Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: History / General; Drama / Continental European; Literary Collections / Continental European; Drama / Continental European; Fiction / Action ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cute
This is a short book about Toby-the-Dog and Kiki-the-Demure (cat) and their various adventures.What I found far more interesting and illuminating was the introduction by Madame Willy herself which is both beautifully written and delightfully quirky. ... Read more

Product Description
The Collected Stories of Colette beings together in one volume for the first time in any language the comprehensive collection of short stories by the novelist known worldwide as Colette, and now acknowledged, with Proust, as the most original French narrative writer of the first half of our century. of the one hundred stories gathered here, thirty-one appear for the first time in English and another twenty-nine have been newly translated for this volume.
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Customer Reviews (6)

Amazing Writer
God, I love these short stories. These are a must, must read for anyone interested in France during this time period, and someone interested in the nuances of human relationships. Colette was given as a gift to me some 20 years ago, and I have reread these stories so many times, the book is falling apart.

superb
Her short stories are superb!Much much better than any of her novels.If you like short stories, try reading John O'hara (A completely different vein, but excellent also).

A full life
The Collected Stories of Colette by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, ed., and with an introduction by, Robert Phelps. Highly recommended.

According to the introduction, this collection represents 100 stories taken from a dozen volumes published during Colette's lifetime. They are categorised as "Early Stories," Backstage at the Music Hall," "Varieties of Human Nature," and "Love." Some, like the Clouk/Chéri stories, appear to be fiction, while many, like "The Rainy Moon" and "Bella-Vista," seem to be taken straight from Colette's varied life and acquaintances.

Whether writing fiction or chronicling fact, whether writing in the third-person omniscient or in the first person, Colette herself is always a character-rarely as an influencer, that is, one whose actions or choices drive the plot. Colette's preferred role is as observer-and it is one for which she is well suited.

An inveterate sensualist and a former music-hall performer, Colette integrates her characters (real and fictional) with everything around them-their clothes (costumes), their abodes, dressing rooms, and haunts (sets), and their neighborhoods and towns (theatres). Much of Colette's writing, no matter how mundane the surface subject, is about art-the art of living and, notably, the art of loving. In "My Goddaughter," the subject tells her godmother how she injured herself with scissors and a curling iron and recounts her mother's reaction. "She said that I had ruined her daughter for her! She said, 'What have you done with my beautiful hair which I tended so patiently? . . . And that cheek, who gave you permission to spoil it! . . . I've taken years, I've spent my days and nights, trembling over this masterpiece. . . ."

Colette is attuned to everything, every sense, every nuance. "A faint fragrance did indeed bring to my nostrils the memory of various scents which are at their strongest in autumn." ("Gibriche") ". . . set in a bracelet, which slithered between her fingers like a cold and supple snake." ("The Bracelet") " . . . the supper of rare fruits, an[d]of ice water sparkling in the thin glasses, as intoxicating as champagne . . ." ("Florie") "Peroxided hair, light-colored eyes, white teeth, something about her of an appetizing but slightly vulgar young washerwoman." ("Gitanette")

Colette does not pretend to be an objective observer of human behaviour; she does not hesitate to express to the reader her weariness with certain individuals or situations, and her stories of her vain, pretentious, overbearing friend Valentine reveal her jaded and waning affection. She knows this woman so well that she sees her almost as Valentine sees herself-a drama queen acting out stories, roles, and games without depth of feeling for them. "What Must We Look Like?" becomes Valentine's driving philosophy, to which Colette responds with "a mild, a kindly pity." In "The Hard Worker," Colette says, "I can see she does not hate him, but I cannot see she loves him either." What Colette sees-and does not see-is to be respected.

Some stories, such as "The Sick Child," are vivid and imaginative and reveal Colette's amazing ability to think and dream like a gifted child. "The Advice," with its mundane beginning and premise and twisted, horrifying ending would enhance any collection of gothic or mystery tales. Other stories, like "Gibriche,"several of the other music-hall stories, and "Bella-Vista," tackle topics that even today remain controversial. "Bella-Vista," in which Colette's moods seem to wane with every familiarity achieved with her hostesses, offers an ending that is heavily foreshadowed throughout but is surprising and gruesome nonetheless.

Most of the stories, whether fiction or nonfiction, seem to come from life in one way or another. The quantity of stories and the quality of the collection reveal the incredible scope of experience of Colette, the dry, often weary yet obsessive observer, interpreter, and chronicler of human nature. As Judith Thurman says in her introduction to Colette's work, The Pure and the Impure, "This great ode to emptiness was written by a woman who felt full." As well she should.

Diane L. Schirf, 27 May 2003.

If you love Colette, these are absolute gems
Ok. You've read the Claudine novels, and Cheri and the Return of Cheri. Now what? There are other novels (The Vagabond, Gigi, My Mother's House) but there are these short stories that are "must-reads."

Colette was one of France's most distinguished writers. Though not a writer of massive books like Victor Hugo or Proust, or of psychological novels like Zola or Flaubert, she caught that French essence of individuality and quirkiness andthe golden age of La Belle Epoque before World War One changed France forever. Her books are pure joy as are these short stories. If you have NOT read Colette, you are in for a treat. (And don't neglect Claudine or Cheri. )

Perfect Intro to a forgotten female author's best work
If you're looking for a refreshing deviation from the mean of women writers, then Colette is it. Her stories offer a pleasurable clearing of the literary palate. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (23)

Buy this book: "Remembering the Future"
I love this book. I never realized how much reading one book could open my mind to so many things. Her story is amazing and inspirational. I highly recommend it.

A must read for everyone!
This book is more than discovering your intuition - it's is a great tool to improve all aspects of your life!

Practical explanation
This book explains things to me in a way I can relate - from someone who has been there & back.The message is how to recover your intuition. If you have had it and lost it, there is a way to recover it - but you have to understand what it is that is blocking you from it. Colette gives practical explanations of the various reasons for the blockage and shows the path to recovering the connection. This requires an effort on the part of the reader - and the question becomes, can you be honest with yourself and clear the blockages?

Awesome book!!!
This book is very insperational and informative.The insight that Colette offers will open doors.

good
Another very good author from hay house (you can hear her via hay house radio on web).

Fun and very informative for those who would like to open the door to your other life. ... Read more

Product Description
A scandalously talented stage performer, a practiced seductress of both men and women, and the flamboyant author of some of the greatest works of twentieth-century literature, Colette was our first true superstar. Now, in Judith Thurman's Secrets of the Flesh, Colette at last has a biography worthy of her dazzling reputation.

Having spent her childhood in the shadow of an overpowering mother, Colette escaped at age twenty into a turbulent marriage with the sexy, unscrupulous Willy--a literary charlatan who took credit for her bestselling Claudine novels. Weary of Willy's sexual domination, Colette pursued an extremely public lesbian love affair with a niece of Napoleon's. At forty, she gave birth to a daughter who bored her, at forty-seven she seduced her teenage stepson, and in her seventies she flirted with the Nazi occupiers of Paris, even though her beloved third husband, a Jew, had been arrested by the Gestapo. And all the while, this incomparable woman poured forth a torrent of masterpieces, including Gigi, Sido, Cheri, and Break of Day.

Judith Thurman, author of the National Book Award-winning biography of Isak Dinesen, portrays Colette as a thoroughly modern woman: frank in her desires, fierce in her passions, forever reinventing herself. Rich with delicious gossip and intimate revelations, shimmering with grace and intelligence, Secrets of the Flesh is one of the great biographies of our time.
Amazon.com Review
The same keen yet affectionate gaze Judith Thurman trained on Isak Dinesen in her 1983 National Book Award winner, The Life of a Storyteller, distinguishes her robust portrait of the great French writer Colette. In Secrets of the Flesh, Thurman shrewdly disentangles fact from legend during the course of the writer's long and turbulent life (1873-1954), yet she doesn't question Colette's right to mythologize herself. The fictions Colette created about herself were part of a lifelong attempt to make sense, not just of her own experience, but of the "secrets of the flesh" (André Gide's phrase in an admiring letter), the bonds that link women to men, parents to children, in an eternal search for love that is also a struggle for dominance. Chronicling Colette's scandalous life--male and female lovers, a stint in vaudeville, an affair with her stepson, a final happy marriage to a younger man--Thurman makes it clear that the writer's adored yet dominating mother and exploitative first husband made it difficult for her to conceive of amorous equality. Yet she nonetheless created a satisfying, creative existence, firmly rooted in the senses and filled with artistic achievement, from the bestselling Claudine novels to the mature insights of The Vagabond and Chéri. Thurman assesses with equal acuity the bleakness of Colette's world-view and a zest for life that it never seemed to dampen. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Superb
Judith Thurman is an intelligent, thoughtful biographer with a superb prose style to boot. It's an extremely satisfactory biographical experience to experience Colette through Thurman's filter.

A feast for those who can't get enough of Colette
Colette is one of those authors whose life is as fascinating as her writing, and this book ably describes the former, also containing many wonderful photos.Colette's uniquely sensitive yet unsentimental way of experiencing life has been a source of inspiration to me since I first discovered her as a preteen.One moment she can be devastated by the suffering of an animal, or write with exquisite insightfulness about the insecurities of her unconventional friends; the next she can swear off a failed marriage or friendship without a hint of pity (or self-pity).This book was very satisfying from the standpoint of her personal and family history, and contained extensive information about her long-standing affair with her teenaged stepson, which, while perhaps her most problematic moral transgression, certainly made for interesting reading.While the book was far less occupied with conveying the brilliance of Colette's writing, for that one need only go to the source.There is so much to learn from Colette's life; despite facing considerable hardships, she managed to thrive and celebrate all that she found beautiful and fascinating in nature, the theater, humanity -- really any topic to which she turned her magnificent vision.Betrayal was a major theme in her relationships, and the way that she survived and even exploited repeated psychic wounds, ultimately finding peace with a kind and compatible partner, is instructive and inspiring.She will always have a very special place in my heart, and I thank Ms. Thurman for making her more accessible.

Insightful, Enjoyable Study of A Wonderful Person
I say "wonderful," though I don't mean in the chaste, good person sort of way, but in a fiery, accomplished one. This biography, amazingly in depth (though at times almost too chronological, and not enough insight into Colette's persona) reveals all that Colette did and was, the good, the bad and the ugly, though despite her flaws she contributed an oceanful of herself--her books, her plays, her child, her love, and her histrionic talents to the world. She lived without being afraid to be herself in a time, as Thurman truthfully puts it, when contempt for both women and homosexuals (of which she was both) ran rampant.

Thurman has definitely done her research, and switches back and forth between a sort of fictitious, dreamy scape and a very forward, matter of fact report, which can get a little austere. I went back and forth to being completely absorbed to just reading it to get past this or that part, but thankfully, there was much more to praise than to criticize. I found Willy's "character" particularly amusing. The pictures are a nice gesture, my favorites being the one where Colette is holding a cigarette, dressed in drag, and the one where she's in a dance costume, kneeling and watching Willy. They both sum up that Moulin Rouge, anything goes, youthful era, which Colette basically incarnates. I hope we can all be sort of like her, in one way or another.

On the whole, this is one piece of nonfiction I indefinitely enjoyed, and Thurman, though not perfect, is a dedicated and effective author. Recommended highly.

Well written, and it held my interest, but.......
The farther into this book I got, the more I got the very strong feeling that at some point in her research and writing, the author came to intensely dislike Colette, particularly in her roles as daughter, wife, and mother. And after reading the book I came to dislike her too, which is a shame. I also didn't appreciate what I think was almost condemnation on Thurman's part--almost as though she thought Colette didn't deserve the respect and accolades she received throughout her life and after her death, because she was a neglectful daughter, an unfaithful wife, and a truly awful mother. Maybe, maybe not.

Colette was a favorite author of mine, 25 years ago or so while I was in high school and college. I knew many of the details of her personal life from what little biographical information I could find at that time, but not this much. Perhaps ignorance is bliss! C'est la vie.

Comme ci, comme ca (pardon my French)
I bought Thurman's bio of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen in Danish after seeing "Out of Africa" in 1986 in Copenhagen, where I'm from. I never finished it, and sold it eventually. Then, two years ago I came across it in a used book store here in CA (the English edition), read it and adored it. It is one of the few books which I have read more than once. Sometimes we come back to a work of art and wonder how we could be so blind/deaf the first time around. I may feel the same way about Thurman's bio of Colette down the road, but as of today I must admit I had a tough time getting through it.

The fairly small print didn't help. Keeping track of the enormous gallery of people in her life took away a great deal of the reading pleasure, and Thurman's sentences are very long and not always "clear headed". Yes, Colette had quite a life, but somehow her life comes across as more interesting than her persona.

My favorite parts are those that tell of her complicated relationships with her parents. I learn more about myself from reading such analysis than I would from three years of therapy!

An A+: When Thurman writes about the "fin de siecle" in France she in fact shows herself to be a far better historian than biographer. (In the Dinesen bio she was both) And France around 1900 is remarkably like our world of today, which makes it very topical.

I don't know how much of the Colette bio is Thurman and how much is other biographers and that too is a big minus. Colette has been covered extensively by many writers, and I wish that Thurman had spent 1990-1998 reading, researching and writing about someone who has not been "bio'd" so often or, even better, not at all. There were a few bios on Dinesen before Thurman's, but she was almost "virgin snow" compared to Colette.

The fact that Colette was a very flawed human being doesn't mean someone should not write about her; in fact, flawed people often make the best subjects for a bio. Unfortunately, Thurman sounds at times star-struck, other times she sounds like a puritan, shocked, sometimes even somewhat envious, which of course are precisely some of the feelings and reactions that people had and still have about/to Colette. Dinesen is a much more likable person, much easier to relate to, and the movie "Out of Africa" made her the sort of romantic heroine that Colette probably never could be or would have wanted to be. Two very different women, two very different biographies. If a movie is ever made about Colette, one would hope they focus on a specific period and only a few people in her life as was done in "Out of Africa" in order to avoid the kind of horrible bio picture that Richard Attenborough's film about Chaplin was, where they rush through his entire (long) life in three hours with a "revolving door" of characters coming and going, leaving you dizzy and frustrated.

I do recommend listening to the interview archived on the Diane Rhemes (spelled correctly?) show website: (type in Thurman's name on Yahoo and it will come on the long list of Thurman webpages) She interviewed Thurman when the book came out in 1999. You can "hear" Thurman blushing at times when speaking of Colette's wild times, and perhaps that is ultimately the problem with the Colette bio: Someone uncomfortable writing about sex, lesbians, bondage, nude dancing, etc. will come across as a prude. Colette, I imagine, would have been proud to have that effect on people in the year 2002, OR maybe she'd be sad that we really have not progressed as far as we'd like.

Thanks for all the reviews - it's very interesting to read what other readers think - A virtual book club. I hope Thurman reads the reviews by the way. Writers can learn far more from "regular folks" than from critics who are feel obligated to either gush over a book or thrash it vicously, depending on who the critic is. ... Read more

Product Description
The Gulf of Mexico, 1702:When pirates of the square-rigger Original Sin steal ashore to abduct a doctor to tend to their wounded, they end up settling for the doctor's attractive fiancée--Celia Pierce, the town seamstress.

Together with Gayle Malvern, daughter of the wounded pirate captain "Madman" Malvern, Celia becomes a reluctant participant in an unexpectedly thrilling journey through the Caribbean. For Gayle, Celia's presence is at first a welcome and shapely distraction, but as her attraction to the seamstress deepens, she realizes that Celia comes to mean more to her than is prudent. As Celia and Gayle navigate the perilous territories of gypsies, prostitutes, mercenaries, and slave traders, they forge a partnership born of necessity that Gayle soon hopes will veer away from insurmountable danger--and instead detour directly to her bed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Fun Pirate Romp
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin is an adventurous romp around the Caribbean in a ship with pirates and a captured wench, taking prizes and eventually looking for hidden treasure, with some double crossing thrown in for fun. What more could you ask for?

The book isn't perfect, and Moody's writing has a few rough edges here and there. But at times her writing becomes elegant and she displays a wonderful sense of humor in some of her descriptions and dialogue.

The story is well-paced, with lots of action, drama, suspense, and romantic interludes. The characters are interesting and well-developed, though I think more background for Celia should have been given at the beginning to better explain her reactions once she's captured. Even the lesser characters give a strong sense of who they are with very little description.

The story takes the Original Sin to several islands and ports of call. Thrown in is a lot of attention to detail of ships, sailing, and how pirates operated. I usually do relatively long reviews, but I can't really think of anything else to say. I bought this book a year ago and have already read it twice, and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good lesbian pirate yarn.

Kindle Note: The ebook can be purchased on the publisher's website. The ebook edition is very well done.

Fun and adventure in a pirate story
Gayle Malvern finds herself thrust into the position of captain of the pirate ship Original Sin when her father "Madman" Malvern is wounded in a battle.When she sends members of her crew ashore to find a doctor, the coward hides while his fiancée Celia Pierce, the town seamstress, is kidnapped instead.For superstitious pirates who aren't used to having one woman aboard, the idea of two is really dangerous for both women.Celia is assured by Gayle that as soon as possible she'll be put off in a safe port and returned to her family, so she decides to make the best of the situation and treat is as a lark.She's drawn into a world of adventure, slave-traders, rival pirates, unscrupulous sea captains and frightening battles.She loves it.Celia never expected to have so many experiences in her life and she finds it quite exciting.She also begins to find Gayle quite exciting and comes to understand why she was never really interested in her boring future husband.As she and Gayle become closer, Celia begins to think of herself less as a captive and more as a member of the crew.Gayle comes to realize that spending the rest of her life at sea isn't very appealing, but having a life with Celia is, if she can find a way to get them out of the pirate life without anyone hunting for them.Not easy to do when you command one of the most infamous ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Collette Moody injects a lot of humor into this book and intersperses it with terrific adventure scenes.Her characters are interesting, even the ones the reader won't particularly like.These are scoundrels with hearts more than just scoundrels.The reader will feel the tightrope that Gayle has to walk in order to keep her male crew happy and protect herself and yet not become as ruthless as pirate captains are usually portrayed.Celia is the prize in the story though.She's an unusual mixture of wisdom, naivete and earthiness.Her character grows the most and is the most entertaining as she goes from the meek daughter accepting a marriage she doesn't want to a woman willing to knock another one out cold to shut her up and keep her away from Gayle.It's almost too bad the women abandon the sea and settle down.There is a real feeling that there was a lot more fun and adventure in them.

