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Mari et femme
La première chose qui t'étonne lorsque tu ouvres les yeux c'est le plafond de votre chambre. Ça fait des mois que tu dors dans le salon. Tu ne comprends pas. Tu tournes la tête sur le côté, ta femme n'est pas dans le lit. Mais ses longs cheveux blonds s'étalent sous ta joue. Tu ne comprends pas du tout. Tu montes une main pour te gratter la barbe. Ta barbe a disparu. Tu ne respires plus. Tu descends ta main sous le drap. Tu cherches quelque chose entre tes jambes. Tu ne trouves rien. Tu te redresses d'un coup. Tu te tournes vers l'armoire à glace. Tu cries. Ta femme crie à ta place.
- GenresFiction
192 pages, Pocket Book
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 7, 2024
3,5⭐️ rounded up parce que je l’ai lu d’une traite !
July 27, 2008
I got to read this before it came out (August 25th 08) thanks to my internship!
I'd heard a lot about this author ever since the beginning of the internship. Regis de Sa Moreira is somewhat the publishing house's star. I get phone calls from booksellers saying they'd like to get the book before it publishing date, others call to tell us how much they enjoyed the book. I have no doubt that when this comes out, it'll do more than well.
This is the author's fourth book, but it was my first time reading him. And I will give his other books a try that's for sure.
The premise of the book: a couple on the verge of divorce wakes up one morning only to find that they've exchanged bodies. I can't say much more than that without spoiling the book.
The body switch allows the author to do some wonderful things with language. For instance, the man who is in his wife's body can say things like he sees his hand (which is controlled by his wife since she's in his body) rise and slap him in the face. These tricks of language further blur the separation between the two protagonists and, in the end, the author portrays a wonderful image of a couple joined as one. In fact, the body switch also allows for some nice explorations of the opposite gender, how each gender is perceived in Western society, the limitations imposed on each gender, etc.
It's a very short book. I read it in the space of three hours. However, it's a wonderful feel good book. It doesn't go into in-depth explanations or developments. Quite the contrary, it approaches an unusual supernatural situation in a simple and matter of fact way.
Recommended to all those who read French (no word of a translation so far) and who are looking for a fresh and simple read.
I'd heard a lot about this author ever since the beginning of the internship. Regis de Sa Moreira is somewhat the publishing house's star. I get phone calls from booksellers saying they'd like to get the book before it publishing date, others call to tell us how much they enjoyed the book. I have no doubt that when this comes out, it'll do more than well.
This is the author's fourth book, but it was my first time reading him. And I will give his other books a try that's for sure.
The premise of the book: a couple on the verge of divorce wakes up one morning only to find that they've exchanged bodies. I can't say much more than that without spoiling the book.
The body switch allows the author to do some wonderful things with language. For instance, the man who is in his wife's body can say things like he sees his hand (which is controlled by his wife since she's in his body) rise and slap him in the face. These tricks of language further blur the separation between the two protagonists and, in the end, the author portrays a wonderful image of a couple joined as one. In fact, the body switch also allows for some nice explorations of the opposite gender, how each gender is perceived in Western society, the limitations imposed on each gender, etc.
It's a very short book. I read it in the space of three hours. However, it's a wonderful feel good book. It doesn't go into in-depth explanations or developments. Quite the contrary, it approaches an unusual supernatural situation in a simple and matter of fact way.
Recommended to all those who read French (no word of a translation so far) and who are looking for a fresh and simple read.
October 19, 2020
Quelle meilleure façon d'apprécier ce livre choral que de le lire à haute-voix, et en couple? C'est le conseil de lecture passé le conseil de lecture usuel que je me permets de vous faire.
Car dans ce livre, le personnage principal, écrivain en souffrance, va se retrouver à occuper le corps de sa femme, agent littéraire (ça ne s'invente pas) et éprouver en elle, ce sentiment pourtant abstrait au préalable, d'être de l'autre sexe. Passé la cocasserie du postulat, la drôlerie des dialogues qui font tout le sel du livre, on comprend en profondeur, ce qu'un homme parachuté dans un corps qui n'est plus le sien mais pourtant celui qu'il pensait connaître par cœur, peut alors se dire, ce qu'il va vivre de péripéties, ce qu'il va ressentir intimement, et socialement.
Cet auteur n'a pas son pareil pour raconter le couple à travers des bizarreries que l'on accepte sans broncher, il pourrait nous faire avaler n'importe quoi par l'humour de son écriture, tant la véracité qui se dégage de ses personnages nous parle. Il décrit la vie avec poésie, et nous, on la lit avec bonheur!
Car dans ce livre, le personnage principal, écrivain en souffrance, va se retrouver à occuper le corps de sa femme, agent littéraire (ça ne s'invente pas) et éprouver en elle, ce sentiment pourtant abstrait au préalable, d'être de l'autre sexe. Passé la cocasserie du postulat, la drôlerie des dialogues qui font tout le sel du livre, on comprend en profondeur, ce qu'un homme parachuté dans un corps qui n'est plus le sien mais pourtant celui qu'il pensait connaître par cœur, peut alors se dire, ce qu'il va vivre de péripéties, ce qu'il va ressentir intimement, et socialement.
Cet auteur n'a pas son pareil pour raconter le couple à travers des bizarreries que l'on accepte sans broncher, il pourrait nous faire avaler n'importe quoi par l'humour de son écriture, tant la véracité qui se dégage de ses personnages nous parle. Il décrit la vie avec poésie, et nous, on la lit avec bonheur!
April 20, 2021
What would you do if you woke up in the body of the opposite sex?
The idea of body switch is not new. However, the author used the idea wittily - a couple switches body on the verge of getting a divorce and the story gets absurdly funny.
Key words: Empathy. What it is like to live as the opposite sex. Male body, female body, relationship, gender norms, relationships with parents and parents-in-law. Metro and elevator scenes are probably my favorites.
The book is written in French. The short sentences and to-the-point plot development allowed me to have an enjoyable reading experience despite some words I don’t know yet in French.
The idea of body switch is not new. However, the author used the idea wittily - a couple switches body on the verge of getting a divorce and the story gets absurdly funny.
Key words: Empathy. What it is like to live as the opposite sex. Male body, female body, relationship, gender norms, relationships with parents and parents-in-law. Metro and elevator scenes are probably my favorites.
The book is written in French. The short sentences and to-the-point plot development allowed me to have an enjoyable reading experience despite some words I don’t know yet in French.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
Dubitative à la lecture du résumé... j'ai été complètement happée par cette folle histoire d'échange de corps au sein d'un couple au bord de la rupture. L'occasion d'effets de style savoureux à lire, et un récit qui a su rester captivant malgré un sujet qui aurait vite pu tomber dans le cliché. Une belle rencontre !
July 22, 2018
Про отношения, жизнь, самоубийство, любовь и быт. Написано хорошо, но содержательно совершенно не понравилось. Не моё. Физически чувствовала неприязнь к этой книге.
December 12, 2023
Original et marrant!!
January 14, 2013
magistral!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews