Serafim et Claire

by Mark Lavorato

Découvrez une inoubliable histoire d’amour, d’art et de vie campée dans les rues du Montréal des années 1920 dépeintes de manière saisissante, Serafim et Claire raconte le destin émouvant et captivant de deux rêveurs dont les destins deviennent liés à tout jamais.

Claire Audette est une danseuse dont la réputation croît rapidement dans les théâtres du Montréal des années 1920. Serafim Vieira, photographe, est un immigrant solitaire qui erre dans les rues de la même ville, hanté par le souvenir d’un amour perdu dans son Portugal natal. Autour d’eux, la clameur des années folles et le bouillonnement de la métropole : des politiciens corrompus, l’essor du jazz, l’émergence du mouvement des suffragettes, les troubles dans le quartier chaud, le fascisme au cœur de la communauté italienne, tout cela sur la toile de fond de la division entre anglophones et francophones. Alors que les existences de Serafim et Claire commencent à s’entrecroiser, un dangereux complot prend forme, susceptible d’infléchir leur destin à tous les deux. Leur plan astucieux, quoique naïf, a-t-il des chances de réussir? Peuvent-ils faire leur propre fortune? Et, s’ils échouent, qu’adviendra-t-il de leur amour naissant? Serafim et Claire raconte l’inoubliable histoire de deux idéalistes aux rêves imparfaits qui unissent leurs destins, et celle, tout aussi vibrante, de la ville et de l’époque où ils évoluent. La prose de Mark Lavorato, riche et belle, fait naître sous nos yeux tout un monde vivant et coloré.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Ebooks

460 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I'm a Canadian writer, based in Montreal. I also do work as a musician and street photographer. You can see some of my work at www.marklavorato.com

Reviews

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best books in my opinion are the ones that can transport a person to a place and perhaps even a time period that is different from where they currently are. Having been to Montreal (though not in the 1920s of course), I found the idea of revisiting the city during one of my favourite decades irresistible. Serafim & Clare is what can be considered a pretty good “snow” read. The descriptions in the book really capture winter in Montreal well, and although things are different now some things remain the same.

For most of the story the two titular characters are showed as individuals on their own journeys, in fact they don’t really meet until more than halfway through the novel. By doing this the authour gives readers the opportunity to really get to know both Serafim and Clare on their own. We get to follow them from when they are young, hopeful dreamers to the people they end up as when they finally encounter each other.

I actually enjoyed the individual journeys of both Serafim and Clare more than their interactions together in the book. While there were some parts of their relationship that were endearing, I found Clare a bit too dominating and Serafim too passive when they were together. Throughout the book, I adored the relationship between Clare and her sister Cecile as well as the friendship between Serafim and Alvaro. I liked that each chapter started with a description of a photograph that tells the reader what year it is as well as a letter addressed to Clare or Serafim, usually from either Cecile or Alvaro. Both Clare and Serafim are characters with whom I can relate to. With Clare I can relate to many of her views on the world and people while with Serafim I can relate to the desire to photograph and capture “moments” rather than poses. Serafim & Clare is a great historical fiction read as we are given glimpses and mentions of historical events and figures but it doesn’t overwhelm either of the journeys of the main characters’ journeys. In the same vein while politics and religion do play a role in the story it is secondary to the art of dancing and photography which are essential parts of the protagonists. Serafim & Clare is not only historical fiction, it is a literary novel and a story about two characters trying to find their place in the world during a tumultuous time.