This is a quick, entertaining and fun story to read and well worth setting aside a couple of hours to enjoy it.

who says pirates have to be swarthy
this high seas adventure features witty banter and episodic storylines that kept me turning pages late into the night. the love scenes are tame, but the love story is real. i laughed aloud and cheered on the inside when gayle and celia victoriously completed their journey.

Sublime and Spirited
I was starting to give up on lesbian books. This was a good book to jump back into it. One minute I'm laughing, the next I'm blushing. The sexy pirate and her captive are well written and likable. They have great chemistry and spirit. I actually even gave this one to my extremely picky wife to read and she loved it. Enjoy!

Vivid Characters and Exquisite Character Development
I can't sing enough praises for this book.It contains all that one would expect from a Bold Strokes publication - and more.

Tastefully written love story about a lesbian captain (acting captain) of a pirate ship and a damsel taken hostage to help save the lives of wounded crew memebers, including the acting captain's father.

The book contains all the elements critical to a pirate adventure, with twists and turns that constantly threaten the chances of a happy ending.

But what makes this story so enjoyable is the characters. I simply couldn't ask any more from an author.




... Read more

Product Description
Colette, prodded by her first husband, Willy, began her writing career with Claudine at School, which catapulted the young author into instant, sensational success. Among the most autobiographical of Colette's works, these four novels are dominated by the child-woman Claudine, whose strength, humor, and zest for living make her seem almost a symbol for the life force.

Janet Flanner described these books as "amazing writing on the almost girlish search for the absolute of happiness in physical love . . . recorded by a literary brain always wide awake on the pillow."
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Customer Reviews (6)

Complex, delightful, strange, like truffles?
I'd heard of Colette for a long time, but had read nothing of hers (I tend to overdose on English Lit).Then I saw the film *Cheri* with Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend (there are other versions) and developed the desire to read more by the creator of that tale (also watched the film *Gigi*, which is surprisingly spicy/worldly for its era).
I read the novelette *Cheri* and enjoyed it, but found that the Claudine stories are more appealing to me.It is often said that Colette's Claudine series is autobiographical.If so, that could explain the truth and believability of the emotions in her writing, which transcend time (they were written around the turn of the 20th century) and translation from French.
Claudine, as portrayed in *Claudine at School* and throughout the series, is a girl/young woman whose intelligence and sensitivity are matched by a strength of personality which was not (and still may not be!) considered feminine.She observes and comments on many aspects of the world around her - the French countryside with its plants, birds, animals, towns; her school with girls of differing looks and temperaments; and her teachers and the headmistress, plus more.Details are abundant, and I was able to picture the clothing and hair, as well as the complexions and eyes (Colette carefully describes the eyes)of all the characters, all interacting in French surroundings which, though they are over 100 years old and far away, I could visualize.
These books make a tome of thousands of pages, so I will try to generalize.As the stories go on, Claudine discovers herself (and others) to be bisexual, but somehow, because of her generally wholesome -- even delicate and earnest -- outlook, this proclivity doesn't make her quite as tawdry or perverse as one might expect, though her books have been thought quite shocking by some.
Claudine's personality is shown as varying between strength/dominant tendencies and clinging/submissive tendencies, which may very well explain her bisexuality.Biographies of Colette show that she indeed favored both men and women, so she was well-qualified to explain the various feelings and moods which swept through young Claudine.
The charm of her writing, at least to this reader, resides in the immense attention that Colette expended on the attraction, seduction, and emotional foreplay aspects of relationships relative to physical acts, which are not really described at all, except for kisses, hand-touching, etc.The stories are not really about sexual acts, they are about emotions and relationships.Anyone who has ever been attracted to anyone else should be able to relate to the feelings which Colette described with such clarity and richness, especially feelings as experienced by the young.(At my stage of life, I found this quite nostalgic.)I would go so far as to say that Colette had an amazing ability to capture the emotions of attraction (notice I am not saying *love*; sometimes love didn't enter into it much in these stories).
I did find some of the relationships and personalities troubling and/or annoying, especially in the later stories (Claudine Married, Claudine and Annie).However, they were believable and from that standpoint, sound.Even characters I heartily disliked had hats, dresses or suits, mannerisms, expressions, and complete personalities in which I could believe.
Highly recommended.

Wittty - entertaining and fun.
It's great to have them all together in paper back form. Very convenient and easy to read in bed before drifting off to sleep.

The Five O'Clock Abyss
"Voluptuaries, consumed by their senses, always begin by flinging themselves with a great display of frenzy into an abyss. But they survive, they come to the surface again. And they develop a routine of the abyss: 'It's four o clock. At five I have my abyss... '"

This quote comes from one of those unclassifiable writers who flout all convention and blaze their own trail through life. I am referring to Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954), better known simply as Colette. After completing the last of four of the Claudine novels, I'm trying to put words to an experience I have some difficulty describing.

Colette is one of those writers who is so feminine and even feline that, as both a man and a person allergic to cats, I almost have to disqualify myself from the effort. But, being game, I'll give it a try.

The first four novels Colette wrote were a fictionalization of her life in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye in the Burgundy region of France and in Paris. In COLETTE IN SCHOOL (1900), we see our heroine Claudine as a 15 year old in a provincial girls' school which is a hotbed of mischief and lesbianism. The headmistress is openly carrying on a relationship with one of her teachers at the school where they share a bedroom. Claudine is a rebellious teen who is a natural born leader and troublemaker. When her father decides to move to Paris, Claudine must go with him. In CLAUDINE IN PARIS (1901), we see Claudine getting used to the metropolis and finding love in her friend Marcel'sfather, Renaud. CLAUDINE MARRIED (1902) sees Claudine marrying Renaud.She falls under the sway of an Austrian woman named Rézi with whom she carries on a lesbian relationship with Renaud's amused approval. When she discovers that Rézi is serving both of them, Claudine leaves for her home town, called Montigny in the book. Finally, CLAUDINE AND ANNIE (1903) sees Claudine reunited with Renaud through the eyes of another young married woman, Annie, who is married to an absent, yet controlling, husband.

These four novels are published together in one Penguin paperback called THE COMPLETE CLAUDINE, which is something of a misnomer, as there are other Claudine books, though none quite so famous as these four.

Colette was a controversial and somewhat contradictory figure during her long life. She conducted both lesbian and heterosexual affairs and was married three times. Although she collaborated with the Vichy government during the war, she also helped Jews escape capture. She wrote over forty books and lived a very public life. In the end, she was honored by the Belgian Royal Academy, the Académie Goncourt, and the Legion of Honor.

She is probably best known to most Americans as the creator of GIGI, which went on to become an acclaimed American musical directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Leslie Caron.

Colette's alter ego
The Complete Claudine by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Highly recommended.

* Claudine at School
* Claudine in Paris
* Claudine Married
* Claudine and Annie

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette wrote the Claudine novels when she was in her late twenties, when she was young enough to remember the single-mindedness and bitterness of adolescent fixations and old enough to have acquired the tempered wisdom and understanding of experience. Through Claudine's eyes, the reader sees how the unreserved passion of the young must, of necessity, burn itself out or be transformed into a more lasting love that expresses itself more deeply and less dramatically to ensure its own survival.

Not surprisingly, Claudine at School is the most delightful of the series. Our narrator is full of life and mischief, and never fails to indulge in scathing commentary on anything within her limited countryside range-the licentious superintendent of schools, the weak and pretentious assistant masters, and the assistant mistress and head mistress who are literally joined at the lip and hip. Claudine's barbs find targets in everyone, including her father, her former wet nurse and servant, and her best friends.

Like her creator, Claudine is a sensualist. She loves that which appeals to her senses, not necessarily her heart or her mind. Claudine craves her first "love," the assistant schoolmistress Aimée Lathenay, for her "slim waist," "lovely eyes," "golden eyes with their curled-up lashes," "complexion," and "supple body" that "seeks and demands an unknown satisfaction." Mademoiselle Lathenay proves her faithlessness quickly, and Claudine makes an abrupt transition from gushing would-be lover to "a chill that froze me." Astute and precocious, Claudine recognizes that Aimée's nature is "frail and egotistical, a nature that likes its pleasures but knows how to look after its own interests." Claudine, calling the loss a "great disappointment," seems to understand that the battle has not been for the love of Aimée, but for her possession.

Also like Colette, Claudine seems to sense that sexual relationships between women, a recurring motif throughout the four novels, are somehow incomplete. At this age, however, Claudine does not yet have the experience to make the comparison to a relationship with a man, especially since the men she knows are primarily her single-minded father, the silly assistant masters and the licentious superintendent.

