Review : Le Bal
March 31, 2010
Title: Le Bal
Author : Irene Nemirovsky
Rating : 7/10
Great for : a rainy afternoon
I enjoyed Irene Nemirovsky’s Suite Francaise, so when I saw this slim volume peeking out at me from within my library shelves, I swooped it up immediately. Lo and behold, however, it’s another collection of short stories! I say “collection”, there’s two – the entire book is only 100 or so pages.
The first is a sharply written story of a girl who has been continually neglected by a vain, social-climbing mother. When her mother decides to throw a lavish ball to show off the family wealth and growing social status, the girl manages to exact her revenge in a very satisfactory way. Great little read, I enjoyed it very much. The second story is more tragic, following the misfortunes of a devoted nanny following her “family” as they abandon their wealthy lives Revolutionary Moscow and flee to Paris where they live in hardship and poverty. A very different story to the first, but equally as enjoyable.
If you see this, do give it a try. It only took me a few hours to read.
Kx