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was selected as the september read, by the in-person book group that is trying to find its feet in our neighbourhood. we are meeting tonight to talk about.

i found this an interesting read, and it is clear lavorato did a mountain of research in support of his novel. while neither serafim or claire are particularly sympathetic characters, you can't help but hope the best for them as they seemingly move from one disappointment or act of violence and violation to the next. lavorato's writing is lovely, his experience as a poet is evident in the prose. the novel deals with some really big themes: politics, religion, art, feminism and the women's movement, immigration, morality, class systems, language, family... there is a lot going on in this book. and i think this is where things didn't quite hold together for me. i understand the weaving of all these subjects through his characters - especially as serafim is on the leading edge of what will become photojournalism - but the sheer number of ideas fragmented the flow of the read quite a bit for me. oddly, i felt a little impatient with the story - it seemed to take a long time for claire and serafim to finally connect. (oddly, as i am not, generally, an impatient person.) i quite liked the secondary characters, and found they added a lot of interest for me while i was reading. (claire's grandmother, and seraphim's friend antonino, in particular.)

the author noted in an interview that serafim and claire is "about obsession with your art", and i definitely felt this. though when it came to claire, her obsession does seem to shift to the more nebulous concept of fame as the story progresses, which made for good contemplation.

"saudad" is mentioned in the book, as an untranslatable portuguese word which describes the longing for things that are absent but that may never have been had in the first place. this concept, in the context of fiction, is fantastic! perhaps it could have been the title?

[Doriana Bisegna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Great characters, great storyline and so much fun to read!

Montreal in the 1920's was as exciting, avant garde and corrupt as it is today! As much as things change, they really do stay the same.

The author portrayed the immigration experience as well as the feminist experience (or lack thereof) of that time and did so beautifully. You can tell that this novel is very well researched with little tidbits of Montreal history thrown in here and there, adding a sense of interest and fun trivia for the reader.

The writing is wonderful and I remained transfixed the whole time. I have only one regret: and this is that I wasn't able to read it in a couple of days. I wanted to immerse myself into that time and experience the novel continuously instead of sporadically. This is the kind of novel that you want to dive into and not want to come up for air! Absolutely wonderful!

[Maggie BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up this book because I enjoy historical fiction, and the 20s in Canada is not a time period I have read much of. The setting was definitely a huge part of the charm - the author does a great job of setting the scene and giving an insight into what life may have been like in Montreal during that time, for both a native born and an immigrant.
The relationships are also enjoying - between Claire and her sister, and Claire and Serafim, as well as Serafim and Antonino... a lot of great characters that you start to connect with and feel for.
To be honest, I wavered between 4 and 5 stars... but in the end, it definitely stirred emotions, and I almost finished it in one day... so, yes, 5 stars it is!

[Candice Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot but felt like the story took FOREVER to get started. FOREVER. And then it was all excitement for like 50 pages and then...nothing again. I have mixed feelings I guess.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story takes place in the Montreal of the 1920's. It follows 2 characters-Claire Audette & Serafim Vieira whose lives finally come together. Claire is a rebellious, unconventional & independent young woman whose passion is dance & whose career on the vaudeville stage progresses unevenly. Serafim is a Portuguese photographer who takes unposed photos of real people in real life situations. When his love for an upper class young woman is unrequited, he leaves for Montreal where he will pursue his passion with little financial rewards. When he sees Claire for the 1st time he is struck by her resemblance to his former love. The 2 drift together when Claire wants to use his photo skills to take a picture of a politician who though married & with children comes to the theatre where Claire works to pursue an affair with a young dancer, and blackmail him so she can get money to advance her career. This backfires when hired thugs pursue them & in the process of regaining the pictures, break Claire's ankle & her career, though she will overcome this & become a dance teacher, while Serafim will get a job offer from a newspaper. In the background is the religious narrow-mindedness of the Catholic church of the time, the French-English struggle, the spread of fascism to the Italian community, the Depression, the popularizing of jazz & grudging & limited acceptance of blacks, as well as the struggle by suffragists for women's vote & political rights.

[Tale A Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une histoire avec un beau potentiel, mais les éléments narratifs mettent trop de temps à prendre forme... les personnages mettent trop de temps à se rencontrer (ce qui est annoncé en 4e de couverture), et la mayonnaise n'a pas pris, le soufflet est retombé...bref, j'ai DNF ce livre, antiquité de ma PAL

Je dois attendre de le lire depuis au moins 10 ans...Tout ça pour ça.