Claudine soon learns what it's like to be the object of unrequited adoration and submissiveness, and protests-too much-that she doesn't like it coming from Aimée's younger sister.

Despite the 19th-century setting and the adult themes, Colette has captured the essence of the adolescent experience-the testing of authority and its limits, sexual exploration and emotions, interest in the things of the senses, a more realistic view of adults and their foibles, and a sense of being caught between the familiar comforts of childhood and the frightening prospect of adulthood. It's fascinating to watch Claudine slowly realize that she is not the sophisticate that she tries to project to adults and her peers, that there is more to life, love, and sex than she can glean from her racy books.

Claudine in Paris takes Claudine-and the reader-away from the country village of Montigny, to Paris, where Claudine will finally experience the delusions, illusions, deceits, ecstasies, and cruelties of adult love and lust. She, who naturally dominates women, longs to be dominated by a man, her husband. In Paris, in the adult world, and in the world of marriage, Claudine becomes less sure of herself as part of maturing. It is in this milieu, where her stepson poses for his portrait as a Byzantine queen, where her husband indulges her tastes (and then his), and where sex is a form of currency between those who want and those who have, that Claudine learns the distinctions between lust and love, the practical, the sensual, and the romantic. When her marriage is threatened by her desires and her husband's encouragement, she finally discovers what love is-and is not.

Claudine and Annie is a departure in the series; it is the only one of the four novels that is told by a different narrator, the housewife Annie. In some ways, it's more interesting than Claudine in Paris and Claudine Married because Annie is a powerful narrator in her own way, who loses her innocence when her husband goes away to collect an inheritance. In his absences, she sees how she has been subjugated as well as the crassness of her acquaintances, including her practical, faithless, domineering, money-grubbing sister-in-law. As she sees more of that from which her husband protected her-for his own selfish reasons-she experiences the paradoxical need to escape and to see more (not unlike Claudine in Claudine Married).

In this novel, Claudine has become a background figure whose voice is for the most part rare and strangely muted. The reader, who has watched Claudine mature and grow, can imagine how Claudine might have told this tale from the outside. At the same time, the strength of the Claudine novels lies in her voice and perspective, and in her catty observations, sarcasm, ironic wit, sensuous descriptions, and unique personality. In that sense, Claudine and Annie is an anticlimax-a loss to the reader of the Claudine we had come to appreciate (if not always like) in her prime. With her earlier return to Renaud, Claudine has lost her edge, which is only hinted at in Claudine and Annie.

The Claudine novels are filled with wonderful characters, including her unforgettable father and her equally unforgettable white cat, Fanchette. The Complete Claudine is a great read for Colette's distinctive voice and insights and for the view it provides of turn-of-the-century rural France and urban Paris. You may not always like Claudine (or Colette), but she never fails to entertain and to say that which is worth hearing.

Colette's alter ego
I came across this collection by mistake, just recently.I was shocked that I had not read or even heard of it before."The Complete Claudine" consists of four books.The first, "Claudine at School" was the first of Colette's novels and was an immediate success when released between 1900 and 1907.It is followed by "Claudine in Paris", "Claudine Married", and "Claudine and Annie".The books are semi-autobiographical and depict the life of a young girl (Claudine) through to adulthood.The first book shapes Claudine into a daring and sometimes naughty, sometimes mean, girl.A perfect start to a character that, as a reader, you grow to love for her sheer audacity.If you put the book/s in to the context of the period (early 20th Century ) they really are shocking.As Mme Claudine mixes with the Parisian socialites of the period, she so shamelessly shuns the dictates of social propriety that she manages to gain the attentions of both men and women, effortlessly - she is merely being herself.By the end of this book, if you haven't fallen in love with Claudine and her little Fanchette, or, laughed out loud at the scenes at Arriege (a health spa), I'd be surprised.I thought this collection was great and will definitely make an effort to read some ofColette's other works. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Delighted with The Vagabond
The little book, The Vagabond, that I purchased through Amazon, arrived in excellent condition.I enjoyed reading the novel, as well as holding it in my hand.The story itself is as inspirational for women today as it was when Colette wrote it.It is a very quick read, with a timeless tale.

Starts slow but ending captures what few novels do
When reading this book, I kept thinking of Orwell's phrase `a good bad book' -- that is, a book whose pleasures exceed its merits.

Many books written in first person share a problem: the writer is vastly more articulate than the character through whose eyes the story is told and written. Here, a dance hall mime has quite the power of description. The story tries to explain this away, but I never quite believed it. This counts as a serious defect: it feels like the author went, "Hmm. . . I need a character with a certain degree of independence and mobility, let's make her a dance hall mime." Of course, the descent into a dance hall is in fact autobiographical for the author, which makes this difficulty in suspending disbelief all the more distracting.

There are two reasons for this difficulty. First is that the main character, Renee, has nothing to say about miming per se. She talks about practicing, audience reactions, costumes, etc. etc., but the word `miming' could be replaced with any other gerund: singing, dancing, acting, verbing. Second, she is amazingly indifferent to money for someone whose financial situation is so tenuous.

The other issue is that the novel comes across almost as entirely static description. Until the end, it feels like nothing is happening even when things are happening. So the first 150 pages feel like an Impressionist's series of sketches of working class Parisian life. How well this works depends on what's being described. When attention is focused on the truly random, like the main character's dog, it's slightly tedious. When attention is on dance hall life, it's engaging anthropology, an introduction to a set of characters unlike what most of us will ever encounter in real life.

When, after fits and starts, attention increasingly focuses on the main character's relationship with men, then you get all the five-star reviews. Although the first steps of falling into love seem unmotivated, the depiction of the early, vulnerable stage of mutual infatuation is profound. This is the only work of fiction I've read that grasps the sheer heart-breaking inconvenience of falling in love: people are already making plans, working on their careers, when they abruptly find themselves wanting to spend all their time with someone and are in absolute agony when apart -- yet they can't abandon what they were doing without abandoning their own identity. (This torment is made all the sharper because Renee, despite the attraction and the relatively good situation she could have, realizes that marriage was a raw deal for women.) The last quarter of the book is, as other reviewers note, painful but satisfying. It looks like some people find this book to be a feminist anthem, probably because of what Renee does at the end. It's not that simple, however: as she herself is aware, she is on a certain level betraying herself.

Incidentally, because the novel is relatively short and the ending could easily generate discussion, this book would likely work very well in the classroom, especially as the early stages of romantic love are something that might resonate with high school and traditional college students.

Also, there is a long out-of-print sequel called _The Shackle_. It confirms that Colette takes _forever_ to get her novels started. (Everything happens in the last hundred pages.) It should have probably been a stand-alone novel: the main character abruptly starts off in retirement three years hence and doesn't seem to have any characteristics left: doesn't work, doesn't have a schedule, doesn't have any quirks. (I suspect it's pure autobiography.) There are some beautiful sections --- there's one scene in which she knows that the man turning away from her is dumping her despite his protestations and the narrator says, 'He was lying with all his back.' --- but I can't imagine anyone who liked the ending of the first novel will like the second.

The Smell of Rancid Grease Paint
a review of Colette's The Vagabond

The opening of the story in the dressrooms of the music hall smell like rancid grease paint, dust, sweat of performers.There's only few people you can relate to, since everyone comes & goes in the music hall, so why make friends?

But the music hall is good place for Renee Nere, a pantomime, who performs half nude in see-through silks, and gets slammed to ground on purpose by her mentor, Brague, who treats her like an amateur: but this a joke between them.Renee is no amateur.At 33 she can out perform anyone

"You get use to not eating, a toothache . . . . but you cannot get used to jealousy." is the way Renee describes her high profile marriage to Adolphe Taillandy, and his many, many mistresses.A marriage ends in divorce when Renee can no longer take it.Divorce from a wealthy man was unheard of in 1910.

Renee, the vagabond, loves the music hall in her own way, even though she hates the dust, the animal abuse, the low-class crowd.But she will never have to deal with Adolphe Taillandy again.She also endures the touring which means terrible food, discomfort, bad hours.It mends her broken life and heart, or gives her a chance to avoid it.

A rich suitor arrives and Renee doesn't want to get involved.She becomes emotionally involve, but then goes on tour, and tries to forget him.She's a vagabond now and she doesn't want to get tied up.

Colette was a master of the word written by a woman, from a woman's heart.She knew how to move from one scene to another and astonish the reader.The most amazing fact of this novel was that it was written in the dressing rooms of the music hall, and on tour too.("It takes up too much time to write," states Renee, a writer herself, "and the trouble is, I am no Balzac!")

And then there is a nod to people who make up the music halls of Paris: "How unrecognized they are, these cafe concert artistes, how disparaged and how little understood!Forceful, proud, and full of an absurd and outmoded faith in Art . . . . "

Renee's faith in art is on a thin line too, but it saves her from "a woman dying of grief".

