and love for Isabelle forever etched in his heart and mind. Isabelle developed very strong feelings for Sam and, one could say, was, at times, very selfish in her treatment of him. She kept asking from him but never bent to his will, his requests, knowing that he would always come back to her, whenever she would call. But life has a way of intervening and Sam made a decision that would impact his life forever more……
As the years passed, Sam and Isabelle moved on with their lives but the strings that connected them were forever bound tight. Sam became a very successful lawyer but his personal life took a very dark turn with years of heartache and difficulties faced. Relationships were always made in the shadow of his love for Isabelle. They had occasional communication over the years and their passion for each other never lapsed but for Isabelle and Sam, it was a love-story that was continuously plagued by a darkness, an overhanging sadness.
Isabelle and Sam are such captivating characters. Her mood swings, her temperament, his unrequited love, his gentleness are all perfectly depicted in this exquisite tale.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a rare book, one of those very special ones that plays over in your mind, one of those unique books that you know you will read again, perhaps hoping for an alternative outcome whilst, at the same time, knowing there really only can be one…..
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a devastatingly stunning novel. It captures moments that are very rare and very special, almost voyeuristic in their description. It is a very sensual tale portraying the intensity of a love, the ferocity of a passion filled with loss and regret.
Emotional, poignant, intoxicating, beautiful. Please read……
Be prepared to be bereft…
Isabelle in the Afternoon by Douglas Kennedy is about to be released into the world and it will completely capture your heart and soul.
Due for publication with Hutchinson (Penguin) on January 9th 2020, Isabelle in the Afternoon is described as ‘a novel that questions what we seek, what we find, what we settle for – and shows how love, when not lived day in, day out, can become the passion of a lifetime'
Read on for more…..
Where do I start with my thoughts on this book, this affecting novel that just touched me in so many ways. When reading it, in my mind I was listening to the incredible soundtrack by Gabriel Yared from that classic 1980s French movie Betty Blue (37°2 Le Matin) If you have seen this famous movie, you will know why. If you have never listened to this soundtrack, please do……
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a book that depicts an intense passion, a dramatic love story of two star crossed lovers, a very moving tale of heartbreak and desperation.
Paris in the 1970s was a bohemian place to be, a place to hang out and find oneself. With expectations of impending adulthood ahead and all that that entails, Sam, an American student, wanted to experience this eclectic life before his Harvard education began. Sam’s home-life was stilted. His mother had passed away and his father was a man who expressed very little emotion. On a budget and a dream, Sam headed to Paris. Initially Sam was excited at the prospect ahead but as the days passed, he discovered that Paris alone was a very lonely experience. But a chance meeting in a bookshop with the enigmatic Isabelle was to change Sam’s life forever.
Sam was immediately smitten with Isabelle, this older and beautiful Parisian woman. She was everything he could possibly have dreamed of and more, but Isabelle was different, complex. Her demands from their very first encounter were clear cut. This was to be a ‘classic French arrangement’ otherwise known as a cinq à sept. Sam was to call to Isabelle’s bijoux apartment between the hours of five and seven a few days a week. This was to be a straight forward affair, no ties, no complications. Neither expected what happened next…
Isabelle was married. Her husband was a respected member of Parisian society. She returned to this life after her time with Sam but as the days passed, Sam fell in love with Isabelle. She was passionate, hot-headed, loving and strong willed. Sam wanted her. Sam wanted her for himself only and his jealousy was no longer something he was able to hide. Isabelle was impatient with Sam’s needling, his demands. She admired him, she loved being with him for that two hour slot but for Isabelle that was all their relationship would ever be. She believed in the rules she had established from the beginning of their affair and was not prepared to shift this arrangement in any way.
Isabelle was a fascinating character to read about. Plagued with her own demons and trapped in a very unhappy place, those two hours with Sam gave her the breathing space and the ability to cope with everything else in her life. Isabelle is very French with the cinq à sept arrangement accepted as part of her routine. Her husband, Charles, also had his own dalliances and Isabelle was very accepting of their choices as a married couple.
