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zoebeketova's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
msgtdameron's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Balzac wrote a great piece of psychological thought. Thought into the meaning of Love. Much of the work concerns love and what is love. Both characters keep trying to define love for themselves and each other. Louise, finds love as a whirlwind of sexual tension. Where getting the man to be your lover and slave to that love is prime. Renne, finds herself in a loveless marriage, at least from her perspective, but it is a marriage that is honorable for both her and her family. Louise grows to actually love her second husband as a man, but becomes jealous with out investigation. He has turned the tables on Louise by making her the one who is the slave in the relationship. Renne has children and loves them as a mother should, she learns to love her husband, and use her connection with Louise to promote him at Court. The end is well done Louise dies as a moth would when drawn to the flame. She lived fast died at 30 and left a beautiful memory. Renne buries Louise, then runs to her children and husband. The whole psychology of both women as they get to the end is truly fascinating and well written.
sydneyedens's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
love an epistolary novel, love women main characters, interesting to get a peek into 1900s very aristocratic france lol the patriarchy is quite something isn’t it
i’m reading war and peace right now too, and i’m literally learning so much about french history lol go off napoleon
i’m reading war and peace right now too, and i’m literally learning so much about french history lol go off napoleon
jlmb's review against another edition
3.0
Was going to rate the novel 4 stars until that ending - hahaha, it was so over the top & ridiculous. Louise singing arias on her deathbed - her illness being consumption/tuberculosis that she contracted not by being infected by the bacteria of a sick person but by rolling around in the morning dew. Bwahahaha. You cannot make this up. And it only took 3 weeks from initial diagnosis to death.
I was relieved when she was dying - Balzac brilliantly created a narcissistic jerk in Louise. She said and did so many self-centered, horrible things. She never progressed beyond the horny teenager stage of life. I loved the bit where Louise secretly gets out of bed in the morning and does her toilette so when her husband awakes she too pretends to awake, looking ravishing and groomed. Like Kirsten Wig does in the movie Bridesmaid. Or how the main character in the tv show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel does as well. I guess that is really a thing - some women are so vain, so insecure - that they cannot allow anyone, even their husband, to see them at any time other than impeccably groomed. It was happening 175 years ago when this book was written and it happens today.
I also found brilliant Balzac's descriptions of Renee's labor, her breastfeeding and her typical day as the mother of young children. For a man back then to be so in touch with what women go through is amazing. I kept wondering who he interviewed, who he talked to, to get such personal & real life details. I'm curious to read more works of his so I can see if his portrayal of women remains so on-pointe.
Even though the two main characters are wildly unpleasant & judgmental, I still enjoyed the book. Balzac really had his finger on the pulse of life. Looking forward to reading more of his Human Comedy novels.
I was relieved when she was dying - Balzac brilliantly created a narcissistic jerk in Louise. She said and did so many self-centered, horrible things. She never progressed beyond the horny teenager stage of life. I loved the bit where Louise secretly gets out of bed in the morning and does her toilette so when her husband awakes she too pretends to awake, looking ravishing and groomed. Like Kirsten Wig does in the movie Bridesmaid. Or how the main character in the tv show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel does as well. I guess that is really a thing - some women are so vain, so insecure - that they cannot allow anyone, even their husband, to see them at any time other than impeccably groomed. It was happening 175 years ago when this book was written and it happens today.
I also found brilliant Balzac's descriptions of Renee's labor, her breastfeeding and her typical day as the mother of young children. For a man back then to be so in touch with what women go through is amazing. I kept wondering who he interviewed, who he talked to, to get such personal & real life details. I'm curious to read more works of his so I can see if his portrayal of women remains so on-pointe.
Even though the two main characters are wildly unpleasant & judgmental, I still enjoyed the book. Balzac really had his finger on the pulse of life. Looking forward to reading more of his Human Comedy novels.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
The Memoirs of Two Young Wives by Honoré de Balzac, (Jordan Stump translator) is a 2018 NYRB Classics publication. This book was originally published under the title Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées in 1841.
When NYRB Classics sent out an email announcing the release of this classic epistolary novel, which is not, as the title suggests, a memoir, I was intrigued enough to request a purchase of it for my Overdrive library, which they were kind enough to do.
What an interesting story! Told strictly via letters exchanged between two friends who met while attending a convent school together. They remained friends, throughout their entire lives, despite the very vast differences in the paths their lives took in adulthood.
Renee chose a traditional life, marrying for comfort and companionship, to boost her husband’s morale and confidence, and for the pleasure of motherhood. Although she loves her husband in a way, theirs is not an all consuming love affair.
