Betty Blue: The Story of a Passion [Hardcover]

Philippe Djian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1988

This is a full-fledged lovers' tragedy between a drifter-turned-writer and the fatally flawed Betty, his muse and obsessive promoter.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Djian's five novels have won acclaim in Europe, and the present one was a bestseller later adapted into an offbeat film. It's not likely, however, that this tedious and melodramatic on-the-road novel of the most formless kind will have much impact here. The story revolves around the love affair between a drifter with an unpublished novel to his credit and a beautiful girl with itchy feet who, for no discernible reason (Djian doesn't seem to believe in reasons), goes from such eccentricities as pouring paint over a car and torching a house to self-destructive madness. Her passion-driven lover follows her from place to place (none identified), flattered by her faith in his literary talents and ready to try his hand at practically anything to keep the affair afloatplumbing, housepainting, pizza-making, selling pianos and, finally, armed robbery. The lovers fail to inspire credibility, or even interest, the events smack more of fantasy than reality and every so often the generally sloppy prose sinks to the level of "A smile spread over her face like an atomic bomb." Here is one disciple Kerouac would have disclaimed.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

An X-rated novel for readers who like X-rated movies. Of course, the novel came first (the French film Betty Blue was released recently in this country). Set in the United States, it is a French counterpart of Kerouac or Oates at their most complacently demoralizing. It is so authentically translated that it sounds as if written in English, and considering how derivative it is, it might as well have been. The narrator is a writer of the James Jones variety, and Betty is his victim and victimizer. Their saga of mutual abuse reaches a closure with her insanity. A best seller in France, this novel holds serious interest only for popular culture. Marilyn Gaddis Rose, SUNY at Binghamton
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 341 pages
• Publisher: Grove Pr; First Edition edition (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555841120
• ISBN-13: 978-1555841126
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,216,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful account of unconditional love, April 1, 2005

By 

Ms. G. Pugh (Bradford, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betty Blue (Hardcover)

Betty isn't the kind of girl you meet every day of the week. Most girls don't set fire to apartments, attack people, or kidnap children. But Betty is different, and whatever she might do, her boyfriend loves her with all his heart. This is his account of how he tries to keep up with the woman that he loves and his desperate attempts to make her happy, all resulting in danger, violence and constant action. Betty Blue is a compelling first-person narrative, beautifully descriptive and emotive, a paean to romance, and a stark reminder of the pain that love can bring.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent or is it the best ever?, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Betty Blue: The Story of a Passion (Hardcover)

I guess i have to agree with what everyone said about this book, it truely is fantastic. Please email me should anyone knows where i could get any other book(s) by this author

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pure magic of every-day life, August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Betty Blue: The Story of a Passion (Hardcover)

once i found out that there is nothing like luck or peace to find i learned to live my life. but as long as i know that chances arent too bad to get the one ore another from time to time, i do my best between the big moments.