But for Sam these strict rules were frustrating and upsetting. He was swept along on this insane roller-coaster of emotions, with his intermittent resentment for Isabelle as evident as his passion. As the months passed, the inevitable happened, Sam had to go home, return to his life in the States, leaving Isabelle behind. But Sam’s heart remained in that bijoux apartment with his ardent passion and love for Isabelle forever etched in his heart and mind. Isabelle developed very strong feelings for Sam and, one could say, was, at times, very selfish in her treatment of him. She kept asking from him but never bent to his will, his requests, knowing that he would always come back to her, whenever she would call. But life has a way of intervening and Sam made a decision that would impact his life forever more……
As the years passed, Sam and Isabelle moved on with their lives but the strings that connected them were forever bound tight. Sam became a very successful lawyer but his personal life took a very dark turn with years of heartache and difficulties faced. Relationships were always made in the shadow of his love for Isabelle. They had occasional communication over the years and their passion for each other never lapsed but for Isabelle and Sam, it was a love-story that was continuously plagued by a darkness, an overhanging sadness.
Isabelle and Sam are such captivating characters. Her mood swings, her temperament, his unrequited love, his gentleness are all perfectly depicted in this exquisite tale.
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a rare book, one of those very special ones that plays over in your mind, one of those unique books that you know you will read again, perhaps hoping for an alternative outcome whilst, at the same time, knowing there really only can be one…..
Isabelle in the Afternoon is a devastatingly stunning novel. It captures moments that are very rare and very special, almost voyeuristic in their description. It is a very sensual tale portraying the intensity of a love, the ferocity of a passion filled with loss and regret.
Emotional, poignant, intoxicating, beautiful. Please read……
February 15, 2025
"Сантименти, но не сантименталност. И животът напред."
Но животът на човека е толкова самотен, дори когато е свързан с нечий друг...
"Не сме сами в тъмното. Това е, което всички искаме. Нали?"
Но животът на човека е толкова самотен, дори когато е свързан с нечий друг...
"Не сме сами в тъмното. Това е, което всички искаме. Нали?"
January 15, 2020
Catch our #Booktube review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku-aP...
A pas de deux of love (set in PARIS and NEW YORK)
1970s. This is a story of a pas de deus of capricious, profound and long term love. Sam takes a break between school and university and decides to spend a little time in Paris. He meets Isabelle at a book launch event and theirs is a liaison carried out almost daily between the hours of 17.00 and 19.00, or cinq à sept. She sets very clear parameters because she is married and clearly intends to keep the different strands in her life completely separate. Thus, a mere two hours on specified weekdays are given to nurturing an intense affair.
Sam is from the Midwest and is about to embark on law studies as a freshman. He has lost his mother and he has a distant father. Emotionally unavailable parenting is a theme that suffuses the novel. Years of intense study back in the States beckon for Sam and he has to leave behind his formative love, Isabelle, considerably older than him, married and still agonised by the loss of her baby through cot death.
These were the days when electric shock treatment was the go-to remedy for severe Post Natal Depression and once Isabelle has a second child, her husband sanctions the use of the invasive remedy. And still Sam is still beguiled by her and what they have between them. Distance is hard to manage, Isabelle is a committed Parisienne and Sam is not wholly enamoured at being a bit part player in her life. He is soon in a committed couple relationship back in New York with Rebecca, and although he consciously assures her and himself that he is over his relationship in Paris, it is clear he is not. The pull is forever there, buried at times but even a small flutter of connection inflames the whole dance of love once again.
Sporadic contact, fleeting encounters and the odd written exchange ensure that the desire may wither but never fully dies. This is a tender and heartfelt portrayal of a love that has been deeply sown. It is beautifully portrayed, with all its vagaries. Sam is a little disingenuous in his choices of life partners but because of his upbringing he struggles to know that he is loved and fears rejection.
Life and love, inseparable, are poignantly brought to life in the hands of this gifted author.
