A review by atticmoth
By Cecile by Tereska Torrès

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Geeze, this WW2 history book sure did have a lot of gay sex! I am somewhat joking, as Jeunes femmes en uniforme is a roman à clef, based on Tereska Torrès’ own experiences, and originally published in English as Women’s Barracks, one of the first lesbian pulp publications. Despite Torrès focusing more on the relationships between soldiers than the war itself, I find it hard to believe readers would find this titillating — the way she juxtaposes Colette-esque sexual escapades with for example the London Blitz says more about the war than most “objective” accounts. It’s important to remember that even if it’s fictionalized, it’s still based on real life, which is what makes the otherwise meandering and aimless story more interesting. It starts with five young women enlisting in the “Corps féminin” (something which invites lots of wordplay). At first, it was a bit hard to tell the characters apart, and I found it a bit too episodic, but towards the end a story emerged, a reminder of the tragedy of war and how it effects personal relationships. I could see someone like Wes Anderson adapting this book to film, the way it deliberately contrasts quirky patrimoine with the horrors of war.