Némirovsky does it again. Another repugnant main character, who nonetheless raises our sympathy. Another example of stereotype reflecting reality. To begin with I was horrified, as I was supposed to be, by this creature who is utterly trapped by her fear of aging. She has nothing to live for other than the impossible task of preserving her physical beauty, life for her is literally no more than how other people see her. One wants to say, at least things aren't like that any more. But they are, of course.

At the extreme end, I know various extremely wealthy women whose fears are the same as Gladys's. They have retreated from public life as their looks fade. Some of them have husbands who have mistresses on the side, have sired children with them even. They are willing to put up with the humiliation of this, rather than lose the prestige of their positions. Gladys has more pride than this.

https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2016/01/22/jezebel-by-irene-nemirovs... ( )

Némirovsky does it again. Another repugnant main character, who nonetheless raises our sympathy. Another example of stereotype reflecting reality. To begin with I was horrified, as I was supposed to be, by this creature who is utterly trapped by her fear of aging. She has nothing to live for other than the impossible task of preserving her physical beauty, life for her is literally no more than how other people see her. One wants to say, at least things aren't like that any more. But they are, of course.

At the extreme end, I know various extremely wealthy women whose fears are the same as Gladys's. They have retreated from public life as their looks fade. Some of them have husbands who have mistresses on the side, have sired children with them even. They are willing to put up with the humiliation of this, rather than lose the prestige of their positions. Gladys has more pride than this.

https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2016/01/22/jezebel-by-irene-nemirovs... ( )

Che inquietudine mi ha messo questa donna. Nel romanzo si contano: 82 volte la parola "bella" e 33 volte "bellezza", oltre a ben 87 volte la parola "giovane". Mentre vecchia, vecchia, invecchia etc. sommati sono presenti per 77 volte e "donna" per 105 volte. Questo assurdo conteggio spiega il tema del romanzo e l'inquietudine non solo della protagonista ma soprattutto dell'autrice che, da quello che ho letto, aveva una madre che ricorda un po' Gladys Eysenach. A parte che vorrei conoscere questa donna di sessant'anni che ne dimostra quaranta e che nessuno s'accorge che è in giro da vent'anni in più... Mettiamo che molti siamo morti per la guerra e che la guerra abbia fatto perdere un po' il conto ma... L'ossessione di Gladys per la bellezza e la giovinezza fa riflettere sul senso che diamo all'apparenza e sulla debolezza dei nostri valori.

It is evident by reading most of the reviews here that hardly anyone has any compassion or kinship with Gladys. As I am often called to do, I will do again, and that is stand alone and be that lone voice where nobody will understand or agree with me. That's ok - it is the story of my whole life.

I am no mirror image of Gladys as I am not now nor ever have been beautiful. I have extensive hair loss, so I cover up with turbans, scarves and hats when I leave the house, have weight issues and some other health issues, but at nearly 56 thru being an Avon lady at 16, I have cared for my skin my entire life. Never to become beautiful as that is not possible, I have too many features that aren't right to ever have been beautiful, but that said 35 years ago I was 70 pounds less, had long hair, clear skin, no double chin, no cellulite and weighed 110 pounds. All of the above is now reversed.

I don't want to be old and haggard. I realize if I live I will be forced to age, whether I like it or not, and I don't. So yeah, my bedroom and bathroom is filled to the gills, with lotions, potions, serums, scrubs, masks, hand creams, nice soap, etc. I am not hurting anyone, I have no boyfriend or husband to please or feel pressured by. I may never lose the weight, my hair is gone forever, so if I fuss over my complexion way too much, I am not hurting anyone, nor taking food out of the mouths of others, am not vain, as I already know I am not pretty.

So everyone here may hate Gladys, but maybe I am the only one here who understands her, to a certain degree I walk in her same shoes daily. ( )

Se posto a confronto con altri romanzi della Nemirovsky non certo il più riuscito... ( )