Le Divorce

By: Diane Johnson

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Diane Johnson, critically acclaimed author of Le Mariage, has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize during her distinguished career. The best-selling Le Divorce, a witty and insightful look at clashing cultures, was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Isabel Walker has flown to Paris to offer moral support for Roxy, her pregnant stepsister. Roxy's husband, Charles-Henri, favorite son of a powerful French family, is having a love affair. Divorce seems imminent. When her entire family arrives to help with legal issues, Isabel feels intense pressure to keep everything from falling apart. And in the background, the unstable husband of Charles-Henri's lover lurks menacingly.

A resident of both the United States and France, Diane Johnson infuses this shrewd comedy of manners with keen observations about cultural differences. Narrator Suzanne Toren creates a stylish, smart, and sexy Isabel who strives to stay grounded amidst everything Paris has to offer.

©1997 Diane Johnson (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"[A] delightfully urbane social tragicomedy." (Publishers Weekly)

One of my favorite books

I love this book! And have listened to it many times. I love the insights into how the characters are thinking & feeling. And the American vs French perspective. I do not agree that this book should be rated so mediocre. It deserves more than that.

Handsomely read, beautifully told

Diane Johnson's work may not be a masterpiece for the ages, but it will resonate with any reader who has felt the tug of wanderlust, the urge to know and to be known, the delight of another world and contrasting that world with your own. smoothly and richly read by Suzanne Toren, this production is a fine one and recommended for repeat listeners and readers experiencing Le Divorce in a new way. highly enjoyable.

great book, skips

Great book. the audio is old and seems to be poorly edited making it seems to skip the end of some chapters. Narrator is good but really not cast the best as the voice sounds much older than her character. Cest la vie.

A fun romp in France

Okay, this is not high literature. However, the story is well-paced, characters interesting, and the storyline fun. If you are a francophone or francophile, you will appreciate Johnson's view of France, from the perspective of an outsider peering in, trying to come to terms with new customs and a new language. Johnson illuminates differences in American and French attitudes toward life, love, and eating. The reader's French is also superb. It's worth the listen as sheer escapism! :-)

Recording has errors

Something was screwy with the editing of this audiobook; the ends of several chapter were cut off.

Great story. The production or editing needs help

Not sure how this was recorded. It seems like it was done in sections and then put together. The sound was not consistent. Way too loud in parts and way too low. Then as a chapter was ending, the next chapter started resulting in a mashup overlapping discussion.

The movie was better

Sadly I grew bored with this book. This author , who tries to use every single word she has ever heard in a story, and the over the top narration. The movie didn't do well but I like it. I accidentally found the book and thought I would enjoy but not so much. I could not get through it. Narrator has a great French accent and abiity to speak the language but it was all over done. When you find yourself rolling your eyes over and over you just have to say enough!

great book but the wrong narrator

I loved reading this book, love Diane Johnson. But the voice in this audio version does not match the voice of the book's narrator. The story is told by a young woman, in her early 20's, from California. The voice of the audio narrator is much older, not that of a California girl and unfortunately doesn't work here.