A pas de deux of love (set in PARIS and NEW YORK)
1970s. This is a story of a pas de deus of capricious, profound and long term love. Sam takes a break between school and university and decides to spend a little time in Paris. He meets Isabelle at a book launch event and theirs is a liaison carried out almost daily between the hours of 17.00 and 19.00, or cinq à sept. She sets very clear parameters because she is married and clearly intends to keep the different strands in her life completely separate. Thus, a mere two hours on specified weekdays are given to nurturing an intense affair.
Sam is from the Midwest and is about to embark on law studies as a freshman. He has lost his mother and he has a distant father. Emotionally unavailable parenting is a theme that suffuses the novel. Years of intense study back in the States beckon for Sam and he has to leave behind his formative love, Isabelle, considerably older than him, married and still agonised by the loss of her baby through cot death.
These were the days when electric shock treatment was the go-to remedy for severe Post Natal Depression and once Isabelle has a second child, her husband sanctions the use of the invasive remedy. And still Sam is still beguiled by her and what they have between them. Distance is hard to manage, Isabelle is a committed Parisienne and Sam is not wholly enamoured at being a bit part player in her life. He is soon in a committed couple relationship back in New York with Rebecca, and although he consciously assures her and himself that he is over his relationship in Paris, it is clear he is not. The pull is forever there, buried at times but even a small flutter of connection inflames the whole dance of love once again.
Sporadic contact, fleeting encounters and the odd written exchange ensure that the desire may wither but never fully dies. This is a tender and heartfelt portrayal of a love that has been deeply sown. It is beautifully portrayed, with all its vagaries. Sam is a little disingenuous in his choices of life partners but because of his upbringing he struggles to know that he is loved and fears rejection.
Life and love, inseparable, are poignantly brought to life in the hands of this gifted author.
January 15, 2020
I tried. I became a fan (being both French/American) of Kennedy's in his "The Big Picture" days. Loved the film version as well. But ever since "Pursuit of Happiness" (not the Will Smith movie), it's as if he keeps writing the same book - he just changes the environment - i.e. Berlin, Morocco, Maine (again), Paris (again), etc.
I read on his Facebook page that he travels often. Perhaps he should lay off the vacations and start working on 'real' literature. I just keep hoping he'll get more philosophical or buck his own brand. But he doesn't. He was such a force years ago. Each book reads like he's just phoning it in...I'm sorry. I hate to say it. It's like he's stopped trying a decade ago - and leans on the same formula.
There are some many more risk-taking novelists out there to spend your time reading.
I read on his Facebook page that he travels often. Perhaps he should lay off the vacations and start working on 'real' literature. I just keep hoping he'll get more philosophical or buck his own brand. But he doesn't. He was such a force years ago. Each book reads like he's just phoning it in...I'm sorry. I hate to say it. It's like he's stopped trying a decade ago - and leans on the same formula.
There are some many more risk-taking novelists out there to spend your time reading.
September 22, 2020
C'est ce que j'appelle une belle histoire d'un amour impossible. C'est, mon premier roman de Douglas Kennedy. J'ai bien aimé.
September 7, 2023
Прекрасна книга! Съжалявам, че по-рано не съм се срещнала с този автор. Не очаквам нищо по-малко и от следващите му книги.
Книгата засяга много дълбоки теми. Героите са комплексни персонажи, майсторски обрисувани. Все още съм под афект на историята и заради това нямам думи да опиша всички чувства, която тя породи в мен.
”Но може би това е още едно от последствията на трагедията: кара те да вярваш, че лустрото на живота не е просто крехко (това си е почти емпирична истина), а ще се пропука и ще те погълне цял в неочакван момент.”
”Но аз по природа съм си романтичен песимист и живея с вярата, че щастието, ако бъде открито, е ужасяващо преходно.”
Книгата засяга много дълбоки теми. Героите са комплексни персонажи, майсторски обрисувани. Все още съм под афект на историята и заради това нямам думи да опиша всички чувства, която тя породи в мен.
”Но може би това е още едно от последствията на трагедията: кара те да вярваш, че лустрото на живота не е просто крехко (това си е почти емпирична истина), а ще се пропука и ще те погълне цял в неочакван момент.”
