{"product_id":"9788494998980","title":"The joy of life","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Joy of Life\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaymond Queneau immerses us in a story of habits and small decisions that change the course of an existence. Valentín Br-, after five years of military service, returns to civilian life with no trade and no ambitions, only a taste for white wine with soda. An unexpected proposal from Sergeant Bourrelier puts him before a dilemma: to marry Julia Julie, the owner of a haberdashery, a woman twenty years his senior. The reader will find in this work a lucid and humorous reflection on freedom, chance, and happiness in everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is it about?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eValentín Br- is a man of set habits who, at the end of his military service, plans a simple life as a street sweeper. However, Sergeant Bourrelier presents him with an opportunity that would solve all his financial problems: marrying Julia Julie, the owner of a haberdashery on rue Gambetta, who has taken a liking to him. Julia's sister, Chantal, described as \"a looker,\" comes to evaluate the candidate and finds him suitable: he doesn't drink, he doesn't gamble, he doesn't frequent women. There is only one obstacle, apparently minor: Julia Julie is about twenty years older than the ex-soldier. From this premise, the novel explores the contradictions of desire, social convenience, and the search for a happiness that does not always follow the expected rules.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMain themes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe absurdity of social conventions and marriages of convenience.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eIndividual freedom in the face of others' expectations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eHumor as a tool to address routine and mediocrity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eChance and the decisions that define the course of a life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA subtle critique of bourgeois morality and its hypocrisies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is it recommended for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is aimed at readers interested in modern and contemporary fiction with a marked philosophical and humorous tone. It is ideal for those who enjoy novels that combine social observation with irony, in the style of the great 20th-century French authors. It will also be attractive to those seeking a brief but profound read, which invites reflection on the nature of happiness and the small decisions that mark our existence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this book offers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAn acute and amusing look at everyday life and its contradictions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA reflection on marriage as an institution and social pressures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe pleasure of precise, nuanced prose, characteristic of Queneau.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA short but intense story that reads fluently and leaves a lasting impression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAn invitation to question preconceived ideas about age, love, and convenience.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAuthor: Queneau, Raymond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Hermida Editores S.L.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eLanguage: Spanish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSubject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Philosophy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eCollection: El Jardín de Epicuro\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePublication date: November 2019\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eNumber of pages: 245\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 154 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEditorial review\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Joy of Life is a novel that captures the essence of Raymond Queneau's talent: the ability to turn the trivial into a subject of reflection without losing humor. The proposal of an unequal marriage serves as a pretext to explore the limits of individual freedom and social pressure. The direct style and character construction, especially the disconcerting Valentín Br-, keep the reader in suspense until the end. A work recommended for those looking for intelligent, entertaining literature with a philosophical depth that invites conversation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HERMIDA EDITORES S.L.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53407139070299,"sku":"9788494998980","price":19.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/0650\/6331\/files\/978849499898.jpg?v=1781847810","url":"https:\/\/kalamobooks.com\/en\/products\/9788494998980","provider":"Kalamo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}