The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles

The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles begins when Josphine’s husband runs away with his mistress to run a crocodile farm in Kenya. He leaves shy, bookish Josephine short on money and confidence. Her much bolder sister Iris takes advantage by getting Josephine to write a book that will be published under Iris’s name while Josephine pockets the proceeds. Fortunately, in the aftermath of her husband’s departure, Josephine will begin to gain the courage to stand on her own.

The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles describes a wide variety of romantic relationships. While that could lead to a book that was just fluffy drama, in Katherine Pancol’s hands it became an intelligent study of human nature. In the author interview at the back of the book, show more Pancol describes her belief that the plot of a book should flow directly from the characters’ fully imagined personalities. Her book embodied this philosophy, with a beautifully believable, character-driven plot. In that way, it reminded me very much of Someone Else’s Love Story. The author does a great job balancing the many plots her characters find themselves embroiled in. It wasn’t difficult to keep track of relationships and I cared how each and every story was going to play out.

The author’s ability to describe a scene was very impressive. In some books, enough details are shared that it becomes impossible to get an impression of the whole scene. Pancol does an incredible job selecting just the details that convey the character of a scene or a person. The initial scene of this book gave me one of the most vivid mental images I’ve ever gotten from a book. The few words kept in the original French added to the atmosphere. I also enjoyed the details to she chose to share about Josephine’s book writing process. It was just enough to give a general idea of the story and of how it related to Josephine’s life. I think the length of this book and the time it covered was also important for conveying Josephine’s character growth. She changes very gradually and believably. I couldn’t help rooting for her.

As someone who likes happy endings, I liked that things wrapped up with everyone I liked apparently going to get what they wanted. I would have liked a slightly more tied up ending though. For instance, a neighbor has a fascinating secret that’s never connected to the rest of the book. It’s also not entirely clear what’s going to happen next for some of the characters. Fortunately, there are two more books! Hopefully they’ll be translated too, because I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

This review first published on Doing Dewey. show less

Josephine's husband is not great and Iris (Josephine's sister) is incredibly self-centered. Both of these people use Josephine's kindness against her, but she eventually realizes that she's better than both of them.

I enjoyed the zany and varied cast of characters here. There were a lot of different story lines happening that all connected in some way (it was like reading Love Actually).

I definitely enjoyed...I mean I finished it and that seems to be quite a task for me lately. I'm curious to see if the other books in this series are published in the US because I want to know what happens to a couple of these characters.

Ya renombrada y conocida en toda Europa, Katherine Pancol, es la culpable de la serie de novelas, conocidas popularmente como "Trilogía Animal", sin otro significado que el título de las mismas, con un fin más comercial que literario propiamente dicho, dado que no tienen relación alguna (o tienen muy poca, casi insignificante) con el contenido de la novela así.

Se trata de unos libros gruesos, que me han acompañado durante casi dos meses de lectura, cuya historia gira entorno a un núcleo de personajes relacionados entre sí, en la que sus vidas se entrelazan y se enfrentan, en las situaciones cotidianas o surrealistas, en ocasionas hasta forzadas. La trama es atractiva, y la narración es muy cuidada y hermosa en la primera parte, show more sin embargo en las secuelas la calidad decae vertiginosamente, haciéndose sumamente repetitiva y aburrida, sin nada que innovar. Los personajes evolucionan a duras penas, volcándose en la misma actitud página tras página.

Recomiendo leer la primera parte, "Los ojos Amarillos de los Cocodrilos", por su remarcable calidad literaria. Las otras dos, no aportarán nada nuevo. show less

Wow! What I read, not only I enjoyed the book, and I would love to know when the other two books of the series will be translated into English. I don't know French, and I'd love to know what happens with the characters.
This is a fast-paced, funny, and poignant story, and as with the best stories, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The story is delightfully engaging and clever, with multiple storylines that keep the reader wanting more. There were some of the most unforgettable fictional characters I've ever read. This novel was a totally new reading experience - because the characters were so FRENCH. Meaning that they have their own way about them - from fashion, food to beliefs on marriage, and mistresses. I found myself show more laughing out loud, gasping with surprise, wanting to smack a few of these characters, feeling deeply sympathetic to Josephine, and also deeply respecting her even when she seemed like her whole world of family and friends were walking all over her. There were numerous surprises in this novel - characters who seem to be one way turned out to be completely different. Circumstances seemed to point to one impression but end up being completely different. I loved that.

At the end of it, this edition of the book has an interview with the author that answers questions about writing. She has some good tips that can help all of the people who write or want to publish their writing. show less

this took me by surprize. I enjoyed it. She writes well, all the various view points blending into each other without getting confusing. I hate books where I feel like I need a score card to keep track of everyone. She made me care about these people, even the not nice ones.
I recommend it. It's not really chick lit.

I saw this book is an international bestseller. After receiving a complimentary copy and reading it, I am really wondering what the appeal is. This book basically reminded me of a bunch of cats howling on a back fence at each other. I did not like any of the characters. They were rude, condescending and completely ludicrous.

Josephine is upset when she discovers her husband has been cheating on her. He runs off with his mistress to Africa to raise crocodiles. Meanwhile, Josephine's successful sister, Iris, unhappy with her own life, asks Josephine to write a novel. She can get the money, but Iris wants the fame and glory.

Throughout the book, Josephine is constantly trashed by her bratty kids. She basically does nothing and lets EVERYONE show more walk all over her. Lots of contradictions in the dialogue also. One minute the characters are saying one thing and the next, they say the opposite. Not sure if the French version is better written and things get lost in the english translation.

The characters were definitely not likable. There is even a slutty secretary sleeping with the wealthy, married boss. She decides to get pregnant to keep him and they basically live happily ever after. What?! My recommendation is to read this book only on a beach vacation where you are completely distracted by the ocean and the sand. The characters were just too horrible to each other. show less

After reading a review "Crocodile Eyes" I immediately put my name in for a copy at my local library. From the very beginning I was caught up in the story of Josephine and her family, living just outside of Paris. In the very first pages her marriage breaks up and she is on her own, raising 2 daughters while her ne'er do well husband chases his fortune (and fate) raising crocodiles in Kenya. All along I could not help root for Josephine, who makes her living translating manuscripts and the 12th century life.
I was very entertained by the story of a strong woman who finds a way to stand up to life, find love and make a life for her and her daughters. But do not be fooled, while this story takes place in Paris wit some wily characters, it show more is basically chick lit in disguise. I liked it a lot!! show less