”Но аз по природа съм си романтичен песимист и живея с вярата, че щастието, ако бъде открито, е ужасяващо преходно.”
April 7, 2025
¡Qué gozada de libro! Lo he disfrutado desde la primera hasta la última página. De esas historias que atrapan, emocionan y te hacen pensar siendo sencilla al mismo tiempo. Una historia de amor, sobre todo, pero también de las pequeñas y grandes desgracias de la vida que van cambiando, inevitablemente, nuestros destinos.
July 2, 2022
That was mostly unmemorable. I cannot say it was a complete waste of my time, but I was not particularly excited about the main character. He was not likeable, nor he was unlikeable enough for me to be invested to know whether the karma would finally get to him. I feel like he was just a lost cause with next to no personality. He is just an Emily-in-Paris wannabe: he gets one Parisian adventure, and somehow from now on this star-crossed lovers type of romance – let's call it that for the lack of a better expression – can justify absolutely anything he does in his life. And objectively, his life was an interesting one to watch, he had to make some hard decisions, but again, that took us nowhere. I am afraid the author didn't fully realize that to write a book you need to take some sort of stance on things, even in case you want your readers to make the choice themselves. But really, what am I to decide on?
November 29, 2024
Великолепна книга! За първи път се докосвам до автора и творчеството му. Избрах книгата съвсем случайно и спонтанно - заради корицата - която ми обещаваше нещо светло и леко, но всъщност получих задълбочен поглед върху личностните отношения - колкото крехки, толкова и химерни понякога, натоварени с очаквания и копнежи за споделеност, разбиране и топлота. Често пъти спъвани от време, хора и обстоятелства. И въпреки всичко винаги със стаена надежда, че може би някой ден...
Любими цитати: "Но аз по природа съм си романтичен песимист и живея с вярата, че щастието - ако бъде открито, - е ужасяващо преходно."
"Никога не подценявайте еротичния заряд на интелигентен разговор с човек, към когото сте изпитали мигновена симпатия и от когото получавате също такова отношение."
"...както сам разбираш, при сърдечните дела всички сме заложници на случайността и на загадката, която представляваме сами за себе си."
"Свадливостта винаги оставя горчив привкус и те ограбва от лустрото на изискано достойнство."
"А когато имаш реалистична перспектива за естеството почти на всичко.. нима това не
е отправна точка за меланхолия? Която, без
страдащите от нея да го осъзнават, не е непременно прокоба, свързана със страдалчество, терзание, покруса и мъченичество. Нито e въпрос
на избор. По-скоро е състояние на духа, поместващо се нейде между диагноза и предразположение, основано на убеждението: приеми безнадеждността и не си мисли, че съществува Светият граал на щастието, който те чака в края на някакъв тъмен тунел. Всичко е бъркотия. И трябва да дадеш най-доброто от себе
си сред тази бъркотия. Но нека никой не очаква
да го правя с перманентна усмивка."
"Но, както и двамата знаем, животът си има своите начини да те разочарова и съкруши и това се засилва с годините."
Любими цитати: "Но аз по природа съм си романтичен песимист и живея с вярата, че щастието - ако бъде открито, - е ужасяващо преходно."
"Никога не подценявайте еротичния заряд на интелигентен разговор с човек, към когото сте изпитали мигновена симпатия и от когото получавате също такова отношение."
"...както сам разбираш, при сърдечните дела всички сме заложници на случайността и на загадката, която представляваме сами за себе си."
"Свадливостта винаги оставя горчив привкус и те ограбва от лустрото на изискано достойнство."
"А когато имаш реалистична перспектива за естеството почти на всичко.. нима това не
е отправна точка за меланхолия? Която, без
страдащите от нея да го осъзнават, не е непременно прокоба, свързана със страдалчество, терзание, покруса и мъченичество. Нито e въпрос
на избор. По-скоро е състояние на духа, поместващо се нейде между диагноза и предразположение, основано на убеждението: приеми безнадеждността и не си мисли, че съществува Светият граал на щастието, който те чака в края на някакъв тъмен тунел. Всичко е бъркотия. И трябва да дадеш най-доброто от себе
си сред тази бъркотия. Но нека никой не очаква
да го правя с перманентна усмивка."
