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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “When the heroine of this novel, Mathilde, learns of the death of the man she loves in World War I, she doesn't quite believe that it is true. While she has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood, she sets out on a quest to discover the truth about her love, who supposedly was led into a...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Difficult to follow the many, many characters. They made a movie out of it and I thought the same thing of that. The premise is interesting, but the ending is not very happy. ”
Mary M for Mysteries wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A masterpiece. Fabulous writing, complex and compelling characters, compassion, anger, and wit. These people were real to me and I could smell the cheese the evocation of the place was so complete. No one who reads this could possibly come away with an unaltered view of warfare or love or courage. Tina Lombardi, the whore who kills the officers responsible for sending the five out to perish, is unforgettable. Grade: A+. Bravo.”
Anne S wrote this review Tuesday, September 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not just another war time romance! This novel is a clever mystery built around one horrific event and the women who are entagled by association. (and yes there is a little romance too!)
Natalie E wrote this review Tuesday, August 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Beautifully written, in a style that is entirely french, readers are given a vision in words of different times and places. The plight, desperation, cleverness, determination, and audacity of the cast of characters is enjoyable.
This is not the quickest read - but it is entirely rewarding - definitely recommend.”
“"Once upon a time, there were five French Soldiers who had gone off to war, because that's the way of the world." So begins Sebastien Japrisot's haunting novel which chronicles not only the horrors of war and the endurance of love, but the ways in which World War 1 forever changed the lives of those who were caught up in the conflict.
Hilarie wrote this review Sunday, March 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I have already read this book several times. For some reason, I seem to find myself returning to it every few years. Japrisot's writing is so beautiful and flows so well in translation (the novel was originally written in French) that it makes me want to take language lessons so that I could enjoy his writing in his native language.
The story concerns Mathilde Donnay, an intelligent and strong-willed protagonist who happens to be confined to a wheelchair because of an early childhood injury. Don't let this detail bother you, as it certainly doesn't bother Mathilde. She has far too many fish to fry to let a little thing like partial paralysis get in her way. As a young girl, Mathilde formed a lasting friendship with a boy named Manech, who became her fiancee after their childhood friendship developed into a strong and loving relationship. At the tender age of 19, Manech was sent off to the war, serving as an infantryman on the front of the French lines. Literally driven past the point of endurance by the horrors he has witnessed, Manech arranges for an accommodating soldier in German trench to shoot him in the hand. Manech is sentenced to death for this self-mutilation, along with four other soldiers. Their sentence is to be thrown into no-man's land, the space between the French and German trenches, with no weapons and their hands tied behind their backs. What happened to Manech and his fellow inmates becomes a mystery, one which Mathilde is not willing to let remain unsolved, and spends seven years trying to uncover. In pursuing this mystery she will uncover not only Manech's ultimate fate, but also learn the stories of those who witnessed it.
This is such a beautiful novel, and Mathilde is such a likable character. Each time I read it I find myself furiously turning the pages, hoping for a resolution to lives that were so unfairly interrupted.”
“I got the first copy from my international language school's library in December 2006. Later on, I have read this intense romance story in original, in French and I have watched the movie several times with a splendid Audrey Tautou starring the lead character.
Elisabeth B wrote this review Thursday, January 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Let me admit that after reading the book I felt in love again with my husband and I thought I am blessed to have actually a big love in my life.
The narrator is a woman and I admired her strenght and her sweet personality. She is not resigned to the cruel fact that the war never let its prey. I loved that part of 'magical thought' in the novel and the hyper-sentitivity of the story. Thumbs up ! it would be a must-read but in original.”
“The 1991 book that the Audrey Tautou film is based on is a quick, interesting look at a woman's obsession to learn the truths that surround a series of events that took place during WWI. Mathilde's fiance, Manech, has been the apparent victim of warfare at the front, but not ready to believe that he is dead, she starts an inquiry into the four other men who were sentenced to die with him. Through her dilligence, sparked by a dying soldier's harrowing story that becomes the uncompleted puzzle that Mathilde must find all of the pieces to, she uncovers clues here and there, near and far, until all of the various stories converge into one true, heartbreaking tale of compassion, courage and love. Well worth reading, a nice combination of mystery novel, war drama and love story. (Read 12/04)”
Justin M wrote this review Thursday, January 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No2 of 2 members found this review helpful“When the heroine of this novel, Mathilde, learns of the death of the man she loves in World War I, she doesn't quite believe that it is true. While she has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood, she sets out on a quest to discover the truth about her love, who supposedly was led into a trench in the dark of night with his hands tied behind him, to be shot by the enemy. She is a remarkable heroine and her poignant tale transcends the time in which she lived -- her courage, determination, and patience in the face of fear, loss, acceptance, and the unknown made me feel as though she was a person I had the honor to know.”
Amy S wrote this review Wednesday, January 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very unusual war story. It was a great book. ”
Marcy M wrote this review Sunday, November 11 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A powerful romance story filled with tenderness, humor and tragedy. If only mass media romances were written with a tenth of the heart that this book has.”
Jarndyce S wrote this review Saturday, October 20 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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