Bonjour Tristesse (Hello Sadness)
WHAT
BONJOUR TRISTESSE (HELLO SADNESS)
WHERE
HERE OR SECONDHAND BOOKSHOPS OR EBAY
HOW MUCH
NEW AROUND $12
FIRST EDITION $30-$1000 ON EBA
First editions are like virgins in a brothel: sought after, rarely fondled and destined to live out their days in a basement somewhere. Thankfully, these beauties can still be found in second-handbook stores, or if you're lucky enough (hint), will come to you from a dear friend...
BONJOUR TRISTESSE takes the reader to the South of France through the scheming eyes of Cécile, a 17-year-old hedonist on vacation with her father Raymond, the sensual and fetching widower, and his conservative mistress, Elsa. However, a third person is introduced into the otherwise routine romance between Raymond and Elsa; an old flame, Anne. Oh, that's original, a ménage à trois ...merci, Sagan.
Assuming the role of Cécile's surrogate mother, Anne pressures her to spend the summer studying instead of fornicating in pine needles with her first love, Cyril. Infuriated, Cécile plots Anne's demise, using Elsa and Cyril as pawns, and ruining her father's only chance of finding true love, in Anne.
Beautifully written by an 18-year-old Sagan (who, ironically, failed her Sorbonne exams and chose to write this book), BONJOUR TRISTESSE is for the pessimist, romantic or adolescent at heart.
Sex and pine needles, sex and pine needles.
Format: Book
Motivation: Good with a whiskey in the bath
Random Entries:
Search our guide to Sydney
Browse our guide to Sydney by interest
Browse our guide to Sydney by keyword
Sydney Events Calendar
Select a date to see what's on in Sydney
Browse our guide to Sydney by weekly issue
Working