Louise, lives for love, passion, society, and glamour. She is not in any way tempted by domesticity, nor does she display the slightest maternal instinct. She loves passionately, takes risks, attends social galas, and seems to love every minute of her dramatic life. But, she may pay a heavy toll for her choices.
While each wife regales the other with their ups and downs, heartaches, trials, and triumphs, often urging each other to accept or acknowledge the benefits of the life they have chosen.
The reader will see both sides clearly, and will, without much nudging from the author, decide which wife has made the best choice. Will they come to regret those decisions? Are they secretly envious of each other in big or small ways? Wistful perhaps? Which life would you choose to lead? Renee's or Louise's?
This is a variant on the ‘coming of age’ trope, and while the story is tragic, what really stands out is the bond between Renee and Louise. They often disagree, go through long periods without correspondence, but love each other, despite the obvious chasms between them.
I love my books, and really, really get involved with them on occasion, prompting me to do Google searches or ‘further reading’ if a topic interests me. In this case, I was a little afraid I might be completely out of my element, so I did a little research, and discovered some interesting facts about the book and the author, which was very helpful since I don’t ordinarily read French novels, although it seems I may be the only person on the planet unfamiliar with Balzac.
Originally, this French language epistolary, was serialized in a French newspaper. It was first translated in 1902.
It has been noted that the author did an amazing job of giving these women a voice, writing from the female perspective, with acute sensitivity for a man. He provided social commentary throughout and touched on the various forms of love, romance and marriage.
It is my understanding that compared to Balzac’s most famous work, this one barely made a blip when first published, but now, after taking it out and dusting off, it seems to be a rare and poignant discovery, even if it is not exactly what those familiar with his work are accustomed to.
As for me, with nothing else to compare it to, I was thrilled to discover this ‘lost’ classic and happy to see that is now in digital format.
It is a unique epistolary book, I am happy I took the time and extra effort to obtain. Needless to say, this has been an interesting, and pleasant learning experience for me. Although the story does end on a rather somber note, it does provoke thought and did indeed have me thinking about these two women, both of whom lived life on their own terms, for better or worse.
4 stars
When NYRB Classics sent out an email announcing the release of this classic epistolary novel, which is not, as the title suggests, a memoir, I was intrigued enough to request a purchase of it for my Overdrive library, which they were kind enough to do.
What an interesting story! Told strictly via letters exchanged between two friends who met while attending a convent school together. They remained friends, throughout their entire lives, despite the very vast differences in the paths their lives took in adulthood.
Renee chose a traditional life, marrying for comfort and companionship, to boost her husband’s morale and confidence, and for the pleasure of motherhood. Although she loves her husband in a way, theirs is not an all consuming love affair.
Louise, lives for love, passion, society, and glamour. She is not in any way tempted by domesticity, nor does she display the slightest maternal instinct. She loves passionately, takes risks, attends social galas, and seems to love every minute of her dramatic life. But, she may pay a heavy toll for her choices.
While each wife regales the other with their ups and downs, heartaches, trials, and triumphs, often urging each other to accept or acknowledge the benefits of the life they have chosen.
The reader will see both sides clearly, and will, without much nudging from the author, decide which wife has made the best choice. Will they come to regret those decisions? Are they secretly envious of each other in big or small ways? Wistful perhaps? Which life would you choose to lead? Renee's or Louise's?
This is a variant on the ‘coming of age’ trope, and while the story is tragic, what really stands out is the bond between Renee and Louise. They often disagree, go through long periods without correspondence, but love each other, despite the obvious chasms between them.
I love my books, and really, really get involved with them on occasion, prompting me to do Google searches or ‘further reading’ if a topic interests me. In this case, I was a little afraid I might be completely out of my element, so I did a little research, and discovered some interesting facts about the book and the author, which was very helpful since I don’t ordinarily read French novels, although it seems I may be the only person on the planet unfamiliar with Balzac.
Originally, this French language epistolary, was serialized in a French newspaper. It was first translated in 1902.
It has been noted that the author did an amazing job of giving these women a voice, writing from the female perspective, with acute sensitivity for a man. He provided social commentary throughout and touched on the various forms of love, romance and marriage.
It is my understanding that compared to Balzac’s most famous work, this one barely made a blip when first published, but now, after taking it out and dusting off, it seems to be a rare and poignant discovery, even if it is not exactly what those familiar with his work are accustomed to.
As for me, with nothing else to compare it to, I was thrilled to discover this ‘lost’ classic and happy to see that is now in digital format.
