Блискуче майбутнє

by Catherine Cusset, Катрін Кюссе, Марина Марченко (Translator)

«Блискуче майбутнє» – це романтична мозаїка, де змішались післявоєнна Бессарабія, Румунія Чаушеску, Ізраїль 70-х і «американська мрія». Елена народилась в Бессарабії, але зовсім дитиною їй довелося емігрувати до Румунії. Вона закохується в Якова, з яким батьки забороняють їй зустрічатися лише на тій підставі, що він єврей. Елена долає зрештою їхній опір, одружується з Яковом і вони емігрують до Ізраїлю. Але Ізраїль живе в облозі, під постійною загрозою війни, що може забрати їхнього єдиного сина, Александру. Вона переконує Якова емігрувати до США. На шляху до «блискучого майбутнього» сина їм доводиться здолати чимало перешкод. Потрапивши нарешті до Америки, вони, сорокарічні, починають життя з нуля.

Genres: France, Roman, Fiction, French Literature, Literature, Novels

328 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2008

About the author

Catherine Cusset was born in Paris in 1963. A graduate of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and agrégée in classics, she got a Ph.D in Paris and another one at Yale, and she taught 18th-century French literature at Yale for 12 years. She is the author of ten novels published by Gallimard between 1990 and 2013, among which En toute innocence, Le problème avec Jane (finalist for Medicis prize and Grand Prix littéraire des lectrices d’Elle 2000), La haine de la famille, Confessions d’une radine, Un brillant avenir (Prix Goncourt des lycéens 2008) and Indigo. She is translated into 15 languages. The Story of Jane was published by Simon and Shuster in 2001. After 20 years in the States, Catherine Cusset recently moved to London with her American husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Kelly Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The writing is simple and lovely, the characters are well-rounded, intriguing, and realistic, and the story is absolutely captivating.

If you’re looking for a novel with great character study and an exploration of cultural differences, this book is really satisfying. I know as an American who has really integrated into French life after a couple years living in France, I found myself relating to and understanding multiple perspectives in this book which takes place in America but involves a cast of characters who are from elsewhere— Romania and France. However, there were perspectives I couldn’t relate to, and in those moments it was very engaging to learn about them.

Catherine Cusset blends together so many interesting pieces to create this novel. Each character has such a different and interesting background. Elena/Helen is a Romanian born, United States immigrant. Helen’s husband, Jacob is a Jew she met in Romania, whose family is back in Israel. Alexandru, is their only son, born in Romania, and grew up partially there and partially in America.
Marie is a French born citizen with strong family ties in Paris and Brittany but with an education and life in America, with Alexandru- her boyfriend/husband in the novel.

The novel explores how these characters whose relationships are strong but at times strained and riddled with complications interact with and love each other. It’s fascinating to see how the worldview of each character differs from the others as a result of their dissimilar upbringings. None of these characters share overwhelming similarities with each other in this area, Marie cannot imagine what her husband or parents-in-laws’ lives were like, neither can their understand hers, and neither can Alexandru and his parents completely understand each other.

The way Cusset takes her time, to show us where these characters come from, why and how they think and behave the way they do is very well executed. As a reader it’s a treat to have an intimate understanding of the characters but to have learned about them gradually, as they learn about themselves as well.

Additionally, the change in perspective between Helen and Marie gives great dimension to the storyline and the characters. These two women, a mother and her daughter-in-law have an extremely tense relationship. As they do not appreciate each other whatsoever to begin with, their understanding of specific situations and of each other is tainted by their disesteem. As a reader alternating back and forth, you can see see that neither character is as bad as the other thinks she is, but neither is blameless either. There isn’t truly a clear victim or an antagonist, just a plethora of misunderstandings, cultural differences, and personality clashes. This is what life is like, isn’t it? We make people we don’t get along with out to be much worse than they are and we minimize our own flaws.

Ultimately, I would really recommend this book. It was hard to put down, when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about how much I’d like to be! I will certainly be looking into other novels by this author!

