Tuesday, 8 January 2019



I've tried - quite recently I tried again - but I've always given up on Claudine/Colette after a few pages. And I kind of agree with Willy's verdict in the film: 'It's too cloying. It's too feminine.' Anyway, it's not for me.
As for the film - my first film of the year - it had all the ingredients ... but I was snoozing just resting my eyes by the end. Fabulous frocks and Art Nouveau interiors - and Dominic West is fun as the preposterous Willy - but it's still a bit wooden. As for Keira Knightley, this quote pretty much summed it up:
'You have the most beautiful teeth.'
'Like an alligator.'
Whatever she's in, I find myself riveted by all that 21st century dentistry. Still, I suppose if they hadn't cast Keira, it would have been Lily James - and that's no better.
But if you're looking for a movie this week, I'd choose The Favourite instead.

9 comments:

Lucille said...

Yes I've had zero success with Colette despite having some very nice hardback editions which I spotted in Caroline Zoob's blog years ago. Will try both films.

Vronni's Style Meanderings said...

I like the sound of the fabulous frocks and Art Nouveau interiors...

Mary said...

Glad it's not just me, Lucille! I've just been to google Caroline Zoob - I thought she'd closed down. I used to love her mugs etc.

Yes, worth going for that, Veronica.

Anonymous said...

Not just me then! I thought there might be something wrong with me.

Mary said...

I was prepared to be swamped by angry fans, Toffeeapple.

Pam said...

We read La Maison de Claudine for A Level French back in the days of the Roman occupation, and I liked that. It's not a novel, but a memoir of her childhood. But on the other hand, I probably wasn't very critical in those days.

Mary said...

I'm sure there'll be a upsurge in sales to book groups as a result of the film, Pam - and in a few months' time, they'll be lining the shelves in charity shops. I wonder if they read better in French? I have a feeling they would. But as you say, that was in the days of the Romans!

Pam said...

Well, I've only read it in French. As I remember, the vocabulary wasn't very useful for when one went on holiday - lots of flowers, oil lamps, particular kinds of roof tiles, biscuits etc. But it sounded nice. And it was very wholesome.

Mary said...

I know. My vocab is a mixture of Balzac and Maigret!