Amélie Nothomb

[Pecksie]

Hi! I'd like to know what you think of this author. She is something of a cult writer, so I was curious and bought a short novel called (in French) "Robert des noms propres" - I don't know the title in English, but it's the one about the little ballet dancer who is adopted by her uncle and aunt. I found the book awful - presumptuous, smug, badly written, full of lame humour, as if the author was trying very, very hard to show what an original young talent she is. I couldn't understand all the hype or the gushing reviews she's received. I certainly don't think I'll buy any more of her books. Any insights?

[aabbcc]

I read... Les Catilinaires, Mercure, Stupeur et tremblements, Sans nom, the book you mention - Robert des noms propres, Antéchrista and I am not really sure if I actually read Aspirine and Cosmétique de l’ennemi or I just encountered them or heard of them so often that it created an illusion of having read them as well (not that I ever cared to check :D).

Based on the list above, you would probably think that, if not a fan, I at least like her given how much of her works I have read - well, not really. :D Her works were a kind of perfect "easy-reads" which I used to prevent those small snippets of my French to fall into oblivion in those periods when I was too lazy or did not have enough time for "proper literature" in French, had nobody to speak the language to on the regular basis, but still wanted to do something about it, something relaxing and not mind-bogging, but yet short and legible, so I used to read such stuff. :D We also read a work or two of that in our French lessons, to get acquaintated with "contemporary French prose". Some people liked it, some not, but oh well.

A sort of the cult she probably is, but not over here. There was a phase, I remember, in which everybody read Nothcomb, just as there were phases when everybody read Coelho's scribbles or Houellebecq. One of those "literary fashions", nothing to be taken too seriously. I cannot claim to love her works, yet I can generally stand them when I need a break from "actual literature". :D

[Pecksie]

Yes, I agree with you... I also buy short French paperbacks to keep my ancestors' language from falling into oblivion :lol: ... that's how I came across this woman...

Coelho is awful too... it's good to hear she isn't following on his steps, at least as regards popularity... But I think she's different, because she has more pretensions to intellectuality than Coelho does.

I have a couple of Houellebecq books, but haven't read them yet. Is he a waste of time, too?

[aabbcc]

Coelho is awful too... it's good to hear she isn't following on his steps, at least as regards popularity... But I think she's different, because she has more pretensions to intellectuality than Coelho does.

I have a couple of Houellebecq books, but haven't read them yet. Is he a waste of time, too?
I could not agree more regarding Coelho, however I have not really read Houellebecq (skimmed in bookshop, but not more than that) so I cannot comment on that one.

Yes, Nothomb has more pretensions to intellectuality, which is even more obvious in those works you have not read (not that you missed much :))... (Coelho beats her, however, with his pretensions, though they are to some supposed spirituality. Another reason why Coelho is on my black list. :D)