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廿亘鬲爻丕賲丞 賲丕
Sagan's second novel tells the story of Dominique, a bored twenty year old law student at the Sorbonne in mid-1950's Paris, who embarks on a love affair with a middle-aged man.
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First published January 1, 1955
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About the author
Fran莽oise Sagan
205听books1,555听followersBorn Fran莽oise Quoirez, Sagan grew up in a French Catholic, bourgeois family. She was an independent thinker and avid reader as a young girl, and upon failing her examinations for continuing at the Sorbonne, she became a writer.
She went to her family's home in the south of France and wrote her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, at age 18. She submitted it to Editions Juillard in January 1954 and it was published that March. Later that year, She won the Prix des Critiques for Bonjour Tristesse.
She chose "Sagan" as her pen name because she liked the sound of it and also liked the reference to the Prince and Princesse de Sagan, 19th century Parisians, who are said to be the basis of some of Marcel Proust's characters.
She was known for her love of drinking, gambling, and fast driving. Her habit of driving fast was moderated after a serious car accident in 1957 involving her Aston Martin while she was living in Milly, France.
Sagan was twice married and divorced, and subsequently maintained several long-term lesbian relationships. First married in 1958 to Guy Schoeller, a publisher, they divorced in 1960, and she was then married to Robert James Westhoff, an American ceramicist and sculptor, from 1962 to 63. She had one son, Denis, from her second marriage.
She won the Prix de Monaco in 1984 in recognition of all of her work.
She went to her family's home in the south of France and wrote her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, at age 18. She submitted it to Editions Juillard in January 1954 and it was published that March. Later that year, She won the Prix des Critiques for Bonjour Tristesse.
She chose "Sagan" as her pen name because she liked the sound of it and also liked the reference to the Prince and Princesse de Sagan, 19th century Parisians, who are said to be the basis of some of Marcel Proust's characters.
She was known for her love of drinking, gambling, and fast driving. Her habit of driving fast was moderated after a serious car accident in 1957 involving her Aston Martin while she was living in Milly, France.
Sagan was twice married and divorced, and subsequently maintained several long-term lesbian relationships. First married in 1958 to Guy Schoeller, a publisher, they divorced in 1960, and she was then married to Robert James Westhoff, an American ceramicist and sculptor, from 1962 to 63. She had one son, Denis, from her second marriage.
She won the Prix de Monaco in 1984 in recognition of all of her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 658 reviews
September 3, 2024
3.5
Happiness is a flat expanse without landmarks.
'A Certain Smile' is a simple story about a young student by the name of Dominique, who meets and falls in love with her lover鈥檚 uncle.
I was fine, and yet, inside me, like some warm, living creature, there was always that hankering for languor, solitude and sometimes exaltation.
Like in her first book 鈥楤onjour Tristesse鈥�, the main focus of the story is on the young narrator and her feelings of lassitude, boredom and recklessness, her disregard for the passage of time, her craving to maintain her distinct reality and her search for a kindred spirit.
Perhaps, for people like me, happiness is no more than a kind of absence, an absence of worry, a reassuring absence.
Happiness is a flat expanse without landmarks.
'A Certain Smile' is a simple story about a young student by the name of Dominique, who meets and falls in love with her lover鈥檚 uncle.
I was fine, and yet, inside me, like some warm, living creature, there was always that hankering for languor, solitude and sometimes exaltation.
Like in her first book 鈥楤onjour Tristesse鈥�, the main focus of the story is on the young narrator and her feelings of lassitude, boredom and recklessness, her disregard for the passage of time, her craving to maintain her distinct reality and her search for a kindred spirit.
Perhaps, for people like me, happiness is no more than a kind of absence, an absence of worry, a reassuring absence.
March 8, 2010
This is a sweet little novel about a young girl's willing rush into love with a married man despite knowing that peril awaits, but not experienced enough to know the full consequences of heartbreak. There's a purity to this that is both artful and artless, and because it succeeds at what it sets out to do, I'm willing to overlook its faults. The book is about a brief affair; it should be viewed as a lovely, fleeting wisp, like a firefly in a summer dusk. The language is simple and thoughtful, the narrative is spare and uncluttered. Sagan gets to the essence of things beautifully. In the spirit of the book, I'm keeping it short and sweet. I loved this.
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September 25, 2020" 鈥徹Ｘ官� 噩賷丿丕賸貙 賴匕賴 丕賱賱毓亘丞 - 廿賳 賰丕賳鬲 賲賵噩賵丿丞貙 廿賳 賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱賲賳胤賯 丕賱丨丿賷孬 毓賳 賱毓亘丞 亘賷賳 丕孬賳賷賳 賲毓噩賻亘賻賷賳 亘亘毓囟賴賲丕 亘毓囟丕賸貙 賮賷 賵爻毓 賰賱賷賴賲丕 爻丿 孬睾乇丞 賵賱賵 賲丐賯鬲丕賸 賱丿賶 丕賱丌禺乇 賵賷賰賵賳 賱賴 毓賵賳丕賸 毓賱賶 賵丨丿鬲賴 - 賴匕賴 丕賱賱毓亘丞 丕賱禺胤賷乇丞. "
丿賵賲賷賳賷賰 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 馗賳鬲 兀賳賴丕 賱毓亘丞 賲爻賱賷丞 賵兀賳賴丕 賯丿 賵毓鬲賴丕 賵賮賴賲鬲 兀亘毓丕丿賴丕貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 賮鬲丕丞 丨丕賱賲丞 卮賻乇賵丿 賮賷 賲賯鬲亘賱 賮鬲乇丞 丕賱鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 賳賮爻賴丕 賵毓賱賶 毓賵丕胤賮賴丕 丕賱兀賳孬賵賷丞貙 賮鬲爻亘亘鬲 賱乇賵丨賴丕 丕賱睾囟丞 亘亘毓囟 丕賱丌賱丕賲 賵丕賱丕賳賰爻丕乇丕鬲貙 丕賱鬲賷 爻鬲購卮賮賶 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賳 鬲購賳爻賶.