The Vagabond inspired me to become a writer
The Vagabond was my first delicious introduction to Colette, and the first book to make me weep openly. I related strongly to Renée, a professional woman who clung desperately to her independence while falling hopelessly for a man who relentlessly tugged at her vulnerability. Renée's confusion about whether love and happiness could coexist kept me captive in suspense until the very last (and infinitely satisfying) page.

Colette breaks free of Willy in great triumph!
Colette's beginning as a writer is one of the strangest in literature.In her early 20s, she married a no-talent hack named "Willy" (that was how he signed his pieces) and wrote a series of novels about a young girl named Claudine.Willy took these pieces and published them under his pen name, giving his young wife no credit.

In her early to mid 30s, Colette grew weary of Willy, and turned her back on him to embark on a career as a dance hall performer.This is the setting for THE VAGABOND, Colette's first post-Willy novel, and the first to bear her own name.

The main character, Renee Nere, has been touring for 3 years, and although she's sometimes lonely, is enjoying her freedom and self-sufficiency.She's also suffering from what we'd refer to nowadays as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.Her marriage to her philandering and abusive husband was so wretched, that when she meets another man who loves her, the slighest familiar gesture or word will trigger memories that incite revulsion.

THE VAGABOND is a gem of a novel that beautifully shows off Colette's gift for prose as well as her wonderful descriptions of life backstage as part of a touring group.If that isn't enough, she is also very gifted at revealing the psychological insights of her character.The introduction by Judith Thurman is well-done, and both the introduction and the novel left me wanting more Colette. ... Read more

Product Description
No one makes more beautiful cakes than Colette Peters. Now anyone with an interest in pastry art can make them at home. There are cakes for every sort of birthday celebrant. Each month has a sign of the zodiac cake (for Aquarius, a Water Pitcher mosaic), a birthstone cake (for June, a Crown of Pearls), and a flower cake. In addition there are assorted cakes such as a doctors bag, a chess set, and an Art Deco confection. The book includes delicious basic recipes and instructions for everything from how to build a tiered cake to airbrushing with sugar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Okay
I found this book to be better than The art of Cake Decorating by Colette. This book is slightlymore modern than the other. But still not exactly what i was after. There are some odd designs such as a large cake of a crab & mosaic jug (zodiac), a beehive, fragile boxes, a weird looking balloon. And again the instructions are drawn rather than photographed.

It's not bad
Compared to her other books, I have to admit I was slightly disappointed in this one. But, that is probably because I have a REALLY HIGH expectation of Colette Peters.
But with that said, it has some great project cakes :)

Not what I expected
This book is interesting.However, the cakes are extremely time consuming and I mean extremely!Unless you are actually getting paid for the time invested, these cakes would be expensive to say the least.I love Collette's work, but I see this book more as a coffee table book than one I will refer to in a pinch for ideas.She is definately an artist.

Big Dissapointment
I couldnt wait to get this book because I love Colettes work.What a disappointment.Only has a few cakes as examples and the directions for recreation are sorely lacking.Bummer!

wonderful
This is another great book by Colette Peters.She is extremely creative.If you have some good cake decorating experience under your belt, some of her cakes are very doable!Awesome photos! This book is very inspirational and chalk full of new projects to try! keep the great ideas coming, Colette! ... Read more

Product Description
Two volumes of Colette's most beloved works, with a new Introduction by Judith Thurman.

Perhaps Colette's best-known work, Gigi is the story of a young girl being raised in a household more concerned with success and money than with the desires of the heart.But Gigi is uninterested in the dishonest society life she observes all around her and remains exasperatingly Gigi. The tale of Gigi's success in spite of her anxious family is Colette at her liveliest and most entertaining.Written during the same period as Gigi, Julie de Carneilhan, based on Colette's last years with her second husband, focuses on a contest of wills between Julie, an elegant woman of forty, and her ex-husband. Chance Acquaintances, a novella, involves an invalid wife, her philandering husband, and a music-hall dancer whose odd meeting at a French spa affects and indelibly marks each one of their lives.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting Colette
I bought this book after seeing the musical film Gigi, mostly to see if the stories compared. While the stories are different, they are no less enjoyable because of those differences.

Getting to Know a Voluptuaries Voluptuary
I started reading this collection because of the author herself, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, being something of the patron saints of voluptuaries... I felt like I wanted to get to know her better, so I decided the best way would be to read some of her best loved works.

"Gigi", the most popular from this collection, was actually my least favorite in the bunch.It was entertaining and sweet, but much less mature than the other two novellas. The one aspect of it that I loved were the sensory descriptions and I wondered how the original French might be different or the same.

The translation by Richard Senhouse was beautiful, word choices were entrancing.

My favorite selection was "Julie de Carneilhan" as the main character was such an independent spirit and unconventional in the same sense I believe Colette was. It was through this title I really felt like I got to know the author intimately.The writing style favors action with tightly woven descriptive and sensory elements which also tune into Colette's voluptuary leanings.

The introduction to the entire text by Judith Thurman provides a brief mini-biography which provided more details of the author's personal and creative life.

Collected Stories By A French Master
Gabrielle Colette died in 1954. She is most famous for writing "Gigi" which became a Broadway musical and Oscar winning film. Gabrielle was a talented, gifted writer, with aesthetic skills and a charming perception of humans, particularily the society she grew up in early twentieth century France. A fascinating woman, she wrote mainly short stories, dealing with women coming of age, older women making new decisions, relationships with intensity, and all of her characters have memorable nuances. She may have drawn from personal experience. Colette was clearly a woman with deep understanding of the nature of love and the course of human emotions.

Gigi is the story of a young woman brought up in a decadent, materialistic society. Her aunts have raised her to become a mistress, a courtesan for the wealthy. Gaston falls for Gigi, andattempts to make her his mistress. But Gigi refuses to be a part of the pretentious society in Paris, wanting an honest and open relationship based on love. In the end, she is granted this for remaining true to herself. Julie de Carneilha and Chance Encounters are striking tales of women in love, beautifully written and set in the opulence of Paris. Colette is a cosmopolitan writer, one can almost see her as she writes with a bottle of champagne on her writing desk, a view of the Eiffel tower from her window and a vivid imagination that takes flight. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Product Description

"Whether blowing out birthday candles or cutting the first piece at a wedding, there are no cakes better suited to wishing and dreaming than Colette’s enchanting creations."
--Donna Ferrari, Food & Wine Director, BRIDE’S Magazine

"Colette is an inspired artist who follows a road never-before traveled. Her cakes are amusing and loveable, and they defy gravity. Colette’s creations awaken the childlike spirit in all of us."
--Jacques Torres

"Colette’s innovative style and approach are vivid and unique. Her work is an inspiration! This is a brilliant and innovative composition of edible art!"
--Ewald Notter, Notter
International School of Confectionary Arts

Cake Decorating Tips from Cakes to Dream On

"Comfort Food" Pillow Cake

Aqua Applique

Colorful Cloisonné

Customer Reviews (64)

Not What I thought
I borrowed this from the library before I bought it.Thank Goodness.If is no way a learning book and way to much money for what is taught.I think the cakes are way to gaudy.I even showed two neighbors the book and they totally agreed.

Great product.
I ordered this product to give as a present and wasn't sure it would arrive on time.I was plesantly surprised when it did.The book was very well packed and was exactly as described. Recommend this seller to anyone!

Fantastic!
This book is my day by day Cake decorating book!
Any doubt that I have I can find the answer inside.
I totally recommend....

Amazingly accomplished, awfully tacky
To be fair, I am not the target audience for this book, ie. a cake pro. I am an experienced home cake baker and avid reader of cookbooks on baking and decorating.

I give this book a two star rating for originality and lots of pictures. Unfortunately, to me the visual style of these cakes is just off-putting in its (very American) garishness. They do not look like something one would wish to eat, in fact to me they are mostly amazing, can't-believe-this-is-a-cake eyesores. I'm sure they do impress a lot of people though which would make them ideal for corporate events, tacky weddings and such.

This is not a fair review to be sure - I'm sure that people who would want a cake that looks just like the (hideous) thing on the cover will be pleased. However, the book won't tell them - or anyone else - HOW to make such a cake. It seems that the whole idea behind the book is to promote this "author's" cake-making business.

Amazing!
This book is amazing!So many great ideas.I love the included recipes.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

The story is OK, the dialogue is off
The Seduction of Moxie is set in 1931, in a world that teeters between the wild days of the 1920s and the weariness of the Great Depression. Violet London is an actress preparing to leave for Hollywood and her friends take her out for one last night on the town in New York City.This is when she meets and is captivated by Moxie Valette, an attractive singer in a speakeasy.After a night of hard partying and even harder drinking, Violet leaves for California, but she is determined to find a way for Moxie and her to be together.Eventually, Violet returns for Moxie, enticing her to move to Hollywood with the offer of a movie careers.A train trip west gives them a chance to reconnect and they enter the movie community with the promise of bright futures for both of them.Hollywood has its own wild side, but is it wild enough to accept starlets who are revealed as lesbians?Is the relationship between Violet and Moxie strong enough to sustain them or will the lure of fame be more than they can resist?

