Student Blogs

I found Bonjour Tristesse to be a very engaging yet melancholic novel. The decadent mood that Françoise Sagan creates by portraying the French upper class in the first half of the 20th century is almost dreamy. One of the things … Continue reading → read full post >>

During the early 20th century, Zobel is a black child raised in poverty in Martinique, who tells the story of his life. Zobel portrays the rich culture and folklore of Martinique, while also highlighting the devastation caused by colonization. At the same time, the book exposes colonialism, slavery, poverty, prejudice, colorism, and financial turmoil simultaneously. […] read full post >>

Hi Everyone! For this week’s blog post, I am going to be reflecting on Françoise Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse. I really... read full post >>

Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan appears at first to be a classic tale of a spoiled teenager longing for the days in which she was the main focus of her father’s life and rebels against the new motherly figure in her life. I think it would be easy to diagnose Cecile as a classic whiny, […] read full post >>

The novel, “Bonjour Tristesse” by Françoise Sagan was quite a rollercoaster of a story. Just from a brief description of the novel, I expected drama similar to “The Shrouded Woman”, focusing on family and relationships. However, after reading the text (and thanks to a warning from last week), I found it was also quite similar … Continue reading Week 6: Sagan’s “Bonjour Tristesse” → read full post >>

Hey Everyone! Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse was a rather interesting read! We get several indications throughout the book that the book... read full post >>

At first glance, I found this novel quite interesting. Keeping the title from being translated seems to make it appear more authentic and true to its originality. As a student who is also currently taking french classes this term, I was able to interpret the meaning of the title. Nonetheless, I can see why readers […] read full post >>

    I think Cecile would have benefited greatly from the positive influence Anne brought with her. It was hard to see her destroy Anne and her father’s relationship especially once she began to bond with Anne. The environment Céline was raised in blinded her to what Anne’s intentions were, even after the time they spent together after her mother’s death and how “embarrassingly fond of her” (7) she was. Her actions came from fear and selfishness to keep her way of life from changing. Without giving praise to the main character I will say I found her scheming and frivolous lifestyle to be quite entertaining. On page 18, Cécile declared that she tried to base her life on Oscar Wilde’s quote “Sin is the only note of vivid colour that persists in the modern world” and Anne came in as a representation of everything Cécile hated. With the best intentions, Anne wanted to marry her father, but Cécile’s lifestyle and fundamental identity were immediately threatened. First with Anne’s involvement in her studies and then her interference in  Cécile’s relationship with Cyril. I thought after the conversation Anne and Cécile had about the future on pages 104-5 along with some other bonding moments between the two, Cécile would put an end to her plans. Even though it was in her nature, I was disappointed that Cécile could not grow from the idea of how she was supposed to live and make room for Anne and her preparations for the future.

    Overall I like how this reading depicted Cécie and her father’s inability and unwillingness to change. The ending was sad, but it left me wondering if the three of them would work as a family or if Cécile would continue to find new ways to get rid of Anne? Cécile was heartbroken losing Anne, but if she never felt the loss, she would have probably never fully realized the consequences of her actions. 

    My question for the class is Would Cécile be better adjusted to cope with the changes Anne brought to her life if her father raised her to be more disciplined?

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    I think Cecile would have benefited greatly from the positive influence Anne brought with her. It was hard to see her destroy Anne and her father’s relationship especially once she began to bond with Anne. The environment Céline was raised in blinded her to what Anne’s intentions were, even after the time they spent together after her mother’s death and how “embarrassingly fond of her” (7) she was. Her actions came from fear and selfishness to keep her way of life from changing. Without giving praise to the main character I will say I found her scheming and frivolous lifestyle to be quite entertaining. On page 18, Cécile declared that she tried to base her life on Oscar Wilde’s quote “Sin is the only note of vivid colour that persists in the modern world” and Anne came in as a representation of everything Cécile hated. With the best intentions, Anne wanted to marry her father, but Cécile’s lifestyle and fundamental identity were immediately threatened. First with Anne’s involvement in her studies and then her interference in  Cécile’s relationship with Cyril. I thought after the conversation Anne and Cécile had about the future on pages 104-5 along with some other bonding moments between the two, Cécile would put an end to her plans. Even though it was in her nature, I was disappointed that Cécile could not grow from the idea of how she was supposed to live and make room for Anne and her preparations for the future.

    Overall I like how this reading depicted Cécie and her father’s inability and unwillingness to change. The ending was sad, but it left me wondering if the three of them would work as a family or if Cécile would continue to find new ways to get rid of Anne? Cécile was heartbroken losing Anne, but if she never felt the loss, she would have probably never fully realized the consequences of her actions. 

