This novel written in the style of a memoir is one of the most painful books I have ever read. There are no proper names used in it. This contributes further to its realistic depiction of a rapidly desintergrating marriage. The narrator is a writer living in Paris who begins to notice that his wife of seven years has begun to lose interest in him. The first sign is rather simple. He tries to hold her hand and gets no response. Her coldness increases and finally she tells him that she is in love with another man. The action of the novel is really never seen through the eyes of the wife. We only have the husbands view of what is going on in the marriage. And what a view it is, starting with worry, then to accomodation, then jealousy, anger and the blacker emotions. For most of the book, it seems like nothing really happens. Both of them seem to flounder finding courage to end the lie of their marriage. They use the kids as an excuse to stay together but this is just a ruse to hide their fear of losing each other. Sometimes I became disgusted with the characters, simply because they did not have the guts to just walk away. But just like in real life, people find it hard to walk away from situations even if they are unhealthy, whether it is due to love, insecurity, or loneliness. This is a powerful novel whose story has been repeated through the ages and will probably continue to do so in the future.

I had read Franck's My Russian Love and was expecting the same kind of beautiful, sad love story. Instead I got a horrific portrayal of the breakdown of a marriage. I read this book in a day--but with frequent mental health breaks. Why can't more North American writers tell stories like this? Not to sound like a movie review but...I found Separation to be engaging, well-written, bitter and a "must-read"

Franck's writing style is unique and refreshing. His perception into the emotional devastation and fluidity is touching and painful. This is the best book I've read in years.

This is much more than your run of the mill love story because if its intensity and strong writing. We travel seamlessly between Paris and Russia as the narrative switches from the narrator's current train ride to his older love affair with the beautiful Anna. His memory starts when he spies someone on the train making one of Anna's most intimate gestures, but he cannot find her. This sighting starts him on his personal quest both to finish the film he's working on and to come to a sense of closure in this relationship.

Though the plot is fairly straightforward, the author brings us to more profound levels of emotion through the characters' interactions and love story. Though it's a quick read, it's not a simple read and there are some breathtaking scenes that will stay with you long after the close of the novel. The ending felt a bit too cinematic, but I overall I really enjoyed this book. His 1991 book Separation won the Prix Renaudot, so I plan on finding that one next.

What a subject! What a terrible book!

At first I thought it was a bad translation. But no, the French version is just as disjointed, poorly edited and nearly unreadable as the English version.

just two examples from among the many:
1: Franck recounts an auction, noting that Picasso kept his silence throughout the auction. We later learn that Picasso wasn't there... so, did he keep quiet? or did he stay away?

2: We get a detailed account of Arthur Cravan's boxing exhibition with Jack Johnson, after which, Mr. Frank notes: "Jack Johnson never stepped into the ring again." Of course, he meant Cravan, but that"s not what he said. In fact, the entire book is like that.

An author, by the way, is responsible for reading own proofs, so the faults of editing are the faults of the author.....

As I said the topic is fantatic, and when I could sift through the author's drivel, I found it interesting, though he probably provides more information about Solomon and Max Jacob than I would like and not enough about some of Picasso's mistresses, which I think would have been interesting...

Ah, Franck est francais... what else can i say??

Part fiction, part art history, Bohemian Paris is a fascinating read. How can it be otherwise when the pages are inhabited by such colorful figures as Picasso. Modigliani, Jean Cocteau, Henri Matisse, Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein?

Franck, the author of 15 books, escorts readers on a wide-screen tour of magical Paris during a period of 30 years, 1900 - 1930. That was a time of new birth in the world of artistic creation when painters, sculptors, writers, and versifiers struggled to covey revolutionary ideas and images. Some of these creators were feted at opulent, devil-may care galas while others worked in the direst poverty.

Learned and repressed poet Guillaume Apollinaire hovered on the periphery of this circle; Jean Cocteau might trip a friend to advance himself but how brilliant he was! Amedeo Modigliani gave to others when he had naught for himself; Gertrude Stein presided over her unparalleled salons.

And from these minds and from that time sprang cubism, Fauvism, dadaism and surrealism. Paris, both public and private, sizzled with creativity.

With Bohemian Paris author Franck has painted vivid word pictures of that significant era and collected numerous vignettes about the private lives of those who dramatically influenced art as we now know it.

- Gail Cooke