[Inna Zolotar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Деякі питання іноземців, як, наприклад, "чому старші люди у вас такі набурмошені?", або "чому українці такі недовірливі і не дотримуються правил на дорогах?", чи, моє улюблене: "чого люди на селі не хочуть купити трактор?", а з останніх - "навіщо вам та війна з росією, киньте, і живить нормально..." - досі вводять мене в ступор, і не тому, що я не можу пояснити, а тому, що пояснення може не вкластися навіть в годину, а відповідь очікується коротка (максмум 2 речення), зрозуміла для їх світогляду, і задовільна, яка б не суперечила їх розумінню світу... І оцей "місандерстендінг" між країнами "варшавського блоку" і західним світом ще зовсім не подоланий, і тут ще пояснювати і пояснювати....
Ця книга Катрін Кюссе загалом про труднощі розуміння і "перекладу"... Основний сюжет розгортається навколо відносин "свекруха - невістка", які ніде не бувають легкими, але тут ситуація ускладнюється передісторією і різним життєвим досвідом.
Мама, Лєнуш, родом із Бесарабії, після другої світової втікає до Бухаресту, і її молодість припадає на "чаушескову" Румунію, де, проти волі батьків, дівчина закохується в єврея, а, згодом, емігрує, і з великими труднощами опиняється в США, і все заради сина...
Невістку звати Марі. Вона француженка, з дуже відкритого дому, повного гостей, розмов і емоцій... Вона боїться вічно незадоволену і мовчазну маму свого чоловіка, і зовсім її не розуміє...
Попри таку румунсько-французько-американську тематику ( і єврейську теж!), я в цій книзі дуже впізнаю нас - нашу звичку мовчати, не пояснювати, ображатись, терпіти, боятись, але при тому всьому любити, і всіма силами прагнути кращого для своїх дітей... І ми дуже подібні з румунами в своїй забобонності, патріархальності (хоч і в осучасненій формі), недовірливості, консервативності, а також в шаленій працелюбності емігрантів, вмінні викручуватись і "тримати фасон", в прагненні нагодувати, напоїти і ...пристроїти :)
Рекомендую книгу тим, хто любить заглиблюватись в сімейні історії, і шукати причини: там і про він-вона, і про мама-дочка, і про єврей-румунка, і про бабця-онука, і ще багато шарів і прошарків...
І мій висновок після цієї книги і численних розмов з іноземцями: нам, європейським "східнякам", треба вчитись розуміти себе, не боятись говорити про це, і пояснювати... А "західнякам" хочеться побажати таки мати терпіння вислухати і не очікувати прості відповіді на складні питання...
Рекомендую! Приємних вражень!

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le rêve américain ou l'espoir déçu d'une jeune Roumaine.

L'enfance d'Elena nous entraîne dans la tourmente du XXe siècle pour atterrir dans la Roumanie communiste. La description de cette période et des espoirs de celle qui est devenue une jeune fille se trouve bouleversée par la rencontre de son futur mari. Par la suite, le roman se perd un peu avec l'exil de ce duo vers les États-Unis, terre d'accueil où le rêve américain flamboie dans leurs yeux. Puis c'est la confrontation entre Elena qui a tout sacrifié pour faire de son fils un américain et cette jeune française, si alerte et insouciante face aux réactions apeurées d'Elena et de son mari. C'est avant tout le décalage entre les deux périodes qui peut déranger dans cet ouvrage, où le personnage d'Elena, jeune femme battante, se transforme en petite vieille apeurée.

Une confrontation délicieuse pour le lecteur entre ces deux jeunes femmes aux espoirs si différents.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le personnage principal de ce roman, Elena Tiberescu, renommée Helen Tibb après son immigration aux États-Unis, a beau avoir rejeté sa famille et son pays natal, la Roumanie, elle a les mêmes travers que ses parents. Elle tente de contrôler la destinée de son fils et croit être la seule à savoir ce qui est bon pour lui. Mais l'auteure sait rendre ce personnage profondément humain, malgré toutes ces fautes et ses traits détestables.

[Neodoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

proposición de novela de terror contar lo mismo pero desde la perspectiva de tener a elena/helen como madre esposa y suegra

[Antenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an opening hook, the portrayal of Helen, an elderly woman frustrated by her husband’s dementia but traumatised by his sudden death and apparent suicide, may not seem at all compelling. It turns out to be a family saga, with the focus on Helen, née Elena in post-war Communist Romania and destined to marry Jacob, a handsome young Jewish man, in the teeth of the ingrained anti-semitism of Ceaușescu’s bigoted, inward-looking regime, which drives her to seek emigration first to Israel and then the United States to obtain a better future for her adored only son, Alexandru.