    My question for the class is Would Cécile be better adjusted to cope with the changes Anne brought to her life if her father raised her to be more disciplined?

read full post >>

For this weeks reading I read Bonjour Tristesse by Sagan, Françoise. The text was an easy and enjoyable read. The narrator Cecile was an intriguing narrator I was constantly hooked into what she would do or say. She was unpredictable. Her lifestyle of living in the moment caused her many problems because she put no thought into how her actions would effect her future. This is where Anne would have brought a positive influence into the 'live for now' dynamic Cecile had with her father. I found it crazy how on page 25 Cecile's father said why should Cecile get her diploma "I never got any diploma and I manage to live very well. . . . My daughter will always have a man to take care of her." This explains a lot about the relationship between Cecile and her dad because he doesn't expect anything of Cecile and this reinforces her carelessness about her life. 

Cecile's relationship with her father also affected her relationship and view of men in general. This can be seen when Cecile says "I much preferred my father's friends, men of forty, who spoke to me courteously and tenderly treated me with the gentleness of a father - or lover" (21). However I did not think Cecile's relationship with her father was as bad as some of the other readings, like Agostino, but the way he raised her brought up all sorts of other problems. Also it contributed to how stubborn she was when it came to her father's engagement to Anne. Anne valued all the things that Cecile could not stand. Anne came in the way of the life that Cecile built with her father and she was too stubborn to accept help until it was too late. Anne was the only person who held Cecile accountable especially when it came to her education. If Cecile could have embraced Anne into their family it would have benefited her to have this respectable role mode in her life, but instead she was left with an incredible sadness and no improvement to her lifestyle.

I thought this book gave an interesting perspective on this young girl's life and how the choices she made could effect the lives of the people around her. This read held my interest from beginning to the end. I also enjoyed getting to see the dynamics of a blended family and the relationship between a daughter and her perspective step-mother.

My question for the class is How would Cecile be different if her father raised her with more important morals?

read full post >>

For this weeks reading I read Bonjour Tristesse by Sagan, Françoise. The text was an easy and enjoyable read. The narrator Cecile was an intriguing narrator I was constantly hooked into what she would do or say. She was unpredictable. Her lifestyle of living in the moment caused her many problems because she put no thought into how her actions would effect her future. This is where Anne would have brought a positive influence into the 'live for now' dynamic Cecile had with her father. I found it crazy how on page 25 Cecile's father said why should Cecile get her diploma "I never got any diploma and I manage to live very well. . . . My daughter will always have a man to take care of her." This explains a lot about the relationship between Cecile and her dad because he doesn't expect anything of Cecile and this reinforces her carelessness about her life. 

Cecile's relationship with her father also affected her relationship and view of men in general. This can be seen when Cecile says "I much preferred my father's friends, men of forty, who spoke to me courteously and tenderly treated me with the gentleness of a father - or lover" (21). However I did not think Cecile's relationship with her father was as bad as some of the other readings, like Agostino, but the way he raised her brought up all sorts of other problems. Also it contributed to how stubborn she was when it came to her father's engagement to Anne. Anne valued all the things that Cecile could not stand. Anne came in the way of the life that Cecile built with her father and she was too stubborn to accept help until it was too late. Anne was the only person who held Cecile accountable especially when it came to her education. If Cecile could have embraced Anne into their family it would have benefited her to have this respectable role mode in her life, but instead she was left with an incredible sadness and no improvement to her lifestyle.

I thought this book gave an interesting perspective on this young girl's life and how the choices she made could effect the lives of the people around her. This read held my interest from beginning to the end. I also enjoyed getting to see the dynamics of a blended family and the relationship between a daughter and her perspective step-mother.

My question for the class is How would Cecile be different if her father raised her with more important morals?

read full post >>

When thinking back on Joseph Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley” I am struck by theme of the individual seeking liberation from the limitations placed on them socially. The journey that young José embarks encapsulates the duality that many people, especially marginalized people, experience trying to affirm themselves and establish their own voice within a society whose […] read full post >>

When thinking back on Joseph Zobel’s “Black Shack Alley” I am struck by theme of the individual seeking liberation from the limitations placed on them socially. The journey that young José embarks encapsulates the duality that many people, especially marginalized people, experience trying to affirm themselves and establish their own voice within a society whose […] read full post >>

After reading the “Black Shack Alley”’ by Joseph Zobel in 1950, I had this feeling of living in a Carribean sugar cane habitation myself. In Part One, Zobel tells the readers his childhood memories, which were blended by the loving image of M’man Tine and a series of bad consequences from his juvenile actions. The […] read full post >>

This hands down is my favourite of the books we’ve read so far. Black Shack Alley is the story of a boy named Jose who lives on the French Caribbean island of Martinique. In three parts we are showing his … Continue reading → read full post >>