Critique libre "Stupeur et tremblements" par Amélie Nothomb

This story by Amélie is much exaggerated. But such kinds of difficulties in human relationship can be found at any society in any countries even though the levels of the difficulties vary. In her story, the funny things are concentrated. If French person who don't know the cultural differences between France (Europe) and Japan and express their feelings according to their cultural backgrounds and the Japanese partner also does not understand such cultural differences and behaves based on Japanese culture, the story of Amélie will actually occur. But I think the story is just a fiction which are the product of Amélie's imagination. I think Amélie is very clever person, which I found in her book. She majored philology in her university study. We can find her intelligence in the book, not in the movie. I guess and I hope that Amélie did not experienced such hard time in Japan just as in the story. She worked for a big company in Japan. In such a big company, there are many workers. Small portion of them contains strange people. This is true in any country, I guess. The cultural differences augment difficulties in human relationships.

I think this book is good for Japanese not for foreigners, because foreigners cannot know what is the truth and what is the exaggeration. I think she understand Japanese culture very well. Without such understanding, the story will be never created. Unfortunately, even though she was born in Japan and lived there until five years old, I must say that she is not a Japanese. For example, her historical perception is very superficial, as in the history textbook.

The story title "Stupeur et tremblements" is translated into Japanese as "畏れ慄いて", which has profound meaning in Japanese culture. I think this translation is artistic. I am really "Stupeur et tremblements" for Amélie's understanding of Japanese culture.