- Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
- Publisher: Riverhead (TRD); 1 edition (Nov 25 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1573223557
- ISBN-13: 978-1573223553
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 13 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #135,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Unabashed materialism is tempered by dry wit in this collection of 12 jaunty short stories about heartache and love by a young prize-winning French writer. The first-person narrators speak directly to the reader: "So anyway, as I was saying," "I'm not saying that to be a smartass" and even "Hmpphh, whatever." This playfulness often masks hurt: protagonists range from a female veterinarian who is gang-raped by drunken farmers to a pop singer isolated by fame and drugs, to a traveling salesman who plays a role in a terrible traffic accident. The collection's shorter stories are slight; nothing much happens, or problems raised are shrugged off without any attempt at resolution. The book's gems, on the other hand, delight by adding action to the mix. In "Junior," two boys borrow dad's Jaguar, with disastrous results; in "Clic-Clac" two sisters help their brother jump-start a love affair with a delectable colleague. If love is one recurring theme, another is class, particularly the distinction between middle and upper classes in French society. In "This Man and This Woman," a couple's loveless marriage is equated with their predictable taste in clothing and furnishings: "It's all kind of nouveau riche, but fortunately they don't realize it." Deftly translated by Marker, this uneven but entertaining collection displays a deliciously Gallic insouciance.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Short stories of genius. A spicy jewel."
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
Saint-Germain-des-Pres? . . . Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Saint-Germain-des-Pres? . . . Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and Unusual,
By A Customer
This review is from: I Wish Someone Were Waiting For Me Somewhere (Mass Market Paperback)
These stories are lovely, direct and unsettling all at once. Gavalda's writing style is quite distinctive, providing carefully chosen details and insights in a small amount of space. This gives the reader a snapshot of a particular person, relationship or situation in each story. Some stories have more action than others, some are humorous and others are tragic, but each is a gem. Although the stories are brief, I suggest reading only one or two at a time (if you can) to really savor them.
5.0 out of 5 stars
These wonderful stories are both entertaining and touching,
By Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: I Wish Someone Were Waiting For Me Somewhere (Mass Market Paperback)
"I wish someone were waiting for me somewhere" --- this echoes what we all feel in our hearts. For some it may be a feeling they harbor secretly, while for others it's a well advertised fact told to all they know, and for those few who always seem in control of their lives this feeling hides in the shadows of their heart but is always there --- for everyone, everywhere wishes for that special someone.Anna Gavalda has captured these unusual yet down-to-earth stories with so much charisma. From the aging singer who is tired of life but who finds love unexpectedly, to the man in the "lead story" who faces a dire dilemma, these are all stories with an essence of truth in them. They deal with broken hearts, lost loves, happiness and sadness. And at times, these stories may lead you to think more deeply about your own past, your secrets and fears. I must admit that at first I found the book daunting to read, as Anna Gavalda writes in a very straightforward manner. For someone like me who enjoys reading crime novels, thrillers and lighthearted fare, the writing was quite different. But I eventually warmed to the book, and was both entertained and touched by its many wonderful stories. Whether they mean anything to you or not, these stories will open your eyes to situations you may never have imagined. To sit down and read a book based purely on life takes maturity and an understanding beyond all that you know and believe. Perhaps it is time for many of you readers out there --- secrets, fears and all --- to delve deep into your soul and look beyond your circle of life to learn about the reality of those around you. --- Reviewed by Vin Patel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wait no longer...,
By A Customer
This review is from: I Wish Someone Were Waiting For Me Somewhere (Mass Market Paperback)
I picked this one up because I had heard some good things and love Dorothy Parker. As a whole, I loved the collection. Gavalda is equally comfortable describing the intricacies of a Parisian date as she is writing (with chilling frankness) about a terrifying episode in "Catgut." An excellent French writer whose voice is preserved in the translation.
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