Customer Reviews

Stupeur Et Tremblements

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

J'ai acheté le livre de N. Nothomb et je l'ai dévoré en 2 jours. Qu'est-ce que c'est amusant ! Je crois que je vais acheter ses autres bouquins, car elle a un style d'écriture excellent et qui qui est très agréable à lire. En plus elle manie très bien le sarcasme et elle utilise un vocabulaire très riche et très soutenu.

If you have never read a book in french but are willing to try, pick up this one. It may not be her finest work, but it's extremely funny and easy to read; you'll find yourself lol-ing and loving it. I've looked at the sample pages of the english translation, and they seem pretty good, but if you feel like improving your french, this copy is what you are looking for. It took me 2 long hot baths to finish it. Pure pleasure for the brain, wrinkles for my skin. In any case, she's refreshing.

This young belgium writer - nominated by French Academy under her 30's, is one of the best contemporary french speaking writers. She has a strange sense of humour, an accurate aproach to FAR EAST culture (her father has been a dipomat in Japan and China,) and an extraordinary hability to build up plots on human miseries that arises disgust and empathy all together. I read all her books published in french, and I recommend them all. The ones I liked best are "La Métaphysique des tubes", "La sabotage amoreux", "Stupeur et Tremblements" and "Péplum".

A very very funny book, where this girl tells us about her experience in a company in Asia ...
Very good sense of humor, using which she describes how she went from an intern to the person who cleans the toilets, just because she didnt understand the 'confusianism' of Asian people
really good book, if you can read it in french ...
Enjoy your reading !!

One of the funniest books I have ever read, yet extremely subtle. If you don't read French, this book would justify learning.

Histoire de comment Amelie Nothomb en apprend plus sur la culture du travail japonaise lorsqu'elle obtient un poste dans un conglomerat Japonais. Tres bien ecrit, surprenant, observations acides et justes. Recommande.

A wild, wonderful book! Would recommend "The Stranger Next Door" by the same author as even wilder!

Having lived and worked in Japan myself for over ten years, with many similar experiences, I completely related to this book. Not only was it funny, but it was insightful of the Japanese culture and the inner workings of Japanese companies. Amelie's approach to dealing with the absurdities of Japanese passive-aggressive behavior was brilliant. This was not only funny and insightful, but it was good story telling as she beat the Japanese at their own game.

Recently, I have been been trying to recover my French language abilities. A Belgian friend of mine recommended this book to me after we saw that Amelie Nothomb was coming to D.C. to promote some of her newer books. I ordered this and another of her books so I would be familiar with some of her works before we went to her promotional interview that was held at the D.C. Alliance Francaise.
This book was a very quick and funny read. It was at the perfect level for my rusty French skills too. It really reels you in quickly and keeps you reading. The author was very funny in person too. She is an amazing person that from an early age traveled all over Asia and other parts of the world with her Belgian Diplomat parents. I recommend this book as a quick funny easy read. I am eager to read more of this unique and intelligent lady's books too. I highly recommend seeing her in person as well. She is a beautiful and very entertaining person.

The book arrived on time and in excellent shape!
Thank you,
Nelda