I went through a phase of reading Colette in college (because of course I did), but I don't think I read any of the works discussed here.

Roberts' disection of four pieces she chose to read and reread leads to a world of discoveries about the meaning behind Colette's words. Mothers, fairy tales, and incest are all themes which pop up.

It definitely made me want to pick up Colette again and I wonder how she will strike me now that many years have passed. Roberts walks a fine line of possibly reading too much into things. It's the age-old complaint against English teachers: how do we KNOW the author meant the blue vase symbolizes her great aunt's dead parakeet? But overall it's interesting to hear one author speak about another, especially one in whom they've long had special interest.

The narrator of the audiobook has a girlish voice I found trying and artificial.

Thank you to NetGalley for my audio ARC.

I guess I didn't know what I was reading when I picked this one. It's not really my style but it grew on me in the end....

I was intrigued as I’ve heard much of Colette over the years, mostly revolving around Gigi. I was disappointed in this telling of her, her work. I wouldn’t say it was bad writing, just not personally interesting to me and more the author’s opinion of Colette and her work than telling about Colette. On the plus side, I am dying to read more biographical material of this intriguing woman and to read more of her own work!