Specify Books As Delicacy
| Original Title: | La Délicatesse |
| ISBN: | 0062004360 (ISBN13: 9780062004369) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Paris(France) |
| Literary Awards: | Prix Conversation (2010) |
David Foenkinos
Paperback | Pages: 250 pages Rating: 3.69 | 9134 Users | 1099 Reviews
Explanation Toward Books Delicacy
He had managed to navigate his way to the French language section of the bookshop; now he had no idea what to do. Some of the titles were at least recognizable. Madame Bovary... but surely she would have read it? And the same went for Du côté de chez Swann. Maybe this was not such a good idea after all."Can I help you?"
The assistant - a lapel badge said her name was Sophie - looked like she was in her late twenties. Short dark hair, earnest expression, French accent. He cleared his throat.
"I'm looking for a book. A present for - for a friend."
It occurred to him that he had no idea what the nature of their relationship was. Sophie ignored his confusion.
"You must tell me a little more."
What kind of books did she like? She always seemed to be reading something, and usually it was in French. He was sure of that much. The covers were tasteful. No swooning women or bare-chested men. So why did he imagine she read romances?
"I don't really know. Not literature, and not a romance. Well, maybe a bit of both. Does that make sense? And a short book, something that would fit in a handbag. She always carries them in her handbag."
At least he had come up with one concrete fact. He could see the handbag quite clearly in his mind's eye: he had a good sense for spatial relations, and it was obvious at a glance that most of the books were too big.
"Maybe this? L'Ecume des jours, of Boris Vian?"
It would certainly fit, but didn't it look familiar?
"No, I'm almost sure she was reading that last month."
"But we are getting closer! She likes a mélange of tragedy and comedy, an inventive style. You agree? Now just one more thing about her, and I am sure we will find it!"
He tried to concentrate. Really, he hardly knew her at all.
"I believe her father is Swedish."
"Ah, but then I have it precisely. Here!"
She darted to a nearby shelf and returned with a slim volume.
"David Foenkinos, La délicatesse. A bit of sadness, a bit of love, a bit of play with the words. And the héros is from Sweden. If she does not like it, I return your money."
She was so delighted with her find that he was too; for the first time that afternoon, he felt happy and confident. He had paid for the book and was halfway to Leicester Square station before he realized that what he really wanted to do was continue talking to Sophie. But when he returned to the shop, they had already closed.
Describe Regarding Books Delicacy
| Title | : | Delicacy |
| Author | : | David Foenkinos |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | movie tie-in edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 250 pages |
| Published | : | February 14th 2012 by Harper Perennial (first published 2009) |
| Categories | : | Romance. Cultural. France. Fiction. Contemporary. Novels. European Literature. French Literature. Roman |
Rating Regarding Books Delicacy
Ratings: 3.69 From 9134 Users | 1099 ReviewsRate Regarding Books Delicacy
How to review this book? I wouldn't say it's badly written or has a bad storyline. I liked the grief portion and the relatively slow build of the romance. I liked both Markus and Nathalie.I had two main problems with this book though. The first is the predictability. I saw everything coming and was thus very bored throughout. I wrestled my way through for French class, but I definitely would've DNF'd it if I could. Well actually, I would have never picked it up. My second problem was Charles. HeSimple, beautiful, intimate and delicate.. My only problem was with the translation. I think the original language must have been much better.. but yet worth reading.
What a delight of a book! Felt like a cross between a novel and a poem. The concise and gorgeous language of a poem, and a strong focus on the main characters, without much background to distract or fill it into a full narrative. So many of the quotes are sticking with me.... "Here was one kind of rejoicing that was simple to do", "the unconscious evolution of an intuition", and "She...had a way of dovetailing with his idea of the sublime." Who writes like this?? Incredible use of language. What
He had managed to navigate his way to the French language section of the bookshop; now he had no idea what to do. Some of the titles were at least recognizable. Madame Bovary... but surely she would have read it? And the same went for Du côté de chez Swann. Maybe this was not such a good idea after all."Can I help you?"The assistant - a lapel badge said her name was Sophie - looked like she was in her late twenties. Short dark hair, earnest expression, French accent. He cleared his throat."I'm
Another holiday read. I find this one charming, and very delicate. I like the author's writing style, quite unique with bits of random things that relate a bit to the story, enchanting characters that are flawed, quirky but real. I like Natalie, I find myself wanting to know more about her and how her relationship with the people around her evolve.More excited to find that a movie starring Audrey Taoutou is to be released soon, based on this book. I imagine her when I read, and what a perfect
The book is well written, David Foenkinos has the power to combine dream and reality in an clearly offbeat style. A beautiful love story with endearing characters.
In David Foenkinos's La Délicatesse, the beautiful and enigmatic Nathalie becomes a widow after her husband's sudden death. From thereon impenetrable, she coolly deflects the sexual advances of Charles, her boss, and channels her grief into her work. Yet the unexpected happens when Nathalie - out of the blue - kisses her Swedish colleague Markus on the lips. Although the kiss is merely "un acte gratuit" (an unwarranted act) to Nathalie, Markus - old, balding, single, awkward and unlucky with the
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