亘氐乇賮 丕賱賳馗乇 毓賳 廿胤丕乇 丕賱賯氐丞貙 兀噩丿 賮賷賴丕 賲乇丌丞 賱賲乇丨賱丞 丕賰鬲卮丕賮 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賱賲卮丕毓乇賴丕貙 賵丕賱鬲賵賴丕賳貨 亘賷賳 賲丕 賷賱丨 毓賱賷賴丕 賱禺賵囟 丕賱賲睾丕賲乇丞貙 賵賲丕 賷賲賱賷賴 毓賱賷賴丕 毓賯賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱兀丨賰丕賲貙 賵賲丕 賷乇睾亘 亘賴 賯賱亘賴丕 賲賳 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞. 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲乇丨賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲噩賴 賮賷賴丕 賳丨賵 賲丕 鬲馗賳賴 丕賱兀賲丕賳貙 賮鬲噩丿 丕賱禺胤乇. 鬲賮毓賱 賲丕 賷購賮鬲乇囟 兀賳賴 爻賷賮乇丨賴丕貙 賮鬲賳賴丕賱 毓賱賷賴丕 丕賱兀丨夭丕賳. 鬲馗賳 兀賳 丕賱賱丨馗丞 爻鬲丿賵賲貙 賮鬲鬲亘禺乇. 賱賰賳 亘毓丿賴丕 爻鬲賳賴囟 賮鬲丕丞賸 兀禺乇賶 兀賰孬乇 賵毓賷丕賸 亘賲丕 鬲乇賷丿貙 賵兀賰孬乇 鬲賯丿賷乇丕賸 賱賲賵丕胤賳 賯賵鬲賴丕 賵囟毓賮賴丕 賰匕賱賰.
" 賰賳鬲 丕賲乇兀丞 兀丨亘鬲 乇噩賱丕賸貙 廿賳賴丕 丨賰丕賷丞 亘爻賷胤丞貨 賱賷爻 孬賲丞 賲丕 賷亘乇乇 乇爻賲 鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賱賶 丕賱賵噩賴. "
丕賱賳馗乇丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 鬲購乇賷 丕賱賯丕乇卅 卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱匕賰乇 丕賱賲毓卮賵賯 賰賲丨賵乇 賱賱毓賲賱貙 賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇 賮賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 爻賷毓乇賮 兀賳賴丕 孬丕賳賵賷丞 賵毓丕亘乇丞.
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賯賵賱 賱賰賽 兀賳賴 賱賷爻 賱賱兀賳孬賶 睾賷乇 賳賮爻賴丕貙 賵卮賯賷賯鬲賴丕 丕賱兀賳孬賶. 兀賳 賲丕 鬲賲 丕賱鬲乇賵賷噩 賱賴 賲賳 賮賰乇丞 丕賱鬲賳丕賮爻 賵丕賱睾賷乇丞 丕賱兀賳孬賵賷丞 賲丨囟 鬲卮賵賷賴 賵丕賮鬲乇丕亍. 賵兀賳 賲賳 賱丿賷賴丕 賰賱 丕賱兀爻亘丕亘 賱毓丿丕賵鬲賰賽 爻鬲噩丿賷賳賴丕 兀賵賱 賲賳 賷丨鬲囟賳賰賽 賵賷胤亘胤亘 毓賱賷賰賽 賮賷 賵賯鬲 丨丕噩鬲賰賽. 賱賲丕匕丕 責責 賱兀賳賴丕 賲孬賱賰賽貙 賱兀賳賴丕 鬲毓乇賮賰賽貙 賵賱兀賳賴丕 卮乇賷賰鬲賰賽 賮賷 丕賱丌賱丕賲 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 賵丕賱爻毓丕丿丕鬲 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 胤賵丕賱 乇丨賱丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞.
賴匕賴 賱賷爻鬲 賯氐丞 丨亘 亘丕卅爻丞貙 賴匕賴 乇賵丕賷丞 賳爻賵賷丞 亘丕賲鬲賷丕夭.
鬲賳賵賷賴: 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 囟毓賷賮丞. ( 鬲乇噩賲丞: 賲丨賲丿 賮胤賵賲賷 / 丿丕乇 丕賱賲丿賶 )
丿賵賲賷賳賷賰 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 馗賳鬲 兀賳賴丕 賱毓亘丞 賲爻賱賷丞 賵兀賳賴丕 賯丿 賵毓鬲賴丕 賵賮賴賲鬲 兀亘毓丕丿賴丕貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 賮鬲丕丞 丨丕賱賲丞 卮賻乇賵丿 賮賷 賲賯鬲亘賱 賮鬲乇丞 丕賱鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賶 賳賮爻賴丕 賵毓賱賶 毓賵丕胤賮賴丕 丕賱兀賳孬賵賷丞貙 賮鬲爻亘亘鬲 賱乇賵丨賴丕 丕賱睾囟丞 亘亘毓囟 丕賱丌賱丕賲 賵丕賱丕賳賰爻丕乇丕鬲貙 丕賱鬲賷 爻鬲購卮賮賶 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賳 鬲購賳爻賶.
亘氐乇賮 丕賱賳馗乇 毓賳 廿胤丕乇 丕賱賯氐丞貙 兀噩丿 賮賷賴丕 賲乇丌丞 賱賲乇丨賱丞 丕賰鬲卮丕賮 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賱賲卮丕毓乇賴丕貙 賵丕賱鬲賵賴丕賳貨 亘賷賳 賲丕 賷賱丨 毓賱賷賴丕 賱禺賵囟 丕賱賲睾丕賲乇丞貙 賵賲丕 賷賲賱賷賴 毓賱賷賴丕 毓賯賱賴丕 賲賳 丕賱兀丨賰丕賲貙 賵賲丕 賷乇睾亘 亘賴 賯賱亘賴丕 賲賳 丕賱爻毓丕丿丞. 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲乇丨賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲噩賴 賮賷賴丕 賳丨賵 賲丕 鬲馗賳賴 丕賱兀賲丕賳貙 賮鬲噩丿 丕賱禺胤乇. 鬲賮毓賱 賲丕 賷購賮鬲乇囟 兀賳賴 爻賷賮乇丨賴丕貙 賮鬲賳賴丕賱 毓賱賷賴丕 丕賱兀丨夭丕賳. 鬲馗賳 兀賳 丕賱賱丨馗丞 爻鬲丿賵賲貙 賮鬲鬲亘禺乇. 賱賰賳 亘毓丿賴丕 爻鬲賳賴囟 賮鬲丕丞賸 兀禺乇賶 兀賰孬乇 賵毓賷丕賸 亘賲丕 鬲乇賷丿貙 賵兀賰孬乇 鬲賯丿賷乇丕賸 賱賲賵丕胤賳 賯賵鬲賴丕 賵囟毓賮賴丕 賰匕賱賰.