Written in a clear and simple style, with a strong focus on the minutiae of daily life, this novel feels very authentic, but too often also banal, even boring. This contrasts with the complexity resulting from the decision to alternate chapters back and forth in time, which proves a little disjointed and confusing at times, giving the reader the benefit of additional insight into events, but at the cost of destroying some of the potential for dramatic tension.

Although Helen is not a particularly likeable character, given to emotional, hysterical, manipulative behaviour, the author develops a detailed character study which enables one to empathise with her at many points in the story and to understand the forces which have shaped her. The same applies to her French daughter-in-law Marie, much more laid back and unconsciously thoughtless with a sense of entitlement born of a more relaxed and free upbringing. The tension between the two women and the relationship which they eventually achieve weaves a strong thread through the narrative.

For me, this reads like a series of short stories based on the same characters, which gradually caught my interest through a few striking incidents. For instance, there is the irony in how, having battled and plotted to get married, Helen and Jacob commit the same error as her parents in trying to prevent their son Alexandru’s marriage to Marie, because she is French, so it is assumed will take their son away to a distant land where he will find it harder to realise his “brilliant career”. Then there is the poignant moment when Helen, in the violent grip of labour, waits in a taxi en route for the hospital while her mother takes an inordinate time to appear: it as this point that Helen decides that her adopted mother cannot, as rumour has it, be her birth mother, since the latter would never let her suffer in this way. Another striking scene is when, having taken advantage of Jacob’s Jewishness to escape to Israel, Helen realises that her precious son is destined for a spell in the Israeli army, where her overactive imagination leaves him in no doubt that he will either be killed or maimed. There is also a convincing and moving portrayal of widowhood.

The novel seems to contain “jewels” of insight and observation, together with some realistic experiences, set in a somewhat tedious paste.

[Yanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it. It shows perfectly speech to our parents when we say : I will never do to my kkids what you have done to me" and 90 % of the time we do what our parents did . Helen wants absolutly to leave Romenia in order to offer a better life to her husband Jacob and her son Alexandrus. Before obtaining this "perfect Life" she has to have an argument with her catholics parents about Jacob who is jew. In order to obtain their passeport for USA.

I enjoyed the book and I will read an other book from this author.

[Nathalie Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'aime l'écriture de Catherine Cusset, sans fioriture mais dans une langue fluide et belle . J'aime aussi qu'elle soit sans concession avec ses personnages qui sont plein d'asperités et jamais lisse , aucun d'entre eux , de l'héroïne aux personnages secondaires . Je me suis facilement identifiée à Helen , même si elle est très éloignée de qui je suis et que ses origines ou son âge ne sont pas proches des miens. Sans vouloir les sauver à tout prix au yeux des lecteurs, Catherine Cusset a une telle empathie pour ses personnages qu'ils sont d'une humanité rare.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

În timp ce desface salteaua pneumatică, Helen îl aude pe Jacob trăgând apa la veceu şi deschizând uşa de la baie. Îşi ridică privirile şi-şi vede soţul în pijamaua lui gri cu dungi albe, uitându-se la ea, din uşa livingului. Ceea ce o enervează. Nu fiindcă nu se oferă s-o ajute ― nu e mare lucru pentru ea să umfle salteaua, iar Jacob a devenit atât de neîndemânatic că e mai bine să se descurce singură ― ci pentru că nu-i pune întrebarea care se vede cu ochiul liber că-l sâcâie: de ce se culcă nevastă-sa în living? Ia hotărârea să tacă şi ea. Să articuleze trei cuvinte mai poate încă.

Nu-l întreabă nici dacă şi-a luat medicamentele pe care i le-a lăsat pe tăblia barului din bucătărie, alături de un pahar cu apă. Dacă o să sară peste o doză, asta e. N-o să moară din atât. Uneori simte că nu mai poate să gândească, să vorbească, să acţioneze pentru doi. Ea este cea care scoate din ambalajul lor cele douăzeci şi patru de pastile zilnice şi tot ea trebuie şi să-i amintească să le ia. Azi a uitat din nou să aducă de la cutia poştală corespondenţa. A aşteptat răbdătoare trei zile, tot repetând aluziile la facturile care erau de plătit. Inutil. Cum cutia de scrisori se umpluse deja, până la urmă i-a spus. S-a scuzat, dar asta nu schimbă nimic. Nu e vorba numai de boala lui şi nici de vârstă. La şaptezeci şi doi de ani nu eşti chiar atât de bătrân. Dar nu mai face niciun efort. Şi situaţia se va înrăutăţi. Nici nu vrea să se gândească. E prea trist.

