Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Thursday 31 July 2014

Moon in a Dead Eye - Pascal Garnier - Guest Book Review



Published by Gallic Books
Translated by Emily Boyce

Synopsis

Given the choice, Martial would never have bought a home in Les Conviviales.  But Odette's heart was set on this new retirement village in the Midi. 

At first the move feels like a terrible mistake: they're the sole residents and it rains non-stop.  Then three neighbours arrive, the sun comes out and life becomes far more agreeable..

Until some gypsies set up camp just outside their gated community...


Guest review by Janice Lazell-Wood

A rich and darkly humoured tale, and one that I enjoyed immensely.  Five characters come together in a retirement community, two couples and one single lady who has been left her house as a gift. The community sounds idyllic, it boasts activities, year round sunshine and a pool. However, the stark truth is, it's raining, there are no activities and the only water in the pool is rainwater. 

Living their lives under the watchful eye of sinister and gossipy Monsieur Flesh, the caretaker, our five characters, Martial and Odette, Maxime (with his ill fitting dentures) and Marlène, and single lady Léa forge friendships and start to make the most of things, until resentments are inevitably stirred up, past histories revealed and truths told...

The dialogue is snappy and very well translated from the original French, there is humour, horror, irony, sadness and a page turning desire to find out where the story is going.  Highly recommended, and if this story is anything to go by, I will be looking to read more of Monsieur Garnier's novels.

My thanks goes to Lindsay forgiving me the chance to review this novel.

Many thanks to Janice for reading and reviewing this novel for The Little Reader Library.

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3 comments:

  1. Felicity Grace Terry31 July 2014 at 11:26

    Sounds like my kind of read as well as my kind of retirement home.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian Joseph31 July 2014 at 13:19

    Throwing together diverse characters in certain setting has and always will have such literary potential.

    I like the fact that as you describe it, the humor is dark.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JacquiWine31 July 2014 at 15:57

    I've read a couple of other by Pascal Garnier, 'The A26' and 'How's the Pain?', both excellent, both shot through with dark gallows humour. I'm sure to try another Garnier in the future, so I've made a note of this one. Thanks for the review.

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