"Но, както и двамата знаем, животът си има своите начини да те разочарова и съкруши и това се засилва с годините."
January 5, 2025
Много хубава книга. Колко заблуждава обаче корицата и анотоцията на гърба. Мислех, че ще прочета лековато четиво за банална любовна история...оказа се, че е проникновено написан, задълбочен и много човечен роман за човешките отношения, за грешките, които правим и заблудите, които всички имаме в търсенето на любов и изграждането на връзки. Прекрасна и интелигентно написана книга, не е никак лека, засяга сериозни въпроси, но е удовлетворяващо, когато човек чете наистина добре написана история, силно препоръчвам!
April 1, 2022
¿ sabes lo que escribió Puccini en los márgenes de La Boheme cuando Mimi está a punto de morir? "sentimiento, no sentimentalismo." y yo, una vez más, he vuelto a caer en lo facilón, como si después de haber leído #losnaufragiosdelcorazon o #losdiasperfectos no hubiese entendido nada. Que la vida va de sentimientos y ellos con su problemática de ser tan abstractos, hacen lo que pueden para materializarse en este mundo sin sentido.
Sam conoce a Isabelle una tarde en una librería de París. Hasta aquí todo de lo más arquetipico. Chico viviendo una aventura lejos de casa conoce a una parisina de pro que, no podía ser de otra forma, está casada, aunque eso no es inconveniente para que se produzca el affaire. Eso sí repleto de reglas imposibles de saltar. Ni siquiera el amor. Porque lo contrario al amor no es el odio sino la comodidad y el miedo. Y parece que es allí donde vive Isabelle camuflándolo todo con el traje de lealtad que es otra forma de amor. Esa lealtad devuelve a Sam a Estados Unidos donde crea su propia familia aunque, y sin saber muy bien como, jamás ha dejado de perder el contacto con Isabelle. Pero si el amor es ciego la vida puede ser muy cruel y hace que los contratiempos se sigan instalando entre Sam e Isabelle. El descubre que su hijo es sordo e Isabelle sufre por el maltrato que recibe su hija y que la lleva a saltar por un puente con consecuencias fatales. Pero como no hay mal que cien años dure, el bufete de abogados donde trabaja Sam lo envía por tiempo indefinido a París y allí de nuevo con las viejas y las nuevas reglas de Isabelle, viven ambos algo parecido a lo que poder llamar amor. Y si fuéramos sentimentales esto acabaría aquí, todos comiendo perdices parisinas. Pero el mundo sigue girando, y la ex mujer de Sam debe ser internada por sus problemas de alcohol con lo que Sam vuelve a Nueva York e Isabelle se queda en París al lado de su hija y su marido. Lo que sea siempre pone un océano de distancia entre ellos. Y tiempo, porque ya hace casi treinta años de su primera cita cuando Sam recibe un correo de París : algo grave le ocurre a Isabelle. Es, otra vez, ahora o nunca. ¿acaso hay sentimiento más grande que el amor?
Ni siquiera sé si esta pregunta está bien formulada pero lo que está claro es que Douglas Kennedy es un maestro narrando los sentimientos y haciendo que la acción ponga al lector patas arriba y al corazón en un puño.