Apasă pe buton şi salteaua se umflă încet cu un bâzâit de motor. Cu umerii aduşi, cu braţele atârnându-i pe lângă corp, Jacob continuă să se uite la ea, nemişcat, ca o statuie de sare. Crede probabil că e supărată pe el din cauza corespondenţei, sau pentru că n-a lăsat-o să doarmă noaptea trecută ducându-se la toaletă de zece ori. Sau se întreabă ce altceva o mai fi uitat să facă. Un pic de nelinişte îi va zgâlţâi niţel neuronii, ceea ce nu-i strică. Şi de altfel, dacă într-adevăr vrea să ştie, n-are decât să întrebe: „Lenuş, de ce dormi tu aici astă-seară?” Ea-i va răspunde imediat, foarte frumos, şi el o să vadă că nu e din cauza lui. Nu e supărată pe el. Nu este el vinovat că-i bolnav, bineînţeles că nu. Ea ar vrea numai ca el să facă un mic efort. Un mic efort. Mic de tot.

Când îşi ridică privirile, Jacob nu mai este acolo. S-a retras în tăcere. Doar dacă ea nu l-a auzit când a zis noapte bună. Uşa băii se închide la loc. Apa de la veceu vuieşte iar, a doua oară în mai puţin de zece minute. Ea termină de umflat salteaua, îi pune cearşaful şi cuvertura şi iese pe terasă.

Prin perdea poate să vadă că în dormitor lumina e stinsă. Jacob doarme probabil. Adoarme întotdeauna uşor. Helen se sprijină de balustradă. Îşi aprinde o ţigară şi priveşte suprafaţa ca o oglindă neagră a Hudsonului între turnurile Trump. Este o noapte frumoasă şi senină de mijloc de septembrie, plină de stele. Trage din ţigară, înghite fumul cu sete, îl dă afară. Terasa este regatul ei, unde nu deranjează pe nimeni, unde nu e nimeni ca s-o critice. Pentru terasa asta şi pentru vederea splendidă asupra râului, pentru turnurile din Midtown şi falezele New-Jerseyului a ales ea acest apartament când s-au instalat în Manhattan în urmă cu şapte ani. Se dă înapoi, se aşază pe scaunul alb de plastic, îşi stinge ţigara şi aprinde alta. A auzit în seara asta la televizor că miercuri va fi vânt puternic. Mâine-dimineaţă va trebui să aducă plantele înăuntru. Mâine-seară vine Camille şi n-o să aibă timp. Bea un pic de pepsi şi se ridică, strivind chiştocul în scrumiera plină. Chiar înainte de a părăsi terasa, se duce să caute pe etajeră sirena de plastic roz cu bleu care face bule automat. O pune lângă scrumieră. Camille adoră bulele.

[Anne Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un roman très divertissant, qui intrigue en raison du fait que Catherine Cusset est française et se met dans la peau d'une immigrée roumaine aux Etats-Unis, ayant traversé l'expérience de la Roumanie de Ceaucescu, des parents conservateurs à un point qui semble intolérable aujourd'hui (jusqu'à l'obscénité) et du mari juif dans un contexte de discrimination antisémite fort. Et que tout semble très crédible : quand on a soi-même des liens familiaux et amicaux avec l'Europe de l'Est, on trouve dans ce livre d'étranges échos de situations rencontrées. J'aimerais savoir comment elle a travaillé ce contexte culturel pour écrire ce roman.
Son titre d'ailleurs reflète bien sa thématique principale : l'expérience de la maternité à travers celle de l'immigration et du poids de sa culture qui, malgré les efforts d'adaptation et la reconnaissance du confort qu'elle nous a procuré, nous colle toujours à la peau. Car finalement, le grand sujet de cet ouvrage, c'est la culture d'origine des uns et des autres, leurs chocs et comment certains doivent mettre la leur en sourdine pour préserver une harmonie, voire survivre, même quand tout se ligue contre soi.
L'intrigue autour de Marie est intéressante aussi en ce sens qu'elle met l'héroïne en position de perpétuelle réaction dans leur relation, mais qu'elle n'a jamais vraiment le pouvoir sur son développement : c'est Marie qui mène la danse, même quand on pense qu'elle peut y parvenir. Contrairement à ce que prétend la 4e de couverture, jamais l'amour ne naîtra entre elles : seulement une acceptation, un modus vivendi, voire une forme de respect qui s'obtient après des années d'incompréhension et de rejet .

