Welcome to another Parisian Week review!
Even if today's author is once again Nicolas Barreau, my opinion on the novel couldn't be more different than 'The Woman of My Dreams'! The book is yet to be translated in English, so once again, here's the Italian, German and Greek covers...let me know your favorite!
Julien Azoulay is a broken-hearted man: his beloved wife Hélène recently died and the only reason he wakes up every morning is their energetic son, Arthur.
Julien is also a writer of comedy novels and his situation brings in one more problem: he has 'lost' his verve, his light humor, and his editor Jean-Pierre Favre is starting to feel anxious, even if he totally understands Julien's situation.
Hélène's dying wish was peculiar and mysterious: she wanted Julien to write her 33 letters about his and Arthur's lives without her and promised that he would understand why she asked it as soon as he will finish them.
Skeptical but with nothing else to lose, Julien starts describing how much he misses her and what's going on in his daily life; to make it feel like he's actually sending these letters, Julien had Hélène's tomb modified with a secret compartment where he could leave them.
On his frequent visits at the cemetery, Julien befriends lively and optimistic restorer Sophie, who's like a pixie, always climbing on trees and dress in a black overall.
She nicknames him 'Writer' and keeps on pushing him to leave the past where it belongs and to live and look at the present confidently.
One day, his letters disappear and, in their place, Julien finds each time a little object and thinks these are signs from his beloved wife, even if he knows it's impossible... it doesn't help the continuous pushing of Julien's best friend Alexandre and the little misunderstanding with Hélène's best friends Cathérine...
Ph: goodreads.com
Julien is also a writer of comedy novels and his situation brings in one more problem: he has 'lost' his verve, his light humor, and his editor Jean-Pierre Favre is starting to feel anxious, even if he totally understands Julien's situation.
Hélène's dying wish was peculiar and mysterious: she wanted Julien to write her 33 letters about his and Arthur's lives without her and promised that he would understand why she asked it as soon as he will finish them.
Skeptical but with nothing else to lose, Julien starts describing how much he misses her and what's going on in his daily life; to make it feel like he's actually sending these letters, Julien had Hélène's tomb modified with a secret compartment where he could leave them.
On his frequent visits at the cemetery, Julien befriends lively and optimistic restorer Sophie, who's like a pixie, always climbing on trees and dress in a black overall.
She nicknames him 'Writer' and keeps on pushing him to leave the past where it belongs and to live and look at the present confidently.
One day, his letters disappear and, in their place, Julien finds each time a little object and thinks these are signs from his beloved wife, even if he knows it's impossible... it doesn't help the continuous pushing of Julien's best friend Alexandre and the little misunderstanding with Hélène's best friends Cathérine...
👍👎My Thoughts
Well, that's it...'The Ingredients of Love' has been ousted, finally!
Ever had the sensation, while reading a book, that you know how things are going to end, but you sense some major plot twist as well...that's the kind of mystery this book is filled.
Actually, it's more than that: it's a very well balanced mix of comedy, sentimentalism, and sadness, all completed by the beautiful scenery of Paris all year round.
The struggles Julien is going through are deep and he's barely hanging in there, thanks to his love for Arthur and the help (not always requested) from his friends and family...I loved is fragility and the fact he felt completely lost without his wife, proof of the profound love they shared.
When the letters start to be replaced with the object I was caught with him in between the reality of Hélène's death and the hope of her being able, somehow, to show her presence like that.
Nicolas Barreau once again is able to write about situations and events that are completely believable and realistic and give them that much of magic we all need in our lives.
Ever had the sensation, while reading a book, that you know how things are going to end, but you sense some major plot twist as well...that's the kind of mystery this book is filled.
Actually, it's more than that: it's a very well balanced mix of comedy, sentimentalism, and sadness, all completed by the beautiful scenery of Paris all year round.
The struggles Julien is going through are deep and he's barely hanging in there, thanks to his love for Arthur and the help (not always requested) from his friends and family...I loved is fragility and the fact he felt completely lost without his wife, proof of the profound love they shared.
When the letters start to be replaced with the object I was caught with him in between the reality of Hélène's death and the hope of her being able, somehow, to show her presence like that.
Nicolas Barreau once again is able to write about situations and events that are completely believable and realistic and give them that much of magic we all need in our lives.
I loved EVERY.SINGLE.WORD. and you should read it RIGHT NOW!
My vote: 9/10
Ph: goodreads.com
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