Sam conoce a Isabelle una tarde en una librería de París. Hasta aquí todo de lo más arquetipico. Chico viviendo una aventura lejos de casa conoce a una parisina de pro que, no podía ser de otra forma, está casada, aunque eso no es inconveniente para que se produzca el affaire. Eso sí repleto de reglas imposibles de saltar. Ni siquiera el amor. Porque lo contrario al amor no es el odio sino la comodidad y el miedo. Y parece que es allí donde vive Isabelle camuflándolo todo con el traje de lealtad que es otra forma de amor. Esa lealtad devuelve a Sam a Estados Unidos donde crea su propia familia aunque, y sin saber muy bien como, jamás ha dejado de perder el contacto con Isabelle. Pero si el amor es ciego la vida puede ser muy cruel y hace que los contratiempos se sigan instalando entre Sam e Isabelle. El descubre que su hijo es sordo e Isabelle sufre por el maltrato que recibe su hija y que la lleva a saltar por un puente con consecuencias fatales. Pero como no hay mal que cien años dure, el bufete de abogados donde trabaja Sam lo envía por tiempo indefinido a París y allí de nuevo con las viejas y las nuevas reglas de Isabelle, viven ambos algo parecido a lo que poder llamar amor. Y si fuéramos sentimentales esto acabaría aquí, todos comiendo perdices parisinas. Pero el mundo sigue girando, y la ex mujer de Sam debe ser internada por sus problemas de alcohol con lo que Sam vuelve a Nueva York e Isabelle se queda en París al lado de su hija y su marido. Lo que sea siempre pone un océano de distancia entre ellos. Y tiempo, porque ya hace casi treinta años de su primera cita cuando Sam recibe un correo de París : algo grave le ocurre a Isabelle. Es, otra vez, ahora o nunca. ¿acaso hay sentimiento más grande que el amor?
Ni siquiera sé si esta pregunta está bien formulada pero lo que está claro es que Douglas Kennedy es un maestro narrando los sentimientos y haciendo que la acción ponga al lector patas arriba y al corazón en un puño.
January 15, 2020
I wanted to like this book. The reviews got me going; a long-time relationship, erotic novel (my kind of book). But I found most of the descriptions of sex so OBVIOUSLY written with the male gaze in mind. I'm not saying men can't write about the subject of erotic fiction, but Kennedy's description of carnality reminds me of a teenage boy documenting his experiences in a boyhood journal. Some descriptions of their trysts are flat out laughable. Isabelle (as a character) is a cardboard cut-out of an adolescent fantasy. And Sam, well...is probably a stand in for the author. Two stars
June 1, 2020
Best book I've read so far this year. Douglas Kennedy is hugely underrated. For my money he's the best male writer of romance on the planet - and his sex scenes are convincing, rather than icky. But there's so much more to his novels than 'just' a love story. No idea why he doesn't have the same sort of reach as Nicholas Sparks . . . and he is SO much better.
This book and almost everything on his backlist is hugely recommended.
This book and almost everything on his backlist is hugely recommended.
June 29, 2022
Като видях , че има нова книга на Дъглас Кенеди , направо получих душевен оргазъм. Толкова дълго чаках да издадат нещо негово. Малко е да се каже, че харесвам този автор. Чувствам го много близък с огромната му емпатия . Този път не успя да ми въздейства силно, може би защото историята е написана някак равно, без резки амплитуди. Сигурно и защото , приемам нещата по-философски . Но ме натъжи. Продължавам мислено да споря с автора и неговите заключения.
February 18, 2020
The title is "Isabelle in the afternoon" by Douglas Kennedy. Great book : I could not put it down. Lots of intelligent insights about life. Almost philosophical. I think it may be my favourite book from Douglas Kennedy!
March 6, 2023
An emotional roller coaster of a read. Sat in the hairdressers a gibbering wreck. Totally drained but adored this book, a whole series of what ifs.
July 23, 2023
Hacía tiempo que quería leer a Douglas Kennedy, autor con entusiastas seguidores. Entiendo de dónde surge la pasión, y es que este libro se devora, pero sin empacharse: lo vas degustando placenteramente, sin prisa pero sin pausa.
Diría que más que una novela de amor, trata sobre la insatisfacción vital de algunas personas, a las que les cuesta horrores conseguir cierto sosiego interior porque nunca están contentos con su presente.
Esta insatisfacción vital la padecen ambos protagonistas, Sam e Isabelle. Sam busca continuamente a la mujer “perfecta”, sin ser consciente de que tal cosa no existe, y eso le hace volver continuamente a Isabelle, la única relación que no puede abrazar por completo. Isabelle se lamenta de su desapasionada vida, pero no es capaz de hacer nada para cambiarla.