[Madina Chingarieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I abandoned the book when I was halfway through, mostly because I forgot it at my friends place, but not only.

While reading this novel I’ve realised I’ve trouble receiving a narration made in present tense. It prevented me from reaching that cosy escapist place where you forget the here and now.. it almost grossed me out for some reason.
Funny thing is, laconic writing can seem as pretentious as overuse of grandiloquisms.

Same thing with the flash back structure of the book. I don’t know the first thing about writing but I’m guessing it’s a big challenge to write in two timelines and to switch between them alternately. While I understand the advantages the juxtaposition offers, I think at times you lose more than you gain by jumping from one time space to another. For me it’s an instrument that has most impact when used in the movies.

The European part of the narrative is written in the past tense and is richer in events, historic events included.
I might go and claim my Brilliant Avenir back after all…

[Guada VT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gusta la temática principal que describe la autora, además de otras que subyacen: el contraste entre sociedades capitalistas y comunistas, la discriminación a causa de la religión, los errores que cometieron nuestros padres en los que no podemos evitar volver a caer.... La verdad es que no tenía ninguna expectativa cuando empecé a leer este libro, así que me ha sorprendido gratamente. Es cierto que el estilo es bastante aséptico, pero se agradece que la autora no se haya embarcado en riesgos innecesarios que tal vez no pueda asumir.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most realistic and relatable novels I've ever read. Intelligent and well written. All the characters so flawed but understandable, and the conflicts between them so real.

This book gave me a lot to reflect on about life and relationships. I will definitely look to read more by this author.

[chesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai adoré. Ça change de ce que je lis d’habitude.
Ça parle d’amour, tous types d’amour. C’est aussi triste quand Jacob décède à cause de sa maladie (ou à cause de la folie…) Le deuil, etc. L’acceptation surtout, du point de vue de la mère et de la belle-fille.
Je le relirais.
+ j’ai appris des choses sur la Roumanie et le peuple Juifs.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre qui gisait sur le tablar des livres à lire, je ne sais pas d’où il vient, mystère...
Ça parle d’exil, de pertes, de renoncements et d’espoirs, je ne pourrais pas objectivement expliquer pourquoi il m’a tellement plu mais c’est une très jolie découverte !

[Marie-Evelyne Feyerick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une belle histoire d’immigration empruntant des chemins sinueux avant d’arriver à destination, les USA et le rêve américain. Un pan de l’histoire du monde entre les années 50 et les années 2000. J’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre.

[Delphine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel délice! J’ai pratiquement lu ce livre d’un trait mais je ne voulais pas qu’il finisse…ces personnages, si humains, si imparfaits, ces vies couvrant plusieurs années et pays. L’écriture fluide de Catherine Cusset. J’ai tout simplement adoré ce livre!!

[stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Marie Berne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un récit de vie intéressant, notamment le contraste entre la jeunesse dans un régime communiste et l'âge mûr dans un régime capitaliste.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une lecture émouvante et passionnante !

[Kiegerl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roman parlant de la tendresse naissante entre une belle mère et sa belle fille que tout semble opposer

[Mazen Alloujami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un beau roman. Beau par sa simplicité et son humanisme.
L'histoire de "l'éternelle migrante", Elena, à travers pays, âges, combats et amours. Un roman qui ravive en moi souvenirs et expériences.

[Laëtitia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le livre était intéressant pour le côté historique mais je n’ai jamais réussi à m’attacher aux personnages ni même à les comprendre... dommage !

[Beatris · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so good! the story was amazing and so relatable!

[Agathe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Je n'ai pas du tout accroché à l'écriture, je l'ai trouvé distante, hachée. Je n'ai pas reussit à rentrer dans l'histoire et refermé le livre après quelques chapitres.

[Hana Vacková · Rating 4 out of 5]

Román se mi moc líbil. Skvělé nahlédnutí do mentality rumunské emigrantky.

[Vinz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Zoé · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas le meilleur de Catherine Cusset

[Arthur Rgr · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Excellente lecture, m'a plongé dans de grandes réflexions sur le déterminisme et la reproduction de schémas parentaux. Une belle capsule de vie, touchante et envoutante.

[Natasiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

O rodine, svokre, útekoch, smrti, starobe a živote s ňou, o láske z nenávisti a nenávisti z lásky.