Moody certainly captures the spirit of the age when people visited speakeasies and violated the Prohibition laws with little regard for the consequences.The life of the "beautiful people" was fast paced, pleasure based and mostly irresponsible.The fact that most of the characters in this book don't realize they're balanced on the precipice of disaster speaks to their shallow natures.That is part of the problem with this book.If it had been set in 1927 the mood would have been perfect, but it takes place in 1931.That's two years after the stock market crash, yet none of the characters make any reference to it or seem to be having any financial problems.They seem to live in a vacuum totally disconnected from the rest of the world.The other problem with the book is the dialogue.Flapper-type women were very open, but the words that spew out of these characters' mouths just don't fit.The profanity and explicit sexual talk that they use might be common in some places today, but it certainly wouldn't have been in the 1930s, especially out in the public.These characters don't seem to have any kind of censor on what they say and they most certainly would have in that period.

The Seduction of Moxie is a patterned romance with interesting characters.Enough famous names and details are scattered through it to give the story a period tone.Some work could still be done on making it more authentic, but that probably won't get in the way of the casual reader.If you're looking for a fun romance to pass the time, this one fits the bill.If you hope to learn some accurate history, be careful what you take away from it.If you have a problem with profanity and explicit sexual references, this book may make you uncomfortable.

Excellent fun!
The story takes place during Prohibition and the Golden Age of Hollywood. So the quick, witty dialogue is appropriately bawdy and risque. The action begins in New York City then travels by train to Hollywood.

Moxie is a singer in a speakeasy and Violet is a Broadway actress. It's love at first sight but Violet is headed to Hollywood. She is eventually joined by her whole hedonistic entourage. Each and every member of this group is most certainly a 'character'. They are eccentric and over-the-top. You'll love every one of them! Their snappy repartee is hilarious. The highlight of the book is their raucous train ride from NYC to LA.

The author is to be commended for perfectly capturing the lingo of the 1930's and for her knowledge of intoxicating beverages. She even includes an appendix with several recipes for the cocktails mentioned in the book. All this, plus a happy ending!

I definitely recommend this entertaining, fun, easy read.

Full of Lively and Lusty Antics
The Seduction of Moxie takes a page out of the Hawksian films of early Hollywood with its snappy banter and larger than life characters (and the madcap adventures that befall them amidst normalcy). Seduction pulls its readers into the story of a budding (and rather steamy) romance in the era of speakeasies and hidden hip flasks. The dialogue is rife with zingers, and the chapters peppered with hilarity. Moody's sophomore novel showcases the author's penchant for well-delivered humor and saucy dames. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

Love hurts
Fred Peloux, also known as Cheri, is a very handsome young man who lives in France around the time of the first world war.Some years before, his mother, in an attempt to gain him some worldly experience, sets him up with Lea, a courtesan twice his age.Despite their great age difference, Cheri and Lea fall in love.After a fashion, Cheri's mother, believing that her son has had enough of that type of experience, breaks up her son's relationship with Lea and finds him a suitable wife, Edmee, who is closer to Cheri in age.

Several severe problems develop.Cheri and Lea are still in love, but Cheri does not love Edmee.Cheri is also a very spoiled, lazy and self centered young man.He would often abandon Edmee for weeks, without a word to his wife. He'd, instead, stay with other women, including Lea and other prostitutes.Other than Cheri's incredible attractiveness, he has nothing much else going for him.He does not work.Cheri comes to realize that he cannot go back to Lea; he was only one of many "lovers" Lea has accommodated, both prior to and after him.Although he makes appearances at his wife's abode from time to time, there is little if any love there.Cheri makes a half-hearted, unrealistic effort to get closer to his wife, but they both know that is impossible.Cheri grows more and more melancholic.

"Cheri" and "The Last of Cheri," which should be read together, are well written and capture the settings and attitudes of the era with perfection, but are, none the less,tragic tales of the selfishness and naivite of youth.While I found the character of Cheri almost impossible to like, I could not help feeling some pity for him

An Untimley Liaison
"The most moral thing I've ever written" by Colette

`Cheri' and the counterpart `The Last of Cheri' is an incredible and tragic love story between a womanizing man-slut and a virago courtesan, separated by time and age.

Colette's vivid imagery and thorough depictions of life among French aristocrats and courtesans is excellently portrayed through the various perspectives of a diverse cast among several social levels from the richest of all courtesans and the elderly to the ignorant youth -consumed by their own inadvertent impulses.

The characters are very well developed with idiosyncrasies that are so precise one could imagine that Colette may have been writing from personal experiences. The characters are described not with exposition, but through the vivid details of the Sheraton furnishings within their homes, the fabrics their clothes are made from, the food they dine with and even the scrupulous countenances which they hold their eyes.

The plot, at first is only seemingly slow and simple featuring bitchy ripostes and dry, witty and somewhat vindictive humor hints at the subtext unfolding between the characters while suggesting foreshadowing with a re-occurring theme throughout the book. After careful speculation of undertones beneath derisive exchanges and verbal jabs, it becomes clear that Colette is hinting these characters are doomed from the very first sentence, "Give it to me Lea, give me your pearl necklace."

A coddled, ignorant and a sardonic young lustful man with no desires or goals other than to use women; a boisterous and controlling mother; and an alabaster-toned courtesan with a kind heart full of passion and love are among the very few eccentricities thriving within this cleverly written and witty story full of dry, sarcastic humor and even a few heartfelt, teary moments. Cheri and The Last of Cheri is a poetic masterpiece that will remind readers the true morality of love.

You saw the film?Now read the book!
The writing is a bit flowery but because you are already familiar with the story, you will enjoy the book as I did.
The book arrived quickly and in good condition.I am happy with it.

Poignant Pen
"I wept a little this evening," Proust wrote to Colette upon reading her love story, 'Mitsou'. I wept when I read these two short novels, 'Cheri' and 'The Last of Cheri'. So beautiful. So elegant. And so perfectly tragic and sad. (Just as a love affair should be!)

Great European Novel
I think Cheri and The Last of Cheri should be treated as one book.The relationship between Lea and Cheri, in my view, is far more complex than love between an older female and a young man.Lea is a woman who never married or had children, and for all we know, has no family. Cheri is a young man who grew up without a father or any other positive male role model.His life is ruled by a selfish and domineering mother, a former courtesan who neglected him when he was a child. Cheri spent early childhood in the care od servants.

He has known Lea all his life and has always loved her for her warmth and "goodness."As a young man, he found in her not only a lover, but also a substitute mother and a closest friend. Not knowing what love is, and being used to abandon others or be abandoned themselves, neither Lea nor Cheri foresaw how their separation would affect them.Don't we all often understand the value of something only after we have lost it.

By marrying Edmee, Cheri did what he was told, and it seemed perfectly sensible.His wife was young, beautiful, intelligent, moneyed and seemingly easy.And they seemed to have much in common, at least a similar background. At one point, they concluded they were both "orphans."The idea also was to have children, which Cheri could not have with an older mistress. But, "compatibilites", for lack of a better word, do not guarantee a solid marriage. Things don't alwayswork out as planned, that's why we have so many divorcves today.

To call Cheri a boy who never grew up is oversimplification. By the time he reached 30, Cheri undestood perfectly well how unfulfilled his life had been.But like many people, he lacked the strength to do something about it.So he regretted that he did not spend a few more years with Lea, thinking that every extra day would have been worth having.

The characters from almost a century ago could easily be transposed to the present era when many parents are too preoccupied with their careers and material wealth, leaving children in the care of others.The difference is that Lea would end up in jail today, at least in the early years of her relationship with Cheri.

I would recommend the novel to readers who are interested in the complexity of human nature and emotion.It illustrates how certain energies bring people together and make them suitable for each other, regardless of their age and circumstances.But humans and their relationships are mortal. Nothing is forever.

Colette's prose is fluid.Cheri grabs the reader's attention from the first page - from the very first line.There is never a dull moment.But the book is not for people who are firmly grounded in present day realities and cannot see beyond them.It certainly is not for people who compartmentalize books and movies into comedy, horror, action, drama and "forein."

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (33)

Like!
One of the better chakra CD's I have bought. Is easy to follow, no annoying distractive elements, doesn't try to "teach" information, just a nice, pleasant, straightforward chakra meditation CD. Definitely recommended.

Love the CD
After hearing this meditation CD, and her beautiful voice, I have been playing this every night when I'm going to sleep.Now that I have this and see how good it is, and how wonderful Colette Baron-Reid is, I'm a new fan of hers for sure!Thanks Colette

I was disappointed
I was excited to listen to this CD because of all the good reviews, but all it did was annoy me, and I was really trying to have an open mind about it. It is just too cheesy for me, all the word echos "spinning like a wheel, a wheel, a wheel..." and the background sounds/music which at times almost felt creepy and did not give me a peaceful feeling. The music kept going from nice and serene to eerie and the sound of someone breathing once in a while like a scary movie. I really tried to get past my immediate reaction to it and listened to it several other times, but had to wind up turning it off. Just my personal taste I guess.