" 賰賳鬲 丕賲乇兀丞 兀丨亘鬲 乇噩賱丕賸貙 廿賳賴丕 丨賰丕賷丞 亘爻賷胤丞貨 賱賷爻 孬賲丞 賲丕 賷亘乇乇 乇爻賲 鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賱賶 丕賱賵噩賴. "
丕賱賳馗乇丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 鬲購乇賷 丕賱賯丕乇卅 卮禺氐賷丞 丕賱匕賰乇 丕賱賲毓卮賵賯 賰賲丨賵乇 賱賱毓賲賱貙 賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇 賮賷 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 爻賷毓乇賮 兀賳賴丕 孬丕賳賵賷丞 賵毓丕亘乇丞.
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲賯賵賱 賱賰賽 兀賳賴 賱賷爻 賱賱兀賳孬賶 睾賷乇 賳賮爻賴丕貙 賵卮賯賷賯鬲賴丕 丕賱兀賳孬賶. 兀賳 賲丕 鬲賲 丕賱鬲乇賵賷噩 賱賴 賲賳 賮賰乇丞 丕賱鬲賳丕賮爻 賵丕賱睾賷乇丞 丕賱兀賳孬賵賷丞 賲丨囟 鬲卮賵賷賴 賵丕賮鬲乇丕亍. 賵兀賳 賲賳 賱丿賷賴丕 賰賱 丕賱兀爻亘丕亘 賱毓丿丕賵鬲賰賽 爻鬲噩丿賷賳賴丕 兀賵賱 賲賳 賷丨鬲囟賳賰賽 賵賷胤亘胤亘 毓賱賷賰賽 賮賷 賵賯鬲 丨丕噩鬲賰賽. 賱賲丕匕丕 責責 賱兀賳賴丕 賲孬賱賰賽貙 賱兀賳賴丕 鬲毓乇賮賰賽貙 賵賱兀賳賴丕 卮乇賷賰鬲賰賽 賮賷 丕賱丌賱丕賲 丕賱賰亘賷乇丞 賵丕賱爻毓丕丿丕鬲 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 胤賵丕賱 乇丨賱丞 丕賱丨賷丕丞.
賴匕賴 賱賷爻鬲 賯氐丞 丨亘 亘丕卅爻丞貙 賴匕賴 乇賵丕賷丞 賳爻賵賷丞 亘丕賲鬲賷丕夭.
鬲賳賵賷賴: 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 囟毓賷賮丞. ( 鬲乇噩賲丞: 賲丨賲丿 賮胤賵賲賷 / 丿丕乇 丕賱賲丿賶 )
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賵噩丿鬲賳賷 兀賯賵賱 丿賵賳賲丕 鬲賮賰賷乇 ..丕賱爻購賰乇 丕賱賲購乇...兀噩賱 賴賵 賰匕賱賰 丨賯丕賸..
睾乇賷亘 丕賲乇 丕賱賷兀爻 ...睾乇賷亘 兀賲乇賴 丨賷賳 賷賳噩賵 賲賳賴 丕賱賲乇亍....
鬲乇丕賳賷 毓賳丿賲丕 兀賱鬲賯賷賴丕 賮賷 毓賲賱賹 乇賵丕卅賷 賲丕...兀乇賯亘賴丕 亘丕亘鬲爻丕賲丞 賲亘鬲賵乇丞 賵亘毓賷賳賷賳 丨丕丿鬲賷賳 鬲賱鬲賲毓丕賳 亘亘乇賷賯 爻丕禺乇...賵賴匕丕 賲丕 賮毓賱鬲 賴賳丕...
賱賯丿 賰丕賳鬲 賮鬲丕丞 卮丕亘丞 鬲丨賲賱 賲賳 丕賱鬲賳丕賯囟丕鬲 丕賱噩丕賲丨丞 賲丕 賷丿賮毓賰 賱賱鬲爻丕丐賱 賰賷賮 賷賲賰賳 賱兀丨丿賴賲 兀賳 賷鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賷賴丕 丨賯丕賸..責!...
賮丕鬲賳丞...亘丕賴鬲丞 貙 賱丕賲亘丕賱賷丞..賲購睾乇賲丞..貙 噩匕丕亘丞..賵賲購賳賮乇丞...
賱丕卮賷亍 丨賯賷賯賷 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 爻賵賶 丕賱賵丨丿丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳賴卮賴丕 賮賷 氐賲鬲 賵丕賱囟噩乇 丕賱乇鬲賷亘 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賱賵賶 毓賱賶 匕丕鬲賴丕....賵卮丕乇賰賴丕 賮賷賴賲丕 匕丕賰 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱賵爻賷賲 丕賱鬲毓爻 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賲鬲毓 亘噩丕匕亘賷丞 睾乇賷亘丞 鬲賲鬲夭噩 亘匕賰丕亍 丨夭賷賳..!
丕毓鬲賯丿 兀賳 丕賱匕賰丕亍 丕賱丨夭賷賳 匕丕賰 丕賱匕賰丕亍 丕賱睾丕賲囟..丕賱丿賮賷賳..丕賱匕賷 賷丨鬲乇夭 賲賳 賰賱 卮賷亍 賵賱丕 賷購亘丿賷 丕賳丿賴丕卮丕賸...賱丕 賷鬲賯丕賮夭 賲乇丨丕賸..貙 廿賳賴 孬賯賷賱..賵 賴丕丿賷亍..
