Le Divorce

Rating:
Summary: The Ending Not Written
Review: As an American living in Paris I enjoyed Diane Johnson's quick and witty insites into the problems of cultural assimilation. Many of her characterizations were dead-on funny. However, I can only guess that the author got tired of writing half way through because she submits the reader to an inappropriate, totally confusing and completely inadequate ending. It is such a disappointing ending that I would almost recommend not reading the book at all...

Rating:
Summary: Mon dieu, what's all the fuss?
Review: Catchy title, great cover, but sorely lacking on content that lives up to the rave reviews. I liked this novel, in fact, thought there were some clever moments and memorable characters but as a whole, after the onslaught of "You have to buy this book!", I was expecting more. Diane Johnston can't figure out here whether she's an academic novelist or a pulp sensationalist. Advice: don't judge a book by its cover.

Rating:
Summary: Contrived and Forced
Review: The alleged humor in this book is overrated. The storyline is a summarized retread of many divorce stories floating through our pop culture society. The witticisms and quips that I was promised by many a book club and on-line reading group was woefully minimal. Not even a book I'd recommend for an airplane trip!

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic and too "American" minded.
Review: As a Franco-American person (from a French mother and an American father), and currently living in Paris, I was extremely excited to read a book that would 'join' both worlds into one. Was I disappointed... The entire story narrates about a lost American girl who spends her time criticizing the French ways, the practices, customs, and people that live here. Sounds too much like the average US citizen that shows up in this country rudely criticizing anything that is 'unAmerican'. Chapters became harder to read; the story never reached the long awaited climax; and instead, the reader ends up drifting in a mismatched unfulfilling story that repeats itself over and over again. If fewer pages had been written on some Latour painting, if less time had been spent reading about a long lost homesick child yearning for her California ways; and perhaps more time spent in putting depth into a non-existant plot, then this book could have had some substance. After all, a cross-cultur! al story is usually a fascinating way to understand, appreciate and learn about new cultures. Instead, the reader (such as myself) feels that this book has been written to ward off Americans in Paris, throwing aside a beautiful culture full of history, to cast a negative light on practices that may seem barbaric to some, and perfectly natural to others.

Rating:
Summary: Great cross-cultural analysis--wish for more heart
Review: When I recommended this book to my book club last week--I had one comment to make which was that I only wished Diane Johnson loved her characters like Anne Tyler does. But then of course we would miss out on the satire and biting cross cultural revelations in this fun little book. I also would like to commend willfarr's review when he remarks on the obligatory steamy softporn that seems to be in every book I read nowadays (even Cold Mountain!). I have an 18 year old daughter and have a lot of trouble recommending books to her--as if she hasn't seen everything in rented videos already. But does she really need to know the French words for the privates? I'm sure a high school French class would be drooling and sniggering all over this part--It was kind of funny to see them though--not something a person usually asks a crosscultural informant to divulge

Rating:
Summary: It helps if you have been to Paris
Review: During a recent visit to Paris, I found this book in the apartment we had leased. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book in its setting, recognizing the sites and some phrases. I'm not certain that I would have felt the same way if I had not visited Paris. The Disneyland drama seemed contrived and I was disappointed by the book's abrupt conclusion. Also, what was Roxy's reaction when Saint Ursula was sold when she assumed otherwise?

Rating:
Summary: Clever and realistic
Review: I bought this book while stranded in the Minneapolis airport on the way home from a business trip because, quite frankly, nothing else I saw appealed to me in the least. This chance purchase turned out to be a good gamble. By the fourth chapter, I was hooked! The characters seem real (even the unlikeable ones), and I related to Isabel with ease, despite disagreeing with some of her actions and observations. Other than the very bizarre, all-too-abrupt ending, I found this to be a wonderful novel and am compelled to read others by Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing; didn't live up to its hype.
Review: I suppose I shouldn't be taken in by the brief descriptions I read on the back covers of books (even though this is how I usually decide to read a particular book). I was looking forward to reading about an "irrepressible" heroine. Isabel was anything but. She just let her experiences in Paris happen to her, as though she were a spectator in her own life rather than a participant. To live in a foreign land for that long and resist learning the language is not the mark of someone who is "incapable of being repressed or restrained." She also displayed an appalling lack of curiosity.

Rating:
Summary: What a refreshing book!
Review: +AH4-This was such a great book! It really highlighted the differences between cultures, and sexual freedom! Its a woman's book, its a family book, its a cultural book, its much needed for travelers to Belle Paris! You even learn some french along the way... A must-read! Makes you want to go to France!+AH4-

Rating:
Summary: The French from two perspectives...
Review: the American and their own. Truly Diane Johnson has lived among these people. As a Francophile, I was delighted with this tale. Often I reminded myself that this is a book of fiction, so culturally faithful are her dialogues, descriptions, situations. I thank her for taking me back, none too soon.