Calm and soothing.
I love the background ocean sounds and Colettes voice is very soothing,strong and sultry. She describes each chakra's function briefly such as where it is located on the body and each chakras color as a precious stone that is either 'ruby red' as in the root chakra or 'citrus yellow' as with the solar plexus. At the end she sings a hauntingly celtic-style song about 'Love'. I enjoy falling asleep to this Cd and I rarely get to the end but I find it very soothing and I know my Chakras are gradually becoming more balanced!

LOVELY
I'm a huge Colette fan.

Her voice on the CD is beautiful.I enjoyed the "echo effect" or whatever it's called.It's hypnotic kept me focused.

Visualizing the Journey was enjoyable and easy.

I felt refreshed and centered when it ended. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume demonstrates the techniques for the three-dimensional manipulation of fabric. It categorizes the techniques showing how they are related, giving examples of both modern and traditional variations. The techniques show how to reconstruct a flat piece of cloth using only a threaded needle.Amazon.com Review
Those who knit, crochet, or embroider have long had sources towhich to turn for in-depth instructions on specific stitches andstitch combinations. Now there is such a reference for the sewer--anencyclopedic approach to gathering, shirring, ruffling, tucking,pleating, and quilting and their myriad variations. Filled withhundreds of diagrams and crisp black-and-white photos, this volumeexplains in detail how to achieve a tremendous range ofthree-dimensional fabric effects. This is not a book of particularprojects; this is a book of instruction and inspiration for anyone whohas ever wielded needle and thread.--Amy Handy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

The Art of Manipuliting Fabric
This book is more than I expected, it's incredible all the artistic ways to manipulate fabric. It's a way to recognize and learn how to embellish the reproduction of antique doll wear.

A masterpiece for the fabric artist
This is one of the top ten books that should be on every fabric artist's bookshelf. Authoritative, inspirational, and encyclopedic. The author shows in astonishing detail how to construct texture and 3-D structure with fabric. The cover photo gives you a pretty good idea of what you can eventually make starting with relatively simple sewing techniques. All the examples are worked in simple white muslin, with no contribution (or interference) from color or pattern.

Sections include "Controlled Crushing" (gathering and shirring), "Supplementary Fullness" (ruffles, flounces and fabric insets called godets), "Systematic Folding" (pleats, smocking and tucks), "Filled Reliefs" (cording, quilting, stuffing), and "Structured Surfaces" (darts). The final chapter, "Mixed Manipulations", combines many of the techniques in new ways to make what is essentially fabric sculpture.

Beginners will need some assistance to do some of this, but don't let that stop you. Look through it. Get ideas. Motivate yourself to learn. Even the preface to the book itself encourages the reader to look at the pictures first.

Essential.

manipulating fabric
I would recommend this book to any serious...or even not so serious....fabric artist.A very inpressive, all inclusive book.

Awe-inspiring
The photos alone provide an education in sewing possibilities, from the most basic applications to envelope-pushing artistic expression.

Book Purchase
I thought I sent a review previously.I'm very pleased with the book. The fast service and condition of the book was great.The Art of Manipulating Fabric is a book I wanted the first time I saw it.The transaction was quick and easy.My expectations were met.Thank You ... Read more

Product Description
Peters' one-of-a-kind wedding cakes, for which she charges hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars, have made her America's most sought-after culinary artist. This dazzling book showcases 32 of Colette's most amazing wedding creations, organized by season, complete with step-by-step instructions and templates. 50 color photos. 2 line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

out dated
I think this is colettes first book.It is pretty outdated and is full of cakes that are very old fashoned. I love colettes cakes, but I particularly love her new ones.

Wonderful Wedding Ideas
i enjoyed the majority of the cakes shown in this book, though some just weren't my style , it gave me some ideas for my own wedding cake . This book is a good purchase for cake lovers or even someone planning their own wedding Colette Peters is definatly a master of her trade!

For the master baker
I bought this book hoping for wedding cake ideas. If you are an expert baker and decorator you might find something useful. I did not. I gave the book to a friend who enjoys baking.

Colette's cake book
Great instructional book - really inspired me - has allowed me to move to the next level in cake decorating.Intend to find and collect all her books

Fun Cake Book
I purchased this item for my mother before christmas as a gift. She absolutely loved it. She has already read it and tried different things from the book. I'm not a cake cooker myself, but she said that the book was perfect for new ideas and projects. ... Read more

Product Description
Painter and former Tiffany's designer Colette Peters presents complete instructions for reproducing 34 of her most gorgeous and inventive cakes. Step-by-step directions and more than 200 line drawings and color photos guarantee that even a novice will be able to create exceptional cakes from the very beginning. Includes recipes for white and chocolate cake, icings, and more. Color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Colette's Cakes: The Art of Cake Decorating
Mydaughter is juststarting out making cakes, and cupcakes. This was a greatgiftfor her, from an expert...

This book is wonderful
I am so impressed with this book. Not only are the cakes beautifully illustrated, but the instructions on how to create them are detailed and easy to understand. I'm not a professional, and only decorate cakes as a hobby, but I have to say that I'm looking forward to using this book.

Not for a beginner
This is a great book but it is not for a beginner you have to have already mastered some real skills on cake sculpting and lots of fondant experience.

Disappointed.
I also purchased this book because of the cover . The rest of the cakes in the book are nothing like it. The instructions are hand drawn which would have been much better with actual photos. It seems a cheap way out for production. I found the majority of the cakes very old fashioned (lace, flowers). So if you are after a book that is modern and full of stunning cakes this is not the book for you!

Awesome book
This is a great book. I love all the creative cakes and step by step instructions. I will continue to by Colette's books. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (30)

Wisdom of Avalon
I bought this deck as a companion to the Wisdom of the Hidden Realms, as they can be used together as helpers. I absolutely love how Colette Baron-Reid combined these two Oracle decks. If you are looking for a good Oracle deck you wont be disappointed with this deck.

Mystical and Powerful
This deck was a wonderful energy.It is mystical yet very easy to apply to our own physical world.I was intrigued by the name of the Tarot cards since I am a great fun of Avalon and its legacy.

I use it frequently and find its energy soothing and wise.

Beautiful Cards
Gave these as a gift.The artwork on the cards is beautiful and the messages are inspirational.

Another 10 Stars for Collette
You cannot go wrong with these cards.Avalon is a magical place that will guide us if we ask.

I love both of Colette's Oracle Decks.It's obvious she puts a lot of LOVE into her work.

It may sound silly or spooky but if you ask for guidance (not a yes or no question)the answers the cards reveal are amazing.

THESE CARDS REVEAL THE TRUTH
I am really "AMAZED" with these cards and how "ACURRATE" they are. Unbelievable. The cards answered my questions/concerns and was spot on.I've done some readings for my co-workers to test the cards accurracy and all have agreed their readings were on target. I will use these cards in conjunction with Colette's Wisdom of the Hidden Realms another "POWERFUL" deck that is accurate. I had an opportunity to speak with Colette and she is truly the real deal.LOVE THESE CARDS. ... Read more

Product Description
In My Mother's House and Sido, Colette plays fictional variations on the themes of childhood, family, and, above all, her mother. Vividly alive, fond of cities, music, theater, and books, Sido devoted herself to her village, Saint-Saveur; to her garden, with its inhabitants and its animals; and, especially, to her children, particularly her youngest, whom she called Minet-Chéri. Unlike Gigi and Chéri, which focus largely on sexual love and its repercussions, My Mother's House and Sido center on the compelling figure of a powerful, nurturing woman in late-nineteenth-century rural France, conveying the impact she had on her community and on her daughter -- who grew up to be a great writer.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

mothers house and sido
The book was shipped quickly and in great shape- it looked like new. I am very happy with it in every way.

Should be 6 stars
This tale of the famous author Colette's childhood is a beautiful word-picture tribute to her mother, Sido, and a glimpse into 19th century childhood in Burgundy, France.A captivating, haunting, beautifully written book, this is a must-read for anyone who has read any of Colette's work, or anyone who wishes he or she could write such a touching childhood memoir.

I keep having to buy this book again and again
I first read this book back when the earth was cooling. When I wanted to reread it, I couldn't find it, so I bought another copy. I've loaned it out, never had it returned, bought it again, ditto, ditto, ditto.
I've probably bought this book 10 times over the past 20 years, and that's no doubt a record for me.
People associate Colette with Cheri and her other erotic and somewhat scandalous writing and life-style.
Sido (her mother) and My Mother's House are written in an altogether different tone: lyrical, idyllic, dreamy, funny (of course; she's a very funny writer), nostalgic.
Read these two companion books, usually sold in a single volume, to get a real taste of what it was like to spend your childhood in rural France before the turn of the last century, in an eccentric household run by an unusually permissive mother and a much older, loving but distant father.
To read these books is to be sucked into another era by a writer uniquely skilled at her craft - and most of all, it gives you a fresh appreciation for the child who became Colette.

The essence of Colette
There are many Colettes, and I cherish them all.But the one dearest to me is the Colette who wrote so lovingly and voluptuously of her early years.In "My Mother's House" and "Sido" Colette writes about her family, her childhood in the country, and the creatures - human and otherwise - which informed those years.