It is a unique epistolary book, I am happy I took the time and extra effort to obtain. Needless to say, this has been an interesting, and pleasant learning experience for me. Although the story does end on a rather somber note, it does provoke thought and did indeed have me thinking about these two women, both of whom lived life on their own terms, for better or worse.
4 stars
michaelgreenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“How comforting it is to know the life of an absent friend!” 💖
Louise and Renee! This is my first Balzac novel and it is a wonderful, willful novel of letters! The book oscillates between two friends writing elaborate notes to each other with their secret thoughts regarding their love lives. One lives in Paris and one in the province, both trying their best to remain independent despite French society’s pitfalls for women. The two friends have a delightful, combative 19th century energy! It is difficult to fully explain!
What I enjoyed: both Louise and Renee feel like complex characters instead of caricatures of women, they try on different ideas and challenge each other, swapping out the ideas as life gets more intense. It was COMPELLING to read two best friends destabilize each other’s considerations of what a good life is! 👌
What I was less enthralled by: the detailed politics in Spain subplot???
If you pick this up, get ready for contrasting, philosophical letters in which two friends drag each other for their romantic choices. It also offers a fascinating look into how ~*motherhood*~ was framed as all-or-nothing for women denied their own inheritances in post-Napoleonic France.
lnatal's review against another edition
4.0
Opening:
A GEORGES SAND.
Ceci, cher Georges [Bien que Sand ait toujours écrit son prénom, George, sans s, nous respectons ici la graphie de l'édition Furne, que Balzac n'a pas corrigée.], ne saurait rien ajouter à l'éclat de votre nom, qui jettera son magique reflet sur ce livre; mais il n'y a là de ma part ni calcul, ni modestie. Je désire attester ainsi l'amitié vraie qui s'est continuée entre nous à travers nos voyages et nos absences, malgré nos travaux et les méchancetés du monde. Ce sentiment ne s'altérera sans doute jamais. Le cortège de noms amis qui accompagnera mes compositions mêle un plaisir aux peines que me cause leur nombre, car elles ne vont point sans douleurs, à ne parler que des reproches encourus par ma menaçante fécondité, comme si le monde qui pose devant moi n'était pas plus fécond encore? Ne sera-ce pas beau, Georges, si quelque jour l'antiquaire des littératures détruites ne retrouve dans ce cortège que de grands noms, de nobles coeurs, de saintes et pures amitiés, et les gloires de ce siècle? Ne puis-je me montrer plus fier de ce bonheur certain que de succès toujours contestables? Pour qui vous connaît bien, n'est-ce pas un bonheur que de pouvoir se dire, comme je le fais ici,
Votre ami,
DE BALZAC.
Paris, juin 1840.
Location 11254:
Si l'amour est la vie du monde, pourquoi d'austères philosophes le suppriment-ils dans le mariage? Pourquoi la Société prend-elle pour loi suprême de sacrifier la Femme à la Famille en créant ainsi nécessairement une lutte sourde au sein du mariage? Lutte prévue par elle et si dangereuse qu'elle a inventé des pouvoirs pour en armer l'homme contre nous, en devinant que nous pouvions tout annuler soit par la puissance de la tendresse, soit par la persistance d'une haine cachée. Je vois en ce moment, dans le mariage, deux forces opposées que le législateur aurait dû réunir; quand se réuniront-elles?
Location 11671:
Le plus bel attribut des grands principes de morale, c'est d'être vrais et profitables de quelque côté qu'on les étudie.
Location 11740:
Oui, la femme qui ne fait pas, comme moi, quelque secret mariage d'amour caché sous les noces légales et publiques, doit se jeter dans la maternité comme une âme à qui la terre manque se jette dans le ciel!
Location 12892:
Le monde est un grand comédien; et, comme le comédien, il reçoit et renvoie tout, il ne conserve rien.
Location 13045:
En substituant des sentiments durables à la fugitive folie de la nature, elle (la société) a créé la plus grande chose humaine: la Famille, éternelle base des Sociétés.
3* La maison du Chat-qui-pelote (1830)
3* Le bal de Sceaux (1830)
3* La Bourse (1830)
4* La Vendetta (1830)
3* Madame Firmiani (1832)
3* Une Double Famille (1830)
4* La paix du ménage (1830)
3* La Fausse Maîtresse (1842)
3* Étude de femme (1830)
4* Albert Savarus (1842)
4* Mémoires de Deux Jeunes Mariées (1841)
alexture's review against another edition
5.0
une fille se marie, son mari est triste, il meurt. elle se remarie, elle est triste, elle meurt. c'est pas mal.
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