Y esa es la maldición de los dos protagonistas: proyectarse continuamente en un futuro ideal, en un contexto imaginado en el que vuelcan sus esperanzas de conseguir la tan mitificada felicidad.
Diría que más que una novela de amor, trata sobre la insatisfacción vital de algunas personas, a las que les cuesta horrores conseguir cierto sosiego interior porque nunca están contentos con su presente.
Esta insatisfacción vital la padecen ambos protagonistas, Sam e Isabelle. Sam busca continuamente a la mujer “perfecta”, sin ser consciente de que tal cosa no existe, y eso le hace volver continuamente a Isabelle, la única relación que no puede abrazar por completo. Isabelle se lamenta de su desapasionada vida, pero no es capaz de hacer nada para cambiarla.
Y esa es la maldición de los dos protagonistas: proyectarse continuamente en un futuro ideal, en un contexto imaginado en el que vuelcan sus esperanzas de conseguir la tan mitificada felicidad.
October 18, 2022
"Ansiamos aquello que no podemos tener y, al mismo tiempo, nos preguntamos si lo que tenemos, que nos aporta mucho más de lo que siempre hemos querido, es demasiado fácil. Sigue el curso de esa lógica retorcida, un juego de espejos contradictorios, y acabarás con carencias en todos los frentes. Persiguiendo el amor como si fuera una fantasía escurridiza en lugar de algo serio y estable".
Me recomendaron este libro después de leer "Los naufragios del corazón" así que estaba preparada para otro machete emocional (y así ha sido).
Ay Sam 💔, su historia me ha atrapado desde el principio y no he podido soltarla.
Me recomendaron este libro después de leer "Los naufragios del corazón" así que estaba preparada para otro machete emocional (y así ha sido).
Ay Sam 💔, su historia me ha atrapado desde el principio y no he podido soltarla.
December 5, 2021
Vaya descubrimiento.Este escritor escribe de una manera espectacular.
Una historia realista con unos giros que te hacen querer tirarte de los pelos página tras página.
Sin duda no será lo último que lea del autor.
Una historia realista con unos giros que te hacen querer tirarte de los pelos página tras página.
Sin duda no será lo último que lea del autor.
November 12, 2021
Empieza fuerte, te atrapa y a medida que avanza se disuelve como un azucarillo. Pero Kennedy tiene una pluma que te arrastra y poco importa qué cuenta
February 15, 2024
Este es un relato de amor desesperado, apasionado y tenaz entre dos personajes que no podían ser más opuestos. ¿Por qué nos aferramos a lo imposible? ¿Somos más felices en la esperanza de lo que no podemos alcanzar que en el deseo realizado?
El libro va de historias que nos marcan y no podemos soltar, de idiomas que se aprehenden y no sólo se aprenden. Pero también es una declaración de amor a París, sus cafeterías, sus librerías y sus calles donde así, por casualidad, un encuentro te puede cambiar la vida.
He disfrutado enormemente este libro, he reído y llorado con las experiencias de Isabelle y Samuel, tan parecidas a las de cualquiera.
El libro va de historias que nos marcan y no podemos soltar, de idiomas que se aprehenden y no sólo se aprenden. Pero también es una declaración de amor a París, sus cafeterías, sus librerías y sus calles donde así, por casualidad, un encuentro te puede cambiar la vida.
He disfrutado enormemente este libro, he reído y llorado con las experiencias de Isabelle y Samuel, tan parecidas a las de cualquiera.
February 9, 2024
Un libro que habla del apego, la toxicidad y el egoismo
Desesperante a más no poder...
Desesperante a más no poder...
March 30, 2020
I shouldn't have read the review before I read this as I was very skeptical about this one. At first I thought it was a bit superficial and mainly from a male point of view but ....
By the time I finished it which was in the early hours of the morning ..... It really made me think and take stock.
