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Charlotte
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
17 posts | 12 read | 1 reading | 13 to read
Two artists, two obsessions. Charlotte Salomon--born in pre-World War II Berlin to a Jewish family traumatized by suicide--was obsessed with art, and with living. She attended school in Germany until it was too dangerous to remain, fled to France, and was interned in a bleak work camp from which she narrowly escaped. Newly free, she spent two years in almost total solitude, creating a series of autobiographical pictures--images, words, even musical scores--which together tell her life story. The result is a unique, relentlessly complete artistic expression. In 1943, a pregnant Charlotte was taken to Auschwitz and gassed, but not before she entrusted her life's work to a friend, who kept it safe until peacetime. Entitled Life? Or Theatre?, it was exhibited in fragments in the 1960s; a 1998 exhibition of the complete work in the London Royal Academy became a sensation and eventually published in book form.David Foenkinos, himself obsessed with Charlotte, has written his own utterly original tribute to her tragic life and transcendent art. His novel is the result of a long-cherished desire to pay tribute to this young artist. Written with passion, life, humor, and intelligent observation, Charlotte, with rights sold in 12 countries and over 500,000 copies in print in France, is a triumph of creative expression, a monument to genius stilled too soon, and an ode to the will to survive.
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andrew61
andrew61
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
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Pickpick

I feel ashamed not to have heard of the artist Charlotte Saloman who died in Auschwitz in 1943 after leaving a series of artworks 'Life? or Theatre?' Created while living in France. This poetry/prose style narrative explores the writers obsession with a story that of Charlotte's unique history where depression dogs the female side, but a woman enlivened by passion and art. I felt incredibly sad on finishing but equally astonished. Very moving

TrishB This sounds fascinating. 3mo
andrew61 @TrishB I'd never heard of it until it was mentioned on a podcast. I'd definitely recommend it Trish. 3mo
TrishB You already convinced me 👍🏻 I ordered a copy after reading your review. It‘s a nearly new one. 3mo
andrew61 Great, hope it lives up to my hype. I ordered one of ebay and when it arrived it was in French and I then found it in the library. My French is very rusty o level grade c so maybe it's time I gave it a go to help learn a language!! 3mo
45 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Twocougs
Twocougs
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
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Pickpick

Some how this powerful novel, based on the actual life of Jewish artist, Charlotte Salomon, has missed my attention until now. Heartbreaking on so many levels. May Charlotte and all the other Holocaust victims memories be a blessing.

22 likes
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Jnieto
Jnieto
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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quote
Jnieto
Jnieto
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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Fridayfilms
Fridayfilms
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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C

blurb
Fridayfilms
Fridayfilms
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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Important words, then and now.

2 likes2 stack adds
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Fridayfilms
Fridayfilms
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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Birthday gifts! Can you guess the other book from the bit peeping out?

3 likes
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Vikz
Vikz
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
Pickpick

An engrossing, heartrending read: talking about a fascinating woman, in an innovative manner

9 likes
blurb
Vikz
Vikz
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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My evening read, currently blowing me away and giving me all the feels.

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Moray_Reads
Moray_Reads
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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Oh, my heart. #ALLTHEFEELS couldn't have come at a better time because these stories (both based on the lives of real women) have had me weeping uncontrollably in the last two days 💔💔💔💔💔 #feistyfeb #recommendsday

RealLifeReading Burial Rites was so good! 7y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Moray_Reads
Moray_Reads
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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Pickpick

A beautiful, terrible book about a talented woman whose life was cut short by hatred. The story of Charlotte Salomon runs alongside Foenkinos' discovery of and investigation into the artist whose work speaks so deeply to him. The bold, poetic structure is powerful and uncompromising, Foenkinos makes no bones about revealing the end in his epigraph but it is still utterly heartbreaking. I've already reserved a book on Charlotte's art at my library

42 likes2 stack adds
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Moray_Reads
Moray_Reads
Charlotte | David Foenkinos
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37 likes
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JewishBookCouncil
JewishBookCouncil
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foenkinos
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Pickpick

Did you set new reading goals for 2017? So did we! Track how Jewish Book Council's staff is kicking off a new year of reading, starting with our January 2017 #JewLit staff picks: http://bit.ly/2j8BjE8

Dragon You know it's a good book when the blurb makes you cry. Adding Charlotte to my tbr. 7y
43 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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charl08
charl08
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
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Words do not always need a destination. We can leave them behind us at the borders of feelings. Running around headless in the vague zone. And that is the privilege of artists: to live in confusion.

Lacythebookworm Great quote! 🙌 7y
charl08 @Lacythebookworm this book makes me want to read more by the author AND find the artist's work...
[tagged book]Life? or Theatre?
7y
Lacythebookworm That does sound good! I love it when one book leads me to another! 7y
48 likes3 comments
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soma
soma
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
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"Charlotte learned to read her name on a gravestone." Just started a while ago - half way though already - reads like a book of poetry. Highly recommended for those who are interested in historical figures, and the Holocaust.

1 like
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Laurent
Laurent
Charlotte: A Novel | David Foekinos
Pickpick

Simplement magnifique. Comme disait ma grand mère c est triste mais c est beau. Just amazing. True sad wonderful story