賱賯丿 賰丕賳 賰賱丕賴賲丕 賲購賳賴賰丕賸...丨夭賷賳丕賸 賱丕 賷賳爻噩賲丕 賲毓 丕賱賲賱賱 賵賰賱丕賴賲丕 睾丕乇賯賷賳 賮賷賴....!
丨爻賳丕賸 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 丕賳 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 乇賰賷賰丞 賵囟毓賷賮丞 ..賱賰賳賳賷 丕丨亘 賲丕 鬲賰鬲亘賴 " 賮乇賳爻賵丕夭 爻丕睾丕賳"...毓賳丿賲丕 鬲爻丕亍賱鬲 賰賷賮 賷賲賰賳賳賷 鬲賵氐賷賮 賰鬲丕亘鬲賴丕 責
賵噩丿鬲賳賷 兀賯賵賱 丿賵賳賲丕 鬲賮賰賷乇 ..丕賱爻購賰乇 丕賱賲購乇...兀噩賱 賴賵 賰匕賱賰 丨賯丕賸..
睾乇賷亘 丕賲乇 丕賱賷兀爻 ...睾乇賷亘 兀賲乇賴 丨賷賳 賷賳噩賵 賲賳賴 丕賱賲乇亍....
October 16, 2021
I loved it.
I loved it more than I ever anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed it鈥檚 simple storyline, direct and scarce use of language, unforced ending, and surprisingly, also it鈥檚 subtle but prevalent sense of eroticism.
I feel like only 20 year olds can get 20 year olds right. And so Sagan did. Written in the 50s, the plot works for any YA today, and that is its charm.
So glad it has been selected as this months @fabula book club pick, as I probably would not have reached for it myself.
My second Fran莽oise Sagan of the year and I am officially a fan.
Bring her in!
I loved it more than I ever anticipated.
I thoroughly enjoyed it鈥檚 simple storyline, direct and scarce use of language, unforced ending, and surprisingly, also it鈥檚 subtle but prevalent sense of eroticism.
I feel like only 20 year olds can get 20 year olds right. And so Sagan did. Written in the 50s, the plot works for any YA today, and that is its charm.
So glad it has been selected as this months @fabula book club pick, as I probably would not have reached for it myself.
My second Fran莽oise Sagan of the year and I am officially a fan.
Bring her in!
May 8, 2015
As short and sharp as her first novel, , Fran莽oise Sagan's second (published a year later) is the story of a young woman's affair with an older man, and her subsequent, inevitable, heartbreak. Bored and indifferent towards her boyfriend, Bertrand, Dominique feels a shift in her affections when she meets his married uncle, Luc. Once again Sagan provides remarkable and painful insights into the emotional landscapes of youth - the progression of Dominique's feelings for Luc is as agonising to watch as it is inescapable.
I wasn't wowed by this like I was by Bonjour Tristesse, perhaps because the tone and mood of both books is so similar, as are some details; elements of Dominique's relationship with Bertrand, and with Luc and his wife Fran莽oise, clearly echo C茅cile's with Cyril, her father and Anne. I can see why the two have frequently been published together, and I'd have perhaps preferred to read them one after the other. Still, this was another perfect little gem of a story ideal for a sunny morning.
I wasn't wowed by this like I was by Bonjour Tristesse, perhaps because the tone and mood of both books is so similar, as are some details; elements of Dominique's relationship with Bertrand, and with Luc and his wife Fran莽oise, clearly echo C茅cile's with Cyril, her father and Anne. I can see why the two have frequently been published together, and I'd have perhaps preferred to read them one after the other. Still, this was another perfect little gem of a story ideal for a sunny morning.
January 1, 2017
I don't often read French romance novels of the 1950s, but when I do, it's always Francoise Sagan.
August 14, 2022
I knew I would enjoy A Certain Smile. Sagan has a deceptively light touch in her writing style which I find makes the insights and observation the more pronounced.
P. 19. at the Gare de Lyon. Dominique, the first person narrator, "On the way back Bertrand stopped to buy a political journal, which would give him an excuse to get annoyed."
P. 70. "So there I was, yawning (for I was exhausted from lack of sleep) and extremely comfortable. My hand trembled a little as I struck a match to light my cigarette. The September sun, no longer very hot, caressed my cheek. For once I was delighted to be alone. 'We're only happy when we're tired,' Luc once said, and it was true that I was one of those people who are only happy once they have subdued that part of their vitality which continually makes demands and always feels misgivings: the part which asks 'What have you done with your life? What are you going to make of it?' Questions to which I could only reply 'Nothing.'
P. 19. at the Gare de Lyon. Dominique, the first person narrator, "On the way back Bertrand stopped to buy a political journal, which would give him an excuse to get annoyed."
P. 70. "So there I was, yawning (for I was exhausted from lack of sleep) and extremely comfortable. My hand trembled a little as I struck a match to light my cigarette. The September sun, no longer very hot, caressed my cheek. For once I was delighted to be alone. 'We're only happy when we're tired,' Luc once said, and it was true that I was one of those people who are only happy once they have subdued that part of their vitality which continually makes demands and always feels misgivings: the part which asks 'What have you done with your life? What are you going to make of it?' Questions to which I could only reply 'Nothing.'
