Reviews with content warning for Death - Réparer les vivants

this book deals with the bitterness of life and death and the people placed on the frontiers between both . it makes you think about how crazy it is that one phone call from the hospital can turn a mother’s life into a life full of sadness and grief whilst another hospital phone call can give a new chance at life to a woman with a failing heart. and how crazy it is that a man’s day could be going on just as normal until he gets a phone call and he picks it up to hear his wife sobbing and nothing is ever the same . it makes you realize how in just 24 hours, a person death could become person’s breath, how in just 24 hours , life feels like the end for parents of a newly deceased son whilst it feels like a new beginning to a woman on the other side . life is indeed so simple yet complicated at the same time , it works in mysterious ways , sometimes beyond our understanding.

this book makes you want to truly protect your heart , for it’s the most living part of you. your brain might keep you living but it’s your heart that keeps you alive . it is to be cherished and cared for like you would a loved one.

what i didn’t like :

some of the writing was annoying . i do appreciate the attention to detail and complex writing but why were there sentences that went on for 2 pages?? it was definitely “ overwritten” in some ways.

also at some points i would be so emotionally into the story but then the author would start going on about a substory disconnected from the main thread of the plot and it’d ruin the emotions i was going through . the irrelevant description felt a bit too much .

“ trop de détail tue le détail” i guess..

I enjoyed the sentimental part of the book way more (and wished there was more of it) than the technical talk but I do appreciate and understand its presence as the author was showing the two sides of such an occurence and how its very complex , and has many different facades.

But whilst the writing is a bit pretentious and too “ try hard” at times , it was also filled with beautiful lines and memorable parts . and there’s many aspects of it that i loved .

To name a few ,

i loved the multiple povs we got . it made us see how many people are involved in a tragedy that initially happened in just a fraction of seconds and how these people are involved in different ways . for simon’s parents, this feels like the end of the world , like they are now alone in some alternate universe that no one is able to get but them and where the dominating language is one of sadness and grief that only they can speak and understand . the outside world no longer exists to them , and we see that through them “ ignoring “ Lou , or even Simon’s friends who were also in the accident . as for the medical experts , this event affects them but not in the same way . they have a life outside of this . we see that when we see how Virgilio was busy with another woman before getting called on duty and how he was asking about the match whilst transporting the new heart .. Their life doesn’t just involve the accident.

I also really liked the way vocals and words had a role in this book. the part where sean calls his wife and she gets taken back by his voice “ of the past” is a favorite of mine . i loved the description of how his voice went from peaceful past (where there was no accident) to tragic present (when he found out there was an accident) and joined Marianne’s after it did that transition .

i noticed the constant statement that it was cold , i loved it double symbolism as a description of the weather and of the ambiance at the same time.

At times, i did truly feel like i was a silent character in the story following everyone quietly behind , watching the 24hrs long events slowly unfold before me , as i observe what was happening from the sidelines .

(some of it gave me grey’s anatomy vibes which yk fair enough i love grey’s anatomy)

Content Warnings

taranim's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The writing style of this book was not my cup of tea, but my goodness. This is a heartbreaking novel that has been on my mind since I finished it. It’s been a long time since I cried while reading, and I cried a few times reading this. A moving story of loss, repair and living life to the fullest.

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Mend the Living is a translated novel which tells the story of one heart transplant. I’ll admit that sounds like an unusual plot line but I found the novel utterly compelling. It slowly unfolds over a 24 hour time period beginning when 19 year old Simon heads out surfing with some friends. Unfortunately they are involved in a car accident on the journey home.

From there the novel gives you many different perspectives. Some are expected - Simon’s parents (imagine their grief and having to make a decision about organ donation), the transplant recipient (the fear and promise of the operation sitting uncomfortably with the knowledge that someone else had to die in order for you to get a chance to continue living), the transplant surgeons (the long gruelling hours, the precise nature of the work). Some are less so, like the administrator of the national transplant centre tasked with ensuring the best match between organ and recipient, or offer an unexpected angle - imagine being a doctor trying to determine the best way to approach grieving parents about organ donation. It is clear the author has done her research and knows the transplant process in minute detail. I was struck by the meticulous planning and organisation, the sheer logistics required. The amount and detail of medical content will mean this book is not for every reader, however.

I was also struck by the respect and sanctity shown to the donor and his family. The way the coordinator ensured Simon’s parent’s wishes for his final moment of life were followed, even though it meant pausing the surgeons and even though his parents would never know if their request was honoured, was beautiful.

This was a richly and minutely detailed novel, and the juxtaposition of these details really stood out. The mundane coexisted with the miraculous; the transcendent with the quotidian. While one life was ending and another awaiting a second chance, phone calls had to be made and forms filled out. People had to walk or drive to the hospital. Medical staff had personal issues in the back of their minds as they went about their duties.

A unique read that will reaffirm your appreciation for the wonder of life.

Content Warnings

masha_and_the_cat's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

ambero's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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