Elegance: A Novel

Elegance is quite an enjoyable read. An excellent first novel. Though the story is wrapped around Elegance, it's just as much about a womanfinding her own sense of style, both in terms of fashion and in terms of being true to herself. The characters are quirky at times, yet presented in an interesting and appealing way. I don't read lots of fiction and certainly not much of this genre, yet it read quickly. Though the 'heroine' is 30 something, it reads more like a later bloomer coming of age. She faces some difficulties, traced back to childhoodand is able to eventually face them squarely and get through lots of her own 'issues'. Her descriptions of this process were well done,clearly painting the scene with humor. As the author is from the East Coast, she carries with her the sharp, sometimes sarcastic wit with her,to the stiff upper lip of England. The book within the book,Elegance by Madame Dariaux, is quite old-fashioned and some of it's 'directions' are obviously outdated. Still it inspires and lends itself to encouraging one to pay attention to themselves and their surroundings. It's the quest to find and exude the beauty from within, rather than be subservient to the latest trendy fashion. The one woman I've known who is the essence of Elegance, followed the dictates of her inner self, rather than the rules or constraints of fashion.

Really enjoyed the theme of the story and how striving for improvement (elegance) is relevant for all of us to continue being interesting and vibrant people. The main character is well created and I liked her evolution into a confident, secure, and happy person. Easy to relate to the many often humorous situations and I enjoyed this book almost as much as The Perfume Collector.

I love this book! I keep buying it because I keep giving it to friends.

Thirty-two year old Yankee Louise is surrounded by chic London socialites, while she miserably stands vigil by her husband's side at a boring gallery opening where she is mistaken in her out-of-date and ill-fitting frock as pregnant. Such disgrace begins Louise's journey to fashion and confidence nirvana with a used book by a French fashion expert as her knowing guide. As Louise whips through the encyclopedic style manual,---we are treated to excerpts in all 26 chapter headings---she sheds not only her excess weight, but her scared-to-come-out-of-the-closet husband. The revelation that 'elegance' merely means looking appropriate for the occasion, for one's companion and for oneself, comes slowly---Louise actually arrives at date with a man at the Ritz in a tarty outfit and panicking must swap clothes with a more classically refined friend --- Tessaro has fun making the most of describing Louise's faux pas along the way to discovering a style of her own. The ending, of course, borders on the predictable---with the dawning of personal taste and an involvement in one's own life, comes the reward, in this case a rather dishy musician who is 8 years younger than Louise. Lucky Louise."Elegance" offers yet another glance at the Cinderella story that has been done over and over again, time out of mind. If you've just read Brigit Jones and are a bit tired of deciphering the British slang and celebrity references, I would pass on this one until at least it comes out in paperback or you are in the mood for more of the same. The novel is meant to be fun, there are no grand revelations or great secrets here, just common sense----although some readers are obviously taking it quite seriously as I have read that copies of the quoted Dariaux book are currently big business on E*bay. I will recommend it for those who, like myself, like a fun read about fashion and becomng a swan instead of an ugly duckling---what could be more appealing? I will also recommend it as a springboard to those who enjoy exploring a more classic quieter way of life even though this is just touched upon in the novel. You laughed a bit and found Louise's antics amusing, now, check out "Joie De Vivre" by restauranteur Arbor--a charming look at French life---and Will Clower's "The Fat Fallacy" which explains the French manner of eating to stay slim. "Elegance", the novel will intrigue you by Tessaro's modern interpretaion of Madame Dariaux's "Elegance" where dressing well and looking well are equally as important as eating and savoring your life and push you through to your own thresold to find such a life of your own.

Thank you seller family business for like /or new book Elegance received today.Your kindness and thoughtfulness….wrapping the book in festive Christmas paper to bring a smile and cheer in this often dreary year is much appreciated by me.I wish you joy and blessings to your family.Patricia

Very disappointed. The description sounded interesting, but I found the book boring. Finally, after struggling through 100 pages, I gave up. I also did not like the vulgar language. Rather than give the book away, I threw it away because I did not want to subject another reader to the language.

Mrs. Tessoro is way unsung. Her imaginative story telling, her wit, and her deep knowledge of the sometimes arcane subjects—like perfumery in another novel—these are all truly extraordinary. Can't wait for her next one. I've read all six.

Good book but a little confusing as the proof reader was obviously having a bad day.All through the book there are words such as Be which are printed as He .I did not think of making a note of all the mistakes until I was well into the book but chapterY has the line "tie quick to..."instead so "be quick to"and chapterZ "livery evening"which I took to be "every evening"There are several other instances of wrongly input words which somewhat spoiled my enjoyment of this good book.

Read this book when first published. Passed onto a friend. Fancied reading it again but out of print. Ordered a hardback copy described as "used in good condition". Cost £3.75 inlcuding postage. Great. Was pleasantly surprised with the good condition of the book. I've read it once again and passed on to another friend.

Easy read.Loved it.

I liked this book because of a different approach to the way a woman has to reinvent herself in order to survive and keep sane.

Ein sehr interessantes Buch, das nicht wirklich so ist, wie man es erwartet. Die Hinweise von Madame Dariaux sind zeitlos, die Geschichten dazu sehr passend und witzig. Eine gewisse Melancholie ist spürbar. In vielen Szenen erkennt man sich wieder. Eine Entdeckung.

Bought on behalf of a friend.