September 13, 2017
袩褉褍褋褌 锌懈褕械: 鈥炐撔拘谎徯夹� 褉褟写泻芯褋褌 械 械写薪芯 褖邪褋褌懈械 写邪 泻邪褑薪械 褌褗泻屑芯 胁褗褉褏褍 卸械谢邪薪懈械褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 谐芯 械 锌褉懈蟹芯胁邪谢芯.鈥� 袗 屑懈薪邪谢邪褌邪 薪芯褖 褌芯胁邪 褋械 斜械 褋谢褍褔懈谢芯, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋械 斜褟褏 写芯斜谢懈卸懈谢邪 写芯 谢懈褑械褌芯 薪邪 袥褞泻, 卸械谢邪薪芯 胁 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 褑褟谢邪 褋械写屑懈褑邪, 懈 芯褌 褋褗胁锌邪写械薪懈械褌芯 屑懈 斜械 锌褉懈蟹谢褟谢芯, 屑芯卸械 斜懈 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌芯褉邪写懈 胁薪械蟹邪锌薪芯褌芯 芯褌锌邪写邪薪械 薪邪 锌褍褋褌芯褌邪褌邪, 芯褌 泻芯褟褌芯 懈薪邪褔械 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 屑懈 斜械 懈蟹褌褗泻邪薪. 袩褍褋褌芯褌邪, 锌芯褉芯写械薪邪 芯褌 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯, 褔械 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 屑懈 褋械 褉邪蟹屑懈薪邪胁邪 褋 屑械薪. 袗 胁 芯薪蟹懈 屑懈谐 泻邪褌芯 薪懈泻芯谐邪 斜褟褏 懈蟹锌懈褌邪谢邪 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯, 褔械 薪邪泄-褋械褌薪械 褋械 写芯泻芯褋胁邪屑 写芯 褋胁芯褟 卸懈胁芯褌, 懈 褌芯 写芯 胁褗褉褏芯胁薪邪褌邪 屑褍 褌芯褔泻邪.
August 11, 2011
Such a short novel and it took me such a long time to read it. I found it quite boring and predictable. Maybe I should have read it when I was 20 or so, I think I would have liked it more. I read "Bonjour tristesse" when I was 18 and I liked it a lot. Perhaps there is an age for every novel and "A Certain Smile" is for 20 year-olds. I don't know. The idea is that, except for the occasionally poetic language, this book didn't transmit much.
August 6, 2022
4.5, 鈥瀒 am not unhappy, i am nothing鈥� dominique the mc would鈥檝e loved lana del rey
June 21, 2012
This title is generally better known for the 1958 English-language film version with the accompanying title song crooned by Johnny Mathis. The original French-language novel is the short, bittersweet story of a doomed affair that nicely showcases Fran莽oise Sagan鈥檚 signature talent for describing the confused and tumultuous emotions of young girls. Dominique, the first-person narrator, is a law student at the Sorbonne who suffers from a particularly serious case of ennui. Everything seems to bore her. Her boyfriend, Bertrand, who adores her: Boring. Her university studies: Boring. The sights and activities of Paris: Boring. Visiting her parents in her hometown: Super-boring. Actually, her problem is even more serious than all of this. In French, the word ennui鈥攁t least how Baudelaire described it in the mid-19th century鈥攎eans more than just boredom. It refers to a ravaging and intolerable tiredness and frustration with life. This is an apt description of Dominique, even though she seems to have so much going for her. When Bertrand takes her to meet his uncle, Luc, and aunt Fran莽oise, Dominique hesitates to act on the obvious chemistry between her and Luc, because, after all, she is involved with Bertrand, and Fran莽oise is so motherly and completely kind. Dominique and Luc cave into the temptation, of course, even though Dominique can see that Luc regards an extramarital affair and its inevitable outcome with socio-pathological sang-froid. 鈥淒e quoi veux-tu que j鈥檃ie peur?鈥� he asks Dominique. 鈥淏ertrand ne me tuera pas. Fran莽oise ne me quittera pas. Tu ne m鈥檃imeras pas鈥� (69). He is wrong only on the last point. After an idyllic two weeks together in Cannes, Dominique and Luc part and can snatch only isolated moments together in the next few months. Dominique鈥檚 feelings grow into an obsession for Luc that virtually takes over her life, and makes a stark contrast to his increasing indifference. Sagan鈥檚 sensitivity to these kinds of emotions as well as for the barbs of guilt, shame, and loss that typically follow an ill-advised choice is obvious in her eloquent prose and dialogues. This is a sobering psychological study of discontent that can morph into desperation.
November 20, 2017
Dominique has a lot to learn about love.
She was young and naive and thought she knew how to play the game.
Dominique thought she understood the rules.
But she didn't!
This short novella of young love and growing up!
'I was a woman, and I had loved a man. It was a simple story; there was nothing to make a fuss about.'
She was young and naive and thought she knew how to play the game.
Dominique thought she understood the rules.
But she didn't!
This short novella of young love and growing up!
'I was a woman, and I had loved a man. It was a simple story; there was nothing to make a fuss about.'
Read
February 15, 2022Dic el mateix que dic sobre totes les obres de Sagan: 茅s com un croissant farcit de Nutella i taronja, dol莽 i amarg a la vegada
June 14, 2022
The unbearable lightness of being a young girl falling in love for first time. A lovely book.
March 29, 2024
3.5
Ah, I want to live in a Sagan novel. The setting is always incredible
Ah, I want to live in a Sagan novel. The setting is always incredible
July 8, 2024
This novella, 鈥楢 Certain Smile鈥�, penned when Sagan was a mere 21, is an exquisite follow-up to 鈥楤onjour Tristesse鈥�. Once again, Sagan鈥檚 hallmark evocative prose and psychological depth are showcased. Her writing is so elegant, so precise and understated.
The familiar themes of passion and loyalty are skilfully woven into the narrative, as are the somewhat melancholic undertones of the elusive nature of happiness, self-doubt, and the foreshadowing of rejection or disillusionment. As I read, I couldn鈥檛 help but associate her writing style with that of Camus, Fitzgerald, or Jean Rhys鈥� tales of love and loss in Paris, mirroring the city鈥檚 duality of elegance and sadness.
While 'A Certain Smile' may lack some of the complexity and nuances of the sensational 鈥楤onjour Tristesse鈥�, it is nevertheless a captivating read by a superbly talented young author.
This version is the original uncensored text - a raw and unadulterated portrayal of Sagan's narrative.
The familiar themes of passion and loyalty are skilfully woven into the narrative, as are the somewhat melancholic undertones of the elusive nature of happiness, self-doubt, and the foreshadowing of rejection or disillusionment. As I read, I couldn鈥檛 help but associate her writing style with that of Camus, Fitzgerald, or Jean Rhys鈥� tales of love and loss in Paris, mirroring the city鈥檚 duality of elegance and sadness.
