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The Governesses
The Governesses | Anne Serre
9 posts | 8 read | 11 to read
The sensational US debut of a major French writeran intense, delicious meringue of a novella In a large country house shut off from the world by a gated garden, three young governesses responsible for the education of a group of little boys are preparing a party. The governesses, however, seem to spend more time running around in a state of frenzied desire than attending to the childrens education. One of their main activities is lying in wait for any passing stranger, and then throwing themselves on him like drunken Maenads. The rest of the time they drift about in a kind of sated, melancholy calm, spied upon by an old man in the house opposite, who watches their goings-on through a telescope. As they hang paper lanterns and prepare for the ball in their own honor, and in honor of the little boys rolling hoops on the lawn, much is mysterious: one reviewer wrote of the books deceptively simple words and phrasing, the transparency of which works like a mirror reflecting back on the reader. Written with the elegance of old French fables, the dark sensuality of Djuna Barnes and the subtle comedy of Robert Walser, this semi-deranged erotic fairy tale introduces American readers to the marvelous Anne Serre.
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jenniferw88
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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How perfect is this book/author and song for today's Chaser?! Anne Hegerty is the Governess!

#glorious #SeptemberSins @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain

Cinfhen 🙌🏻 5y
squirrelbrain 😁❤️👍 5y
81 likes2 comments
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Readaholics
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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Mehso-so

Creepy! It definitely French. It‘s a haunting story of three mysterious governesses and their hypnotic hold over the neighbor, poor men passing by and the family they serve. To be honest it was a bit crazy, but I‘m sure if I had read it in one sitting ( it‘s short) it may have felt different. It‘s very poetic and lyrical and you‘re never quite sure what is going on. Like a creepy short French film.

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mreads
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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Pickpick

Translated from the French and written in the style of a French fable, it is something of a postmodern fairytale but an erotic one. A story of three young governesses that no one in their right mind would hire to watch children.

58 likes3 stack adds
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Lauren.Archer
The Governesses | Anne Serre
Mehso-so

This was such a strange little novella. I was trying to figure out what these characters were, but I never could.

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Lauren.Archer
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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Going to read this ver slim novella next.

Literary_Siren Looks interesting, stacked! 5y
readordierachel I'm looking forward to this one! 5y
93 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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readordierachel
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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I'm doing an outstanding job of checking out fewer library books and focusing on the books I own 😆
#libraryhaul

Cathythoughts Ottessa Moshfegh has more books !!! I‘ve looked them up & stacked them immediately... 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 (edited) 5y
Erinreadsthebooks You didn't buy these books, so it's a win 🙌🏼 5y
readordierachel @Cathythoughts Yes! This one is short stories. I tried Eileen, her first novel, last year but didn't click with it. After enjoying Rest and Relaxation, I'm excited to see what she does with a short story! 😊 5y
See All 29 Comments
readordierachel @Erinreadsthebooks That's what I tell myself, too! 😆 5y
Tamra It‘s better than buying! 🤑 My goal is less purchasing and more borrowing. 🤞🏾 5y
litenthusiast That's my goal as well. It is not working so well. My TBR pile has become a giant overflowing box. 5y
readordierachel @Tamra True! I like your goal 😊 5y
readordierachel @litenthusiast I hear you! We can only do our best, right? 😉 5y
LeahBergen 😆😆 5y
Redwritinghood Absolutely! 😂😂 5y
Cathythoughts I‘m not a big short story fan BUT , have you read Sarah Halls Madame Zero book ? & in particular her short story Mrs Fox ?? I really loved it ! If you havnt read , I‘m cathyomah@eircom.net please email your address & I‘ll send you a copy 👍🏻♥️ 5y
readordierachel @Cathythoughts I haven't read it. That is so incredibly sweet of you. I just sent you an email. ❤❤❤ 5y
Cathythoughts Perfect ! I‘ll let you know when it‘s on the way 👍🏻♥️ 5y
BookBabe 😂 5y
Cathythoughts Just got email ... what is your country ? Is it US ? X. 5y
readordierachel @Cathythoughts Oops! Yes, it is ☺ 5y
JennyM 😆😆😆 5y
hilded 😂😅 5y
AceOnRoam 😂😅😂😅 5y
readordierachel @BookBabe @JennyM @hilded @AceOnRoam Someone needs to save me from myself 😂 5y
AceOnRoam At least you are not buying more books (today) ... 5y
readordierachel @AceOnRoam True! (Although the day isn't over...) 5y
AceOnRoam LOL. Step way from the 'click here' button!!!!! 5y
readordierachel @AceOnRoam I'm safe for now 😂😂 5y
batsy Ooh, what an intriguing stack! 😍 I want to read Everything Under and The Governesses, too. And now I'm going to look up Naked Men 😂 5y
Cathythoughts I just popped that in the post ... hope it doesn‘t take too long 👍🏻♥️ 5y
readordierachel @batsy Naked Men was on the staff recommendations wall at the library and the title jumped out at me...for some reason 😆 5y
readordierachel @Cathythoughts Thank you ❤❤❤ 5y
100 likes29 comments
review
RowReads1
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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Pickpick

This is a very sensual little novella translated from the French. I‘m curious to read more of her writing ✍🏻. Three governesses live and love on a large estate, while watching over a gaggle of young boys. It was originally written in the early 90s. It bares very little resemblance to that other French psychological thriller about a governess that recently came out.

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RowReads1
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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RowReads1
The Governesses | Anne Serre
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“For the stranger, being tucked up in their silky soft cocoons is a homecoming. He could happily sleep there forever. If he‘s tired, it‘s because he‘s walked a long way and worked hard. What he would like to do is relax for a while and be welcomed into their nest. He wants to lie down inside them and stare at the sky, listen to the sea. But when he does lie down in them, he‘s tormented; he‘ll never find rest there.” 😏

readordierachel Pretty bookmark! 5y
52 likes1 comment