What is love?
What are we looking for?
How should we treat our partner?
What's important in life?
By the time I finished it which was in the early hours of the morning ..... It really made me think and take stock.
What is love?
What are we looking for?
How should we treat our partner?
What's important in life?
February 9, 2020
Disappointing and depressing. Law student/lawyer is involved with two mentally unstable women. Perhaps a small glimmer of hope on the last page!
November 8, 2020
Décevant. J'avais un meilleur souvenir des livres de Douglas Kennedy.
Je n'ai trouvé aucune profondeur dans ces personnages très égocentrés.
Je n'ai trouvé aucune profondeur dans ces personnages très égocentrés.
November 4, 2023
"Isabelle in the Afternoon" by Douglas Kennedy takes readers on an emotional journey through the complexities of love, longing, and the human desire for connection. Kennedy's prose is both poignant and introspective, often exploring the nuances of relationships, freedom, and the passage of time.
The novel's protagonist finds himself in Paris, experiencing both the excitement and isolation that comes with being in a foreign land. The line, "Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom," beautifully encapsulates the protagonist's feelings of uncertainty and the wide-open possibilities that come with newfound independence.
Throughout the story, the author delves into the concept of happiness and the idea that sometimes our inner struggles are not tied to external circumstances. The sense of sadness, even in the midst of adventure, is described as a "stubborn stain" that refuses to fade, reminding us that personal battles can persist despite external changes.
Kennedy also explores the complexities of relationships and how people can sometimes find themselves repeating patterns as if compelled by an innate human need. This theme is brilliantly summarized with the phrase, "The human need to repeat."
The novel delves into the intricacies of timing and destiny, questioning whether love and connection are often thwarted by unfortunate timing. The yearning for something just out of reach and the bittersweet quality of romantic hope are examined with thoughtfulness.
As the story unfolds, it highlights the idea that there is freedom in stability, and that "reasonable" can be a worthy aspiration. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the idea that, even in challenging situations, individuals have the power to improve their own lives.
The novel also touches on the fragility of life and the desire to leave behind no trace, as expressed in the protagonist's wish to "disappear" without any memorial. The book's closing lines evoke a sense of contemplation and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
"Isabelle in the Afternoon" is a novel that resonates with those who appreciate introspective and beautifully written literature. It explores the human condition, the complexities of relationships, and the pursuit of happiness with depth and sensitivity. Douglas Kennedy's prose captures the essence of life's challenges and the ever-elusive search for meaning and connection.
The novel's protagonist finds himself in Paris, experiencing both the excitement and isolation that comes with being in a foreign land. The line, "Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom," beautifully encapsulates the protagonist's feelings of uncertainty and the wide-open possibilities that come with newfound independence.
Throughout the story, the author delves into the concept of happiness and the idea that sometimes our inner struggles are not tied to external circumstances. The sense of sadness, even in the midst of adventure, is described as a "stubborn stain" that refuses to fade, reminding us that personal battles can persist despite external changes.
Kennedy also explores the complexities of relationships and how people can sometimes find themselves repeating patterns as if compelled by an innate human need. This theme is brilliantly summarized with the phrase, "The human need to repeat."
The novel delves into the intricacies of timing and destiny, questioning whether love and connection are often thwarted by unfortunate timing. The yearning for something just out of reach and the bittersweet quality of romantic hope are examined with thoughtfulness.
As the story unfolds, it highlights the idea that there is freedom in stability, and that "reasonable" can be a worthy aspiration. It emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the idea that, even in challenging situations, individuals have the power to improve their own lives.
The novel also touches on the fragility of life and the desire to leave behind no trace, as expressed in the protagonist's wish to "disappear" without any memorial. The book's closing lines evoke a sense of contemplation and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
"Isabelle in the Afternoon" is a novel that resonates with those who appreciate introspective and beautifully written literature. It explores the human condition, the complexities of relationships, and the pursuit of happiness with depth and sensitivity. Douglas Kennedy's prose captures the essence of life's challenges and the ever-elusive search for meaning and connection.
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