While 'A Certain Smile' may lack some of the complexity and nuances of the sensational 鈥楤onjour Tristesse鈥�, it is nevertheless a captivating read by a superbly talented young author.
This version is the original uncensored text - a raw and unadulterated portrayal of Sagan's narrative.
February 21, 2022
Despr茅s de llegir 鈥淏on dia, tristesa鈥� i 鈥淭鈥檃grada Brahms?鈥� tenia clar que 鈥淯n cert somriure鈥� no em decebria. De fet, si no me l鈥檋e llegit abans 茅s perqu猫 he estat esperant que fos publicat per Viena Editorial. Al meu parer, les obres de Sagan s鈥檋an de llegir sempre amb un llapis a la m脿. La dona escriu sempre sobre desamors, sobre homes que estimen per貌 mai prou intensament, i aquesta 茅s la mena de contingut que de vegades una necessita. La reina de verbalitzar els sentiments d鈥檜na forma senzilla i pura.
October 31, 2019
M峄檛 cu峄憂 s谩ch g峄 c岷 m峄檛 c谩ch mong manh nh瓢 th峄� ta 膽ang ch岷縩h cho谩ng trong m峄檛 c啤n say 锚m 膽峄乵, ng芒y ng岷 v脿 ng峄峵 ng脿o, v脿 r峄搃 c谩i n峄梚 bu峄搉 d峄媢 d脿ng tr瓢峄漬 t峄沬 khi岷縩 ta b芒ng khu芒ng kh么ng bi岷縯 l脿m g矛 v峄沬 t矛nh y锚u n峄搉g n脿n v脿 膽岷 hoang mang 膽贸. M峄檛 cu峄憂 s谩ch 膽岷筽 膽岷� c贸 nh峄痭g d貌ng ch峄� khi岷縩 ta 膽峄峜 l岷 v脿i l岷 th岷璽 ch岷璵 r茫i 膽峄� v岷� 膽岷筽 c峄 n贸 th岷 m茫i th岷 m茫i v脿o t芒m h峄搉 ta.
September 14, 2020
丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞 賱賲 鬲賰賳 丕丨爻賳 賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賴賳丕 馃様
" 賳爻禺丞 丿丕乇 丕賱賲丿賶 "
" 賳爻禺丞 丿丕乇 丕賱賲丿賶 "
June 21, 2018
鈥濩铆tila som sa celkom slobodn谩, celkom vesel谩. Par铆啪 n谩le啪al mne. Par铆啪 n谩le啪al 木u膹om bez 拧krup煤木, bezo膷ivcom, to som v啪dy poci钮ovala, ale bolestne, preto啪e mne bezo膷ivos钮 ch媒bala. Tentoraz to bolo mesto, moje kr谩sne, zlat茅, odhodlan茅 mesto, mesto, ,ktor茅 sa nedalo o拧udi钮式. Nie膷o ma nadn谩拧alo, azda to bola rados钮. Kr谩膷ala som r媒chlo. Mala som silu netrpezlivosti, krv mi bila v z谩p盲stiach; c铆tila som sa mlad谩, smie拧ne mlad谩. V pochabej bla啪enosti som mala pocit, 啪e doch谩dzam k ove木a jasnej拧ej pravde, ne啪 s煤 tie 煤boh茅 popre啪煤van茅 pravdy mojich sm煤tkov.鈥�
Toto nie je 啪iadna citov谩 dr谩ma, len romanca par铆啪skej 拧tudentky so star拧铆m 啪enat媒m mu啪om. Saganov谩 ju nap铆sala, ke膹 mala len 20-rokov po svojom sl谩vnom debute Dobr媒 de艌 sm煤tok. Kombinuje v nej osamelos钮, nudu, erotiku, franc煤zsku rivi茅ru a samozrejme Par铆啪. E拧te 啪e som knihu Ak媒si 煤smev objavila v rodinnej kni啪nici. Ve木mi dobr茅 膷铆tanie.
鈥瀂ase mi raz bolo po dlhom 膷ase ve木mi dobre samej so sebou. ,N谩m je dobre, ke膹 sme unaven铆,式 hovorieval Luc a mal pravdu, 啪e som z t媒ch 木ud铆, ktor媒m je dobre iba vtedy, ke膹 v sebe ubili 膷as钮 vitality, n谩ro膷n煤 a 钮a啪k煤 od nudy; t煤 膷as钮, ktor谩 kladie ot谩zku: ,膶o si urobil zo svojho 啪ivota, 膷o z neho hodl谩拧 urobi钮?式, ot谩zku, na ktor煤 som mohla odpoveda钮 iba jedno: ,Ni膷.式鈥�
Toto nie je 啪iadna citov谩 dr谩ma, len romanca par铆啪skej 拧tudentky so star拧铆m 啪enat媒m mu啪om. Saganov谩 ju nap铆sala, ke膹 mala len 20-rokov po svojom sl谩vnom debute Dobr媒 de艌 sm煤tok. Kombinuje v nej osamelos钮, nudu, erotiku, franc煤zsku rivi茅ru a samozrejme Par铆啪. E拧te 啪e som knihu Ak媒si 煤smev objavila v rodinnej kni啪nici. Ve木mi dobr茅 膷铆tanie.
鈥瀂ase mi raz bolo po dlhom 膷ase ve木mi dobre samej so sebou. ,N谩m je dobre, ke膹 sme unaven铆,式 hovorieval Luc a mal pravdu, 啪e som z t媒ch 木ud铆, ktor媒m je dobre iba vtedy, ke膹 v sebe ubili 膷as钮 vitality, n谩ro膷n煤 a 钮a啪k煤 od nudy; t煤 膷as钮, ktor谩 kladie ot谩zku: ,膶o si urobil zo svojho 啪ivota, 膷o z neho hodl谩拧 urobi钮?式, ot谩zku, na ktor煤 som mohla odpoveda钮 iba jedno: ,Ni膷.式鈥�
November 12, 2023
Sagan never disappoints in the world of human emotion. Trust her to make you feel in the skin of a young woman having an affair with a married man. You will feel her pain, hope to hold her, and also give her a slap in the back of the head to realise how stupid this is.
