The Character of Rain: A Novel

This was not a very enjoyable read. The book starts off throwing around some tangential (at best) Western philosophy when it is trying to introduce us to a child who supposedly adores Japan. The narration moves way too quickly -- until the turning point of the story, I suppose: the exchange between the protagonist's two nannies that marks her 'fall from grace'. This scene, though important, might have wielded a smaller hammer in relation to the rest of the hurried text.I was expecting to learn something about childhood (think: A High Wind in Jamaica). Unfortunately, Nothomb gets childhood (and parenthood, for that matter) so wrong that it is hard to get anything from the novel. The protagonist goes from mute to fluent speaker literally in a moment, learns to read -- the Bible, no less -- by age 2 (without any help by or even knowledge of any adults), and contemplates (well, sort of commits) suicide at 3. And she has nearly photographic memory of these first three years.The parents in the novel are implausible: they are unconcerned that their daughter (whom they blithely call 'The Plant') is mute and unresponsive. I'm pretty sure the author is not a parent, since her portrayal of parents and children is so off-base.In a book as short as this one, every scene should be important, carefully crafted and fitting to the narrative; none of this is found in TCOR.

Perhaps I like the beginning more than the end, but I enjoyed the continuous changes in the story . O

This story is pure magic. Amelie is a genius and a wizard with words and pictures. She takes you back into a time you can not remember and makes you wonder and puzzle over things that you never thought about before. Unique and wonderful.

Excellent. This book was recommended to me because I have a son in the Autism Spectrum and it was a fantastic read. It really gives you a different perspective.

Very good

Bought as a gift

GREAT

very imaginative!

A novel focussing on the first three years of life, drawing on the life-history of the author and focussing on the last 6 months of that period. The Life of Hunger takes up where this novel leaves off and gives a sense of life from the age of five onwards.Like the Life of Hunger, this is a remarkable feat of imagination and memory - each chapter is lively, new, and full of interest.My main complaint is that there is not as much to read here as I could have wished - but I suppose any life from the age of 2.5 to the age of 3 will be necessarily limited in the material it offers the novelist!

in perfect condition

This is a biographie viewed through the eyes of a baby! Huge laugh!!! couldn't stop laughing from page 1 to the last!!!:-)

I loved it! Very original author, very popular in France for the past few years, one of her first books, this one explores the world from a child's perspective "very early on". I loved the unconventional style and the richness of this concise novel.

Great read !