Friday, March 22, 2013

The Suitors-Cécile David-Weill; Linda Coverdale (translator)

The Suitors


Cécile David-Weill; Linda Coverdale (translator)

Other Press, Feb 26 2013, $16.95

www.otherpress.com

ISBN: 9781590515730



In 2007 at Cap d’Antibes on the French Riviera, their father announces to his adult daughters that he and their mother decided to sell L’Agapanthe though they do not need the money. Aghast with horror the siblings (psychotherapist Laure and French presidential language interpreter Marie) do not want strangers owning their annual summer retreat from ennui of life as L’Agapanthe is a key representation of a dying elitist lifestyle Laure and Marie cherish; perhaps even more than Laure cares about her son Felix.



The two sisters consider their options as they reject giving up the bonne mansion with its ideal intellectual climate inside proper manners that new money cannot understand due to a lack of proper nurturing compounded by poor naturing. The solution is to sell their beloved retreat to the right money people that will appreciate the tradition and continue along the same chic lines of the sisters and their parents by including the siblings as his or her mentors; that is if they fail to persuade dear old dad to give them L’Agapanthe. Thus the matchmakers seek proper refined suitors to purchase L’Agapanthe.



The Suitors is a satirical comedy of manners with a key underlying message not to allow material things to incarcerate you. The meandering and thin, but jocular storyline contains anecdotal behavior by nouveau riche celebs clashing and trashing with refined old money. With a nod to The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (directed by Luis Buñuel), fans will enjoy new meaning to Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.



Harriet Klausner

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