This is a pessimistic story of Jeanne, a gentlewoman from Normandy, whose life starts off hopefully but ends in betrayal, loss and disillusion. First published in 1883. Translated from the French by H. N. P. Sloman.

Thanks so much for your donation tabby-cat-owner!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

Bookray shipping list:
Boekentrol (Netherlands)
Danielle23 (UK)
Pam99 (UK)<--received 3/2013

This book has been mailed to boekentrol of Friesland, The Netherlands to start off a 1001-library book bookray.

Let the bookray begin!

Enjoy!

Thank you very much, tabby-cat-owner for sending this book to me. It arrived safely today.
Very much unlike other times, I have no book ahead, so I can start this (or the other one) right away.

I'll keep you posted on my progress & opinion.

Despite the sadness of this book I liked it a lot. It is a tragic story of how a woman's life runs from childish hopes and dreams of eternal romantic love through disappointments in married life to being disappointed by her only child.

The main character, Jeanne, is very naïve and inexperienced, coming from a convent where she received her education and where she spent her time thinking about what life would have in store for her.
Romantic love, love, mariage, children, it all passed her thoughts and now she was 'set free', she felt more than ready to experience all she had untill then only been thinking about.

When the years of her life pass by, she becomes more and more melancholic and depressed, finding only temporary joy in raising her son. That lasts als long as it comes as a shock to her that he's grown up and decides to go his own way.

The ending of the book gave me the idea of a closing circle, like all could start over again.

This book is now continuing its journey to the next in line
Safe travels, little book and happy reading for Danielle23 :-)

The book is here with me and nice and safe. Will add to my seemingly ever growing pile of TBR Bookrings. Back to reading xx

I really enjoyed this book even though it had a very sad and depressing tone. I always enjoy the classics and this was no exception. Jeanne was very naive and I tended to guess the major plot twists that were coming, especially the one with Rosalie. Julien disappointed me; as a romantic at heart I suppose I expected more from him but it was fun to hate him all the same.

I began to despise Jeanne a little with her attitude towards Paul at the end of the novel and her naive attitude towards his money troubles, him returning home and I suppose, even his even sparing a thought for his family. But in the end I suppose I just felt so sorry for her and all the trauma she had suffered that I prayed for a happy ending for her,which I suppose was almost beginning as the novel ended. I agree with Boekentrol that the novel seemed to come full circle and I liked that it did that.

All in all a very good read and quite enjoyable.

Off to the next reader, I hopeyou enjoy it xx

thanks! I see I'm the last reader in the ray - I've got another ring book ahead of it so hopefully it won't be a problem if it takes me a couple of weeks to get to it - I'm not reading quite as much at usual because I moved house this week... I'm allegedly on holiday but between unpacking/moving things (it's still a bit of a work in progress) and helping in my partner's business, I'm not sure I'll get to read as much as I'd like!

I enjoyed this and I'm glad it came to me as a ray - it gave me the impetus to read something which would probably just have sat on my shelves otherwise. I've been reading quite a few 1001 books and I'm enjoying many of these classics more than I thought I would!

The book is rather bittersweet, you sense the frustrations of Jeanne's life and feel sorry for her, while at the same time wishing she were less passive (and less soft on her feckless son). Will make this available for other 1001 readers!

Thanks, this arrived last week at my parents'. Knowing nothing about the book, I look forward to reading it over the summer.

To be left on the bookcase.