Bonjour Tristesse: A Novel Paperback – June 17, 2008

The prose of this was so lively. I read it on vacation and it made the vacation so perfect and memorable. Such a vibrant, dramatic, funny summer read. I'm excited for the movie but I don't think it'll live up to how snappy the novel was, how nihilistic and comical the main character was.

This book was published in 1954 when Francoise Sagan was 18 and presumably takes place at roughly the same time period. When one reads biographies of Sagan, one sees parallels between her life and the events of the book, and thus one gets the feeling that the book is either quasi autobiographical or heavily drawn from personal experience. The main character, Cecile, at 17 is roughly the same age as Sagan at the time of the writing of the book. She lives with her father, Raymond, having lost her mother at the age of two. In the beginning her father is with Elsa, an attractive, 29 year old woman, one of many who has filed through her father's life but no one of any intellectual or personal substance. Soon, however, her father, becomes involved with Anne, a friend of Cecile's mother, age 42 and someone, unlike most of her father's lovers, who is highly intelligent, cultured and with more personal depth. Anne and her father become engaged. Cecile, during this time, forms a romantic attachment to Cyril, a law student. The relationship between Cecile and Anne is alternately friendly and antagonistic and there is some competition for Raymond's attentions that escalates to a climax. The book is written with great sensitivity, clarity and vividness and a writing style that borders at time on the poetic. It's better in French if you know that language.Translator's Kiss

Sagan became and overnight sensation at 18 when when she published her first book, "Bonjour, Tristesse", in 1954. It really is easy to see why since this is a wonderful little book. Introspective, philosophical, but brief. The story is moved by characters motivated by indifference, what the French call "ennui", which is perfectly illustrated by the first paragraph:"A strange melancholy pervades me to which I hesitate to give the grave and beautiful name of sorrow. The idea of sorrow has always appealed to me, but now I am almost ashamed of its complete egoism. I have known boredom, regret, and occasionally remorse, but never sorrow. Today it envelops me like a silken web, enervating and soft, and sets me apart from everybody else."What I love about this particular edition is the inclusion of an enlightening introduction, as well as an essay penned by Sagan about her need for speed (she had a penchant for sports cars) as well as an interview with her shortly after she gained fame about her inspiration and her way of life.Overall, this book is a winner if you love a story by the sea and a coming of age story. Ah, to be a failed student on the Riviera, whiling away the hours basking in the sun. Great read!

Bonjour Tristesse—Hello Sadness is a 1954 classic that I had just read. It describes the story of 17-year-old Cécile during summer vacation on the Riviera with her 40-year-old widowed father, Raymond, and his 29-year-old, vacuous, but kind mistress, Elsa.Cécile spent ten years in a convent boarding school before returning to her father. Raymond worked in publicity, was charismatic, self-indulgent, and promiscuous. He kept young women for six months before moving on to his next conquest. Cécile, a cynic, loved life with her father who didn’t appear to make a fuss at her failing grades. A positive was Raymond loved his daughter, was approachable and accessible; however, he was too permissive and didn’t set rules and boundaries. Cécile’ enjoyed a whirlwind of adult parties and drinking with Raymond and his friends. He referred to Cécile as his ‘little partner in crime.’The three, Cécile, Raymond and Elsa spent a happy summer on the Mediterranean. Cécile had met passionate Cyril, a college student who appeared enamored of her. Yet Cécile felt the shadow of their peaceful and idyllic summer was invaded when Anne Larsen arrived. Anne worked in fashions in Paris, and was a friend of Cécile’s late mother.Cécile admired 40-year-old, Anne, but felt inadequate in her presence. Anne was intelligent, sophisticated and cultured. She strongly disapproved of Cécile’s behavior and grades. She demanded Cécile’ study for her next exam in the fall.Cécile was not happy with how Anne had begun to rearrange their lives. Anne controlled her relationship with Cyril, and wheedled her way into Raymond’s life. In no time, Anne seized Raymond’s attentions from Elsa. With Elsa gone, love bloomed overnight between Raymond and Anne. Secretly, Cécile became sexually active with Cyril.Raymond announced to Cécile that he and Anne would marry when they returned to Paris.Cécile believed Anne would shatter their life of decadence, fun and merriment for a more controlled and cultured life. Cécile refused to accept this. She became a master schemer at manipulating her father, Cyril and Elsa, which wreaked havoc on what might have been bonjour bonheur.I loved Sagan’s character Anne’s view on serial womanizers: “…they are no longer attractive or in good form. They can’t drink anymore and they still hanker after women. Only then they have to pay heavily and lower their standards, to escape from their loneliness. They grow sentimental and querulous.”I enjoyed this well written, short novel. The characters were well fleshed out and believable. I gave this book four stars.

I hope this coming of age masterpiece is being taught in high schools and colleges by now, is not reserved for adventuresome readers to discover on 'best' lists like I thankfully did. Somewhere between Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, Parent Trap and Lolita curiously, a short and exhilarating romp, mesmerizing and tragic at once, with that distinctive poignancy characteristic of French literature and unusually youthful, precocious authors. Francoise Sagan is something of the European answer to F. Scott Fitzgerald. I hope more of her prolific works have made their way into the English, after this barn burner of a debut I'd happily read the entire oeuvre!!