In her writing about these years, Colette describes the inner life of children, country life, and her parents and their odd, affectionate and often difficult relationship with each other and with their children.We have the sense of lives tied to the earth and the turn of seasons, particularly through loving descriptions of her mother, Sido.

These two memoirs are not about "not much" as one reviewer puts it, they're about the sensuality of life, about enduring bonds of love and of blood, and about the education of a writer.Perfectly gorgeous work, and highly recommended.

Lovely writing about not much
France seems to produce more than its share of wonderful stylists whodon't have much to say (Georges Simenon also comes to mind).This is alovely, cozy read, but I'd sure like to know what the other reviewer foundthat is especially about women or directed toward women.I find what JanetFlanner said about Colette much more to the point, something to the effectthat there was hardly a tree in French literature until Colette came along. What she does--and does supremely well--is describe flowers, insects,trees, whole gardens beautifully and precisely. For this reader that'squite enough. ... Read more

Product Description
From the acclaimed author of Master comes the tale of a woman of legend, caught in a dark forest of intrigue, desire, and lust.

Maid Marian, now Lady of Leaford, is sent to the court of Prince John-not to take part in the debauchery of his Court of Pleasure, but to spy on him for his mother. Little does she know that her secret mission will thrust her into a whirlwind of intrigue, terror, and carnal temptations.

At court, Marian is torn between her duty to the queen and her desire for two men: one, the mysterious highwayman the peasants call Robin Hood, and the other, the dark, cold Sheriff of Nottingham. Given an impossible choice, she must submit to the carnality of Prince John's court in order to fulfill her duty and maintain her honor. But in the end, there is only one man for whom she will risk her life and give her heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Not for me, I'm afraid
This is not a genre I normally read but after seeing a blog post about it and since I'm such a nut for the medieval period and seeing as how the library had it I just had to have a look-see for my self. In this spin on the old Robin Hood legend, Marian is no "maid" but a widow. The Lionheart is off on crusade and an aging Eleanor fears John is up to no good plotting with the French King and she sends Marian to his court to spy out the truth and report back. Once there, she meets up with two old friends from her childhood, William de Wendeval (now Sheriff of Nottingham) and Robin of Locksley who is now known as Robin of the Hood and very much a wanted man. Marian soon finds herself torn between her two old friends and she's surprised to find herself more attracted to the dark, brooding Will as she is to the dashing, flirtatious Robin.

Now since this is an erotic novel, John's court is quite a licentious one and Marian is caught right up in the swirl of it all, starting off with she and Will watching John being orally pleasured by one woman as he watches two other women doing the nasty with each other on a nearby bed. Never fear though it gets even worse,

"She drank more, and John's tongue thrust through the curtain of her hair, into the depth of her ear in a parody of the activity before them."

I'll spare you the details of the strip-chess game on a *live* chessboard (you do not want to know). Then there comes the night when John sends out special invites to certain ladies of the court for a special evening in his "Pleasure Palace".

"The other ladies and maidservants had already been arranged in similarly provocative positions throughout the room. They were indeed a garden of living statues."

You should have seen the poses John gives his "living statues" (I was howling by this time) and worse yet the fate of the one who moves first and loses the contest (you do not want to know). Our poor heroine was paired up with another lady who couldn't resist...erm...taking advantage of the situation to set Marian's passions afire (no, I am not kidding). Although finally our heroine remembers she's there to spy and whilst the men are distracted during their orgy with the now live statues, she manages to snoop for written evidence (note: she is still nude whilst searching the other side of John's room).

And after the big archery contest John's arranges a little surprise at the dinner table for our heroine (a dinner with potatoes on the menu!)

"But now hands were lifting her skirts. Warm fingers eased up along her hose-encased legs gently, so gently they tickled her sensitive flesh, prickling the skin beneath the thin fabric..."

Oh. My. God.But never fear, our intrepid heroine can keep her composure above table no matter what assaults she faces

In the end it was an OK story with an interesting twist on the Marian/Sheriff/Robin relationships (get your mind out of the gutters I am NOTtalking about a three way), but unfortunately the bizarre sex was just too OTT for this reader to take too seriously.The writing is not bad, but the repetition got a bit old after a while. I needed a scorecard to track how many times "quim" and "little pip" were used, but I'd say it was about on par with PG's use of Melusine in The White Queen and got old very very fast. As for all that sex? Frankly it was all rather cold and clinical with little chemistry between the players at all.Library only.

BTW, this author has two other erotica books. One is a spin off of the Count of Monte Cristo and the other the Phantom of the Opera. Library has those but I am sooooooo not going to go there.

erotic, yet dissapointing
The story is very explicit and great in the erotic aspect. But I am too much of a robin hood admirer to deal with the couple change up. For anyone like me who cherishes the story between Robin and Marian might think twice about reading this. If you can get past it the book is well written with steamy scenes.

Great Book
I would recommend this book...this is the first I have read from this author. It keeps you going!

A Hot Rendition of the Robin Hood Story
Although Robin's, Will's, and John's "bulges" are mentioned way too often for my taste, there are enough well written scenes to get anyone's blood racing!Oh, and they do go hunting and partake in other activities well off financially and close to or royals did in those days, besides hopping from bed to bed!

Bound by Honor
The Lady of Morlaix, formerly known as Maid Marian, has been sent to Prince John's Court by his mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Marian's assignment is to report back anything treasonous to the Queen without her wayward son discovering the truth.What she discovers is that the court is rife with political and carnal corruption.Marian's mission becomes more difficult due to her attraction to the outlaw Robin Hood and his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham.The men distract her from her sworn duty to the Queen, while she must keep her wits to elude Prince John's lustful attentions. When Marian is forced to participate in the prince's wicked and wanton games, she is becomes closer to the bandit and the sheriff. As the tumultuous dance of intrigue and desire plays out, Marian must examine her own heart to make the right choice before her all secrets are revealed.

As a long time fan of Robin Hood, there was no way I could pass up a chance to read Bound by Honor.I was awed by Collette Gale's fantastic research and characterizations.Her writing is movie-picture perfect, depicting every scene, physical trait and nuance with razor-sharp precision and crisp detailing.

Marian is the same capable and courageous heroine from the classic, yet she is a woman whose awakening sexuality and sensual assertiveness compliments her strong persona.More than once, Marian was an important part of a few plot twists that were all in keeping with her adventurous spirit.Robin Hood and William de Wendeval, the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, are placed center stage in the beginning as sunlight and shadow, hero and villain, but Ms. Gale doesn't enforce the old black and white labels.The author blurs the lines with a liberal splash of gray, hinting at that what everyone perceives might not be the entire truth.Robin Hood is dashing, bold and reckless, carrying all the pretension of a bad boy rock star with a taste for charitable causes.The sheriff is painted with dark flourish and waiting in the shadows for his moment, his aura, sheer Byronic sex appeal. Robin is cocksure, fearless and as playful as a golden retriever in contrast to Will de Wendeval's brooding pathos and sinister panther strut. Is there any wonder that Marian had such a time deciding between them?

Prince John is true to his name and status, indulging his carnal appetites and vices while partially adhering and giving lip service to social restrictions. Dowager Queen Eleanor and King Richard are beacons to light the way out of the dark maze he's created.One of the best aspects about this novel is those wearing the tights are not necessarily the ones to save the day.Still, the excesses the licentious ruler employs account for a large amount of the eroticism and court intrigue.It's also a clever way to underline the validity of the relationships while forging bonds of trust, love and intimacy between our main players.Everything is neatly tied together with solid realism, offering a large pile of HEA sweetness.I was swept away by this passionate (and hot!) reworking of this popular literary favorite.

Patrice F
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed ... Read more

Product Description
"We are on our way to Le Havre. The train is going so fast that the landscape is all but a blur. From time to time, I can see a farm in the mist surrounded by a sea of green fields. I am excited but also scared. It is 1955, and we are on our way to New York."

So begins the marvelous journey of Colette Rossant, just married to an American architect and about to leave France for a new life in the heart of New York City. At first, Colette finds Americans' manners to be as mystifying as their cuisine, but before long, she discovers the myriad charms of her adopted country. Between taking on an astoundingly diverse series of jobs, raising four children, and renovating a Soho town house, Colette develops her own flair for food -- and for superb food writing. In this spirited and deliciously entertaining memoir, Colette shares the unforgettable stories of her forty tumultuous years at the heart of American and international cuisine.

The children's cooking school she starts for her daughter's friends turns into a starring role on a PBS television series. As New York magazine's "Underground Gourmet," she hails the city's staggering array of outstanding ethnic cuisine. Either with her husband and children, or on her own, she travels to Africa, China, Japan, and South America, exploring cuisine and culture around the globe. She rides camels through the Australian outback, barters lipstick for fresh vegetables in Tanzania, and is almost arrested as a spy by the Chinese secret police -- just because she is trying to eat like a local.

Charming, indomitable, endlessly curious and adventurous, Colette Rossant inspires us to savor every meal -- and every day. With a wonderful array of mouth-watering recipes, The World in My Kitchen is an irresistible celebration of family, food, and life. ... Read more