Bonbons assortis

by Michel Tremblay

On This Page

Description

Bonbons Assortis / Assorted Candies is Michel Tremblay's fourth (and he says last) book of autobiographical narratives inspired by his childhood and youth. Like the previous three volumes, which celebrate the books, plays and films that shaped his imagination and writing life, this collection of eight delightful stories takes us back to Tremblay's formative years in Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal, offering the reader poignant and joyful childhood memories as varied as the assorted candies his show more mother hoarded under her bed, to be shared only on the most festive or dramatic of family occasions. Here we get to see the world through the eyes of young Michel, who is often discovered observing the other nine members of the bustling household on Fabre Street from his hiding place under the dining-room table. His mother, Nana (immortalized in the play For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again), dominates these memories; but the tender, cherished moments shared with his father, along with his prickly paternal grandmother and irascible aunt (who inspired his unforgettable character Albertine), also profoundly shape this child's view of the world. Neighbours, from whom the family haplessly tries to hide their poverty with dignity, brothers and an uncle (who, telephoning from the local tavern, claims to be Santa calling from the North Pole), complete the rich and colourful cast of characters in this exquisite remembrance of childhood past. show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

3 reviews
Finally! I found something by Tremblay that I could actually read. This is a book of short stories about his youth. The "bonbons" in the title refer to a box of candy his mother would receive and dole out, a piece at a time, to her family, while doing her best to keep the rest to herself. The dynamics of the family and the neighborhood reveal themselves through the candy, the holiday, and a special wedding present. He's the gay Canadian Jean Shepherd.
Un bonheur, bonheur d'écriture, de lecture, de rire et de tendresse.
"Présentation de l'éditeur
La petite enfance de Michel Tremblay contient en germe la sensibilité et l'émotivité si vives de l'œuvre à venir. Quand il ouvre le tiroir de ce paradis perdu, les trésors qu'il y découvre sont plus vivants que jamais, plus savoureux parce que plus de cinquante ans ont passé, qui les ont affinés en vibrants récits. C'était l'époque où la magie du père Noël opérait encore et où les gentils mensonges des adultes tenaient lieu de vérités : ceux de son frère Jacques et de sa marraine Robertine, ceux de son oncle Josaphat et de sa grand-mère Tremblay, mais surtout ceux de sa mère Nana, qui mêle bonne et mauvaise foi avec un égal bonheur et dont le rire sonore fuse à travers tout l'univers show more de l'écrivain.

Quatrième de couverture
La petite enfance de Michel Tremblay contient en germe la sensibilité et l'émotivité si vives de l’œuvre à venir. Quand il ouvre le tiroir de ce paradis perdu, les trésors qu'il y découvre sont plus vivants que jamais, plus savoureux parce que plus de cinquante ans ont passé, qui les ont affinés en vibrants récits. C'était l'époque où la magie du père Noël opérait encore et où les gentils mensonges des adultes tenaient lieu de vérités: ceux de son frère Jacques et de sa marraine Robertine, ceux de son oncle Josaphat et de sa grand-mère Tremblay, mais surtout ceux de sa mère Nana, qui mêle bonne et mauvaise foi avec un égal bonheur et dont le rire sonore fuse à travers tout l'univers de l'écrivain.

L'auteur vu par l'éditeur
Né à Montréal en 2942, Michel Tremblay est l'auteur d'une trentaine de pièces de théâtre et d'une vingtaine de récits et de romans, dont le cycle des Chroniques du Plateau-Mont-Royal.
"de Amazon.fr
show less

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

Picture of author.
92+ Works 2,576 Members

Some Editions

Gaboriau, Linda (Translator)

Awards and Honors

Classifications

Genres
Biography & Memoir, Fiction and Literature, Literature Studies and Criticism
DDC/MDS
842.914Literature & rhetoricFrench LiteratureFrench drama1900-20th century1945-1999
LCC
PQ3919.2 .T73 .Z462413Language and LiteratureFrench, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese literaturesFrench literatureProvincial, local, colonial, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
66
Popularity
471,074
Reviews
3
Rating
½ (3.69)
Languages
English, French
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
9