January 9, 2023
es mereix un 4,5. a casa ens agrada molt una mica de llibre on una dona 茅s estimada pels homes, per貌 no prou pel seu gust.
April 8, 2022
"Mi destino era que Luc me abandonara, que yo tratara de empezar de nuevo con otro, lo que seguramente har铆a. Pero nunca con nadie me sentir铆a como con 茅l: tan poco sola, tan tranquila e, interiormente, tan poco reticente".
Una novelita honesta, bella y triste sobre el amor no correspondido, quiz谩s un capricho pero uno doloroso.
Una novelita honesta, bella y triste sobre el amor no correspondido, quiz谩s un capricho pero uno doloroso.
Read
November 11, 2024Published in 1956. Another sharp, cynical read. Pity it's out of print in English. Excellent.
August 29, 2023
A Certain Smile confirms Fran莽oise Sagan to be something of a one-trick pony. Her first renowned novel Bonjour Tristesse set out a bold philosophy that dealt with sexual matters in a manner that was amoral and yet also strangely coy. Readers may have been titillated by a heroine who navigates the sexual world without many boundaries, but they would look in vain for a detailed erotic (or pornographic) scene.
This book is more of the same, giving the lie to Sagan鈥檚 claim that her previous heroine was not herself. Once more we have a promiscuous heroine who vaguely loves and callously disregards everyone around her. There is a more sensible brother-lover whom she likes but discards. There is an older father figure with whom she has an inappropriate relationship, and a mother figure who appeals to her, and yet whom she betrays.
On this occasion, the heroine is Dominique, a bored and cynical student, who is involved with a fellow classmate Bertrand of whom she is vaguely fond. Bertrand introduces her to his aunt and uncle, Fran莽oise and Luc. While Fran莽oise is affectionate towards the young girl, her husband has other ideas.
Soon Dominique is having an affair with the lecherous uncle which eventually leads to a break with Bertrand. However Luc is unable to reciprocate Dominque鈥檚 growing affection for him, and she is forced to reconcile herself to losing him.
The book is a step up from Bonjour Tristesse in that Dominique is at least capable of getting hurt and attaching herself seriously to a man, but there is still a sense of moral malaise about the work. It seems likely that she will get over him soon enough and move on to other lovers, but we at least get a glimpse of the other side of Sagan鈥檚 superficial worldview 鈥� that involvements without any depth on both sides are lonely and unfulfilling, and that extra feelings will arrive unbidden.
It is difficult to entirely criticise Sagan鈥檚 take on life. We can call it vacuous and selfish and lacking in purpose, but so what? Sagan might point out that the problem here is not the Dominques and Lucs of the world who wander around with no serious attachments.
It is the Fran莽oises and Bertrands who seek to bring meaning to relationships, and introduce jealousy, heartbreak and sadness into this world. If everyone felt the same as Dominique and Luc, nobody would be hurt, and there would be no greater risk than pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, both of which can be minimised with adequate protection.
I find it hard to say what is wrong with such a viewpoint, even if every intuitive bone in my body cries out against it. I could not live like that as my mind cries for meaning, but if someone else has no need for that sense of meaning, what is wrong with that?
Perhaps ultimately the best moral objection to Sagan鈥檚 ideas lies in the consideration that morality is important because morality in its quintessential form is about promoting the happiness of oneself and that of others.
Sagan鈥檚 books end in melancholy because her heroines are rootless and lonely, trapped in a prison of self from which no lasting contentment can develop. Sooner or later a life of self-seeking pleasure and sexual encounters cannot be sustained, and that is why Sagan鈥檚 own life ended in solitude and addiction.
This book is more of the same, giving the lie to Sagan鈥檚 claim that her previous heroine was not herself. Once more we have a promiscuous heroine who vaguely loves and callously disregards everyone around her. There is a more sensible brother-lover whom she likes but discards. There is an older father figure with whom she has an inappropriate relationship, and a mother figure who appeals to her, and yet whom she betrays.
On this occasion, the heroine is Dominique, a bored and cynical student, who is involved with a fellow classmate Bertrand of whom she is vaguely fond. Bertrand introduces her to his aunt and uncle, Fran莽oise and Luc. While Fran莽oise is affectionate towards the young girl, her husband has other ideas.
Soon Dominique is having an affair with the lecherous uncle which eventually leads to a break with Bertrand. However Luc is unable to reciprocate Dominque鈥檚 growing affection for him, and she is forced to reconcile herself to losing him.
The book is a step up from Bonjour Tristesse in that Dominique is at least capable of getting hurt and attaching herself seriously to a man, but there is still a sense of moral malaise about the work. It seems likely that she will get over him soon enough and move on to other lovers, but we at least get a glimpse of the other side of Sagan鈥檚 superficial worldview 鈥� that involvements without any depth on both sides are lonely and unfulfilling, and that extra feelings will arrive unbidden.
It is difficult to entirely criticise Sagan鈥檚 take on life. We can call it vacuous and selfish and lacking in purpose, but so what? Sagan might point out that the problem here is not the Dominques and Lucs of the world who wander around with no serious attachments.
It is the Fran莽oises and Bertrands who seek to bring meaning to relationships, and introduce jealousy, heartbreak and sadness into this world. If everyone felt the same as Dominique and Luc, nobody would be hurt, and there would be no greater risk than pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, both of which can be minimised with adequate protection.
I find it hard to say what is wrong with such a viewpoint, even if every intuitive bone in my body cries out against it. I could not live like that as my mind cries for meaning, but if someone else has no need for that sense of meaning, what is wrong with that?
Perhaps ultimately the best moral objection to Sagan鈥檚 ideas lies in the consideration that morality is important because morality in its quintessential form is about promoting the happiness of oneself and that of others.
