Le Divorce - Life & Drama for American Sisters in Paris by Diane Johnson

Diane Johnson (b. Amer 1938) lives in the U.S. & France.  Her 1997 Nat'l Book Finalist "Le Divorce" is a satirical & astute observation of culture clashes between Americans & French as noted by a CA co-ed, Isabel "Izy.'  She goes to Paris (in the 1970's) to help her step-sister, Roxanne "Roxy" in her distress.  Izy at loose ends, a college drop-out without focus.  Roxy, is a published poet & older step-sis to Izy.  Roxy moved to Paris & married a French man from a pedigreed family. They have a young daughter & expecting an enfant.  C'est la vie - her husband left her for another woman.  Izy & Roxy are step-sibs by their parents 2nd marriages and have formed a sisterly bond.   Roxy is excited to come to Paris & help care for her neice & her sis in distress.  Delegated to a tiny alcove on the upper floor with a toilette down the hall, Izy will not be put a the corner.  Roxy is the one going through the turmoil of heartbreak, pregnancy & divorce with its disruptive divide of family & possessions. A prized possession, a valuable painting belonging to Roxy's step-dad leads to a major legal battle.  Egad, the French & their snobbery, affectations, infidelities & family loyalties.  Johnson, a Pulitz Prize finalist (Persian Nights '1988) is a gifted writer with wit & guile.  While entertained by the flighty Izy & her illicit affair with a much older, distinguished Frenchman (Roxy's uncle by marriage) we perceive a hilarious & insightful culture clash. The French have their orderly manners, domestic decorum & devotedness to their nation.  The Amer are thought of as blunt, naive, self-indulgent & foolishly optimistic.  A colorful portrait of Parisian life as seen from Izy's eyes adds delightful charm.  Still, there are more serious topics than cultural clashes such as sexism & war.  The Vietnam war is lambasted by an ex-pat "Our men in Vietham died for nothing, an immoral war."  War in Bosnia & Rwanda are also topical.  Mais, the heart of this contemplative novel is le coeur.  "Woe to the man who in the 1st months of a love-affair does not believe that it will last forever." (Adolphe)