Sinon il est bien écrit et plaira sans doute plus aux accros du contemporain et des romances, qui ne sont pas dérangé.e.s quand le récit prend son temps pour se développer

[Michelle McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, this story weaves together two very different people during the tumultuous 1920s. Immigration, class inequality, women’s rights and fascism are some of the threads Lavorato examines. The story takes place in Montreal where the church and government corruption have strong influences. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Alexina Jeanson-Viens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enfin! Une lecture très lourde, remplie de moments violents et désagréables... je ne m'attendais pas du tout à ce genre d'histoire. J'ai tout de même aimé le parallèle entre les deux personnages et les prémices de chaque chapitre qui nous donnent des indices sur l'histoire.

[Martine Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'est ecrit par un homme et ça parait. Le personnage principal féminin est très sexuelle par moments et étrange à la fois. Mais, si je l'ai lu au complet, cest que ça doit avoir un petit quelque chose. Peut-être un portrait du Québec d'il n'y a pas trop longtemps.

[Evangelia Kotsopoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

deserves more than a 4 but less than a 5

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place in Montreal, Canada in the 1920's. The first 2/3 of the book alternates chapters between the separate lives of Serafim Vieira and Claire Audette. This is a story of two dreamers whose lives become entwined.

Serafim is raised by & works as an apprentice for his uncle, a photographer in Portugal. The love of his life marries another man, the economic situation there spirals downward, & he travels within the bowels of a ship to Montreal. The lock to his trunk is broken & all his money is stolen, leaving him wandering the city penniless. Through the assistance of an acquaintance, he manages to temporarily stay in a rooming house. His camera allows him to earn small amounts of money with his unpopular candid photography, as portrait photography is still the rage then. The author details the struggles he endures. He finally saves enough to get his own apartment.

Claire runs away from home at age 15 to work as a dancer, which her parents disapproved of when she still lived at home. Over the next few years she works her way up from a chorus line girl to vaudeville. She has a bad experience due to her naivete, ends up pregnant, is accommodated by a Red Light District butcher doctor, & returns to dancing.

One day Serafim accidentally sees her walking down the street & is stunned by her resemblance to the girl he used to love in Portugal. Later he approaches her & they start courting. Claire, however, is only interested in him due to his ability as a photographer. She has a plan which will make both of them rich, she tells him, & he believes her. It involves blackmail & the consequences of putting this plot into action are chilling.

[Steven Buechler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passion. Be it for a another being or for a craft can make for interesting reading. We are all guilty to blindly following someone or doing something without rationalizing why we do it. And the hurt when that occurs when we fall because of our blind passions creates some uneasy situations. And that is the beauty behind the novel Serafim and Claire.

http://wp.me/p46Ewj-iE

[Caroline Mcphail-Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Two souls world apart come together and overcome adversities beyond my imagination, in a time long since past.

A dancer in Canada and a photographer from Portugal meet in Quebec and the story touches issues of feminism, immigration, love, relationships, family, friendships, and always hovering violence.

[Patricia L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction is not my thing; but the passionate characters Serafim, a photographer and Claire, a dancer, one dealing in frozen moments and the other movement, are exceptional. Both show how ambitions can railroad.

The story is so well-constructed I couldn't put it down. I loved the history, the snow and the plight of the immigrant. Read it in the winter.

[Micaela Fassina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ironically, the characters in this book felt 2-dimensional, like the posed pictures that Serafim worked hard to avoid, simply drifting through life. And Montreal in the Roaring Twenties never really roared like it should have. But still, an interesting read.

[Julienne]

Look for my review in The Winnipeg Free Press this February.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Half Blood Blues, i think you will like this book. Same historical context, with vivid characters. Excellent reading.

[Ley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was nice, but the rest..? I'm not sure.

[Tracerlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, hello ...... myriad of awkward moments.