I am currently reading this book in my French Women Writers class. There’s an older woman in the class auditing it just for fun. Today she declared that she had a hard time finding the story believable because the lead character’s thoughts and inner monologues are too complex for someone of such a young age. She said she couldn’t take the character’s point of view seriously because no 20 year old would be wise enough to have these thoughts. The professor asked if anyone disagree and I had a hell of a fun time being the first to defend Princess de Cleve and point out that it was certainly possible for her to be that wise because after all I’m 20 and greatly relate to the character. I think she was shocked to find out I was 20. I won that debate after my defense on behalf of all 20 year olds that don’t get taken seriously.
