Bonjour Tristesse and A Certain Smile by Françoise Sagan

Bonjour Tristesse and A Certain Smile

Françoise Sagan with Rachel Cusk (Contributor), Heather Lloyd (Translator)

240 pages • first pub 1956 (view editions)

fiction classics challenging reflective slow-paced
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A reader drawn to introspective, morally complex narratives exploring the tumultuous interplay of youth, desire, and societal expectations through a lens of elegant, unflinching prose would find these novellas compelling.

Description

Stylish, shimmering and amoral, Sagan's tale of adolescence and betrayal on the French Riviera was her masterpiece, published when she was just eighteen. However, this frank and explicit novella was considered too daring for 1950s Britain, and sex...

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Community Reviews

4.0
based on 1,041 reviews

Moods

reflective: 84%

emotional: 54%

sad: 38%

funny: 29%

lighthearted: 19%

relaxing: 15%

challenging: 13%

dark: 12%

adventurous: 11%

tense: 8%

mysterious: 7%

hopeful: 6%

inspiring: 3%

informative: 2%

Pace

20% of readers chose fast
56% of readers chose medium
22% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

4% of readers chose Plot
22% of readers chose A mix
72% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

30% of readers chose Yes
34% of readers chose Complicated
33% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Loveable characters?

28% of readers chose Yes
41% of readers chose Complicated
29% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Diverse cast of characters?

4% of readers chose Yes
2% of readers chose Complicated
87% of readers chose No
5% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus?

88% of readers chose Yes
10% of readers chose Complicated
1% of readers chose No
Yes
Complicated
No

Content Warnings

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