Sagan鈥檚 books end in melancholy because her heroines are rootless and lonely, trapped in a prison of self from which no lasting contentment can develop. Sooner or later a life of self-seeking pleasure and sexual encounters cannot be sustained, and that is why Sagan鈥檚 own life ended in solitude and addiction.
June 11, 2018
This is my second Francoise Sagan book, and as with the first one (Bonjour tristesse) I enjoyed the writing, it just flows and seems effortless, but the characters are a different story鈥� they have no depth, they are just cardboard people. We would assume that it鈥檚 not the same case with the main character; she should stand out, right? The only thing making her 鈥渟tand out鈥� is that she is having an affair with an older man. Great job.
The main character, Dominique, is bored, her friend and boyfriend are boring people, her life is boring, and nothing interests her. But then she meets her boyfriend鈥檚 uncle and WOW, there鈥檚 just something about him that doesn鈥檛 make him boring. Her behavior really annoyed me. She was indifferent to everything and had an attitude that screamed at me: 鈥淚鈥檓 better than everyone鈥�
The main character, Dominique, is bored, her friend and boyfriend are boring people, her life is boring, and nothing interests her. But then she meets her boyfriend鈥檚 uncle and WOW, there鈥檚 just something about him that doesn鈥檛 make him boring. Her behavior really annoyed me. She was indifferent to everything and had an attitude that screamed at me: 鈥淚鈥檓 better than everyone鈥�
June 6, 2022
La Dominique 茅s una noia que estudia dret a la universitat i que comen莽a una relaci贸 amb el tiet de la seva parella, un home casat. 脡s una hist貌ria d'amor -o de companyonia- sense la innoc猫ncia de "Bonjour tristesse" (que vaig llegir passada l'adolesc猫ncia i que no em va interessar), amb una protagonista c铆nica i autoconscient, i alhora poc experimentada i impulsiva. M'ha encantat que, superar l'avorriment, l'avorriment que tenyeix la majoria de vides insulses, carreres indesitjades, amistats que ajuden a matar l'estona, per貌 distants (que insuportable la Christine, i quantes noies que hi ha com ella), sigui el motor de les accions de la Dominique. En alg煤n moment final 茅s una mica dram脿tic, per貌 la protagonista t茅 21 anys, l'escriptora tamb茅, i ja 茅s propi de l'edat. Em fa venir ganes de llegir "T'agrada Brahms?", estic contenta d'haver-li donat una altra oportunitat a la Sagan.
August 12, 2019
Knjigu sam na拧la u ku膰noj biblioteci, jedna babina drugarica joj ju je poklonila za 22. ro膽endan. Kada sam rekla babi 拧ta 膷itam, samo je sa osmehom rekla 鈥淎 jaaaao鈥�, a zatim zamolila da joj donesem da pro膷ita ponovo, 鈥渄a se priseti mladala膷kih dana鈥�
Stra拧no mi je bilo uzbudljivo da zami拧ljam nju kako je 膷itala ono 拧to dr啪im u rukama.
Pri膷a mo啪da deluje lagano i povr拧no. Mene je prili膷no uzdrmala op拧ta nezainteresovanost i dosada koja pro啪ima sve likove i njihov svet. Jednostavan na膷in na koji je ta nenormalna pojava do膷arana, 膷ini je normalnom, i tako stvara pomalo smaknutu sliku, zbog koje sam sve vreme poku拧avala da shvatim 拧ta nije u redu.
O ljubavi, dosadi i odrastanju.
Stra拧no mi je bilo uzbudljivo da zami拧ljam nju kako je 膷itala ono 拧to dr啪im u rukama.
Pri膷a mo啪da deluje lagano i povr拧no. Mene je prili膷no uzdrmala op拧ta nezainteresovanost i dosada koja pro啪ima sve likove i njihov svet. Jednostavan na膷in na koji je ta nenormalna pojava do膷arana, 膷ini je normalnom, i tako stvara pomalo smaknutu sliku, zbog koje sam sve vreme poku拧avala da shvatim 拧ta nije u redu.
O ljubavi, dosadi i odrastanju.
June 6, 2020
Having read and fell in love with Bonjour Tristesse, I knew I had to read Sagan鈥檚 second short novel Certain Smile. Though it does not have the magic spell and uniquely passionate narration, I enjoyed reading it nearly as much as the her first book.
In Certain Smile, Sagan tells the story of an afair between a middle-aged married man and a university student from the perspective of the young girl, who ends up heart-broken. Well, considering the subject, it is easy to guess that things will get ugly. Even though he plays his cards open, not promising anything to her other than a two-week limited good time and fun, the care-free, unsentimental Dominique cannot help herself falling in love. The before and after of the affair, the emotional and psychological evolution of Dominique prevents this book from turning into a cliche and creates a unique taste.
Sagan鈥檚 characters have such high level of self-awareness that it gives me awe to think she had that kind of acute observation skill and verbal flexibility at the age of 18 when she wrote these two novels. Although her oeuvre consists of a serious number of stories, novels, plays and autobiographies, these two stand out as her must-read key works. I can easily say that her elegant phrasing, first-person narration and self-analysis, observant and open-minded strong protagonists make her a one-of-a-kind author.
In Certain Smile, Sagan tells the story of an afair between a middle-aged married man and a university student from the perspective of the young girl, who ends up heart-broken. Well, considering the subject, it is easy to guess that things will get ugly. Even though he plays his cards open, not promising anything to her other than a two-week limited good time and fun, the care-free, unsentimental Dominique cannot help herself falling in love. The before and after of the affair, the emotional and psychological evolution of Dominique prevents this book from turning into a cliche and creates a unique taste.
Sagan鈥檚 characters have such high level of self-awareness that it gives me awe to think she had that kind of acute observation skill and verbal flexibility at the age of 18 when she wrote these two novels. Although her oeuvre consists of a serious number of stories, novels, plays and autobiographies, these two stand out as her must-read key works. I can easily say that her elegant phrasing, first-person narration and self-analysis, observant and open-minded strong protagonists make her a one-of-a-kind author.
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