Le Divorce

Written by Diane Johnson

Narrated by Suzanne Toren

Diane Johnson, critically acclaimed author of Le Mariage, has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize during her distinguished career. The best-selling Le Divorce, a witty and insightful look at clashing cultures, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Isabel Walker has flown to Paris to offer moral support for Roxy, her pregnant stepsister. Roxy's husband Charles-Henri, favorite son of a powerful French family, is having a love affair. Divorce seems imminent. When her entire family arrives to help with legal issues, Isabel feels intense pressure to keep everything from falling apart. And in the background, the unstable husband of Charles-Henri's lover lurks menacingly. A resident of both America and France, Diane Johnson infuses this shrewd comedy of manners with keen observations about cultural differences. Narrator Suzanne Toren creates a stylish, smart, and sexy Isabel who strives to stay grounded amidst everything Paris has to offer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 6, 2008
• ISBN: 9781440797057

Reviews for Le Divorce

[Anale'a Crittenden Geske · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The book’s flow felt forced, as if all the pieces were just put together clumsily.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Plot was intriguing and fun to follow.Characters were alternately bewildering and amusing: "I know I am dumb about speaking French...."Though adultery appears commonplace in this book,it felt like a lack of character for Isabel to so easily betrayanother woman with a husband so open to a mistress.Not only did the ending feel contrived, with no explanation of howthe murderer knew they would be at EuroDisney,but the author and her main character's complete disdain and lack of respect for the never-ending French cruelty of foie gras was painful to read.Would she have joined in with bull-fighting in Spain or seal hunts in Canada?

[xirxe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bei diesem Buch kann man mal wieder sehen, was Titel und Umschlag so anrichten können ;-) Was aussieht wie ein typischer Chicklit-Roman ist tatsächlich eine amüsante Familiengeschichte, die ihren Unterhaltungswert aus der Gegenüberstellung der französischen und der amerikanischen Lebensart bezieht.
Die junge aus Kalifornien kommende Isabel reist nach Paris, um dort ihrer Stiefschwester Roxy zur Seite zu stehen, die ihr zweites Kind erwartet. Doch statt eines erholsamen Frankreichurlaubes mit ein bisschen Babysitting gerät sie mitten hinein in die etwas chaotischen Familienbeziehungen ihrer Stiefschwester. Deren französischer Ehemann hat sie unmittelbar vor Isabels Ankunft verlassen, da er die Liebe seines Lebens gefunden hat, was seine Familie jedoch nicht daran hindert, die gemeinsamen Gepflogenheiten aufrechtzuhalten und das Vorgefallene diskret zu ignorieren. Isabel, neugierig und offen, registriert voller Interesse die unterschiedlichen Verhaltens- und Lebensweisen und lässt uns Lesende bis in ihr eigenes Liebesleben hinein (natürlich mit einem Franzosen!) daran teilhaben. Es geht um Gütertrennung, Geld, Essen (naturellement ;-)), Kunst, die Liebe und auch um den schlichten Alltag. Ein rundum schönes, unterhaltsames Buch, dass einem nicht nur die Franzosen sondern auch die Amerikaner näher bringt. Und manchmal, manchmal sind sie auch gar nichts so weit voneinander entfernt.
Übrigens, das Ganze wurde 2003 unter dem Titel 'Eine Affäre in Paris' mit Kate Hudson und Naomi Watts in den Hauptrollen verfilmt. Wobei der Schluss im Film offenbar wesentlich theatralischer ist als im Buch.

[guiltlessreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Yes this is chick lit, but it's not fluff. A social commentary of a young woman, family relations, love relations, etc. in France.

A good read, realistic. But if you don't know French, you may struggle a bit when french phrases and sentences find their way into the text.

[melissavenable · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My sister gave me this book to read on a long plane ride and I loved it. This story of two sisters and their lives, crises, and adventures is entertaining and informational (French culture, food, fashion, cafes). Another book I hoped would keep going.

[agentjade · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I bought this book because it had a really compelling blurb on the back: it sounded like such a good book.I don't think it will really be worth your time.There are some light, enjoyable moments. I enjoyed the French v. American culture play and some of the narrator's (Isabel's) introspection/thoughts. Perhaps this is why Ms. Francine Prose lists it among dozens of classic and contemporary book she thinks all aspiring writers and lovers of books should read "immediately"....But there was just something lacking; I almost didn't make it all the way through.

[hockeycrew_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had just finished taking a course in french culture when I read this book. In that sense it was interesting. Otherwise, I wasn't crazy about it. Although I sort of like how it ends.