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A review by literarylucie
C'Est La Vie by Pascal Garnier
3.0
‘Happiness for those unused to it is like food for the starving- a little too much can be fatal.’
Over the course of this very short novel, 50 year old Jeff’s life takes a turn when he unexpectedly wins a prestigious literary award; one would usually look towards the future at a time like this, Jeff instead laments about his lost youth. Jeff impulsively leaves in the peak of his overnight success and in an attempt to return to his youth, he goes down an unknown and risky path full of darkness and just a hint of laughter.
The novel focuses mainly on the character rather than the plot, and more specifically on the human condition. Through our protagonist Jeff we are greeted with a humorous narrative and dialogue in the form of black humour and self-deprecation of the writer. We learn of that life isn’t straight forward; it has many ups and downs and is full of complex family relationships. It is also dreadfully clear that Jeff in the main character in a noir narrative. He leads us to a world that’s slightly trippy and sleazy as if we are looking at it through a light fog. Although this makes it seem like we are on the edge of a surrealist world, it is all too feasible.
C’est la vie is a French expression that has been adopted into the English language meaning ‘that’s life’ or ‘that’s how it is’. It seems to imply that things happen and one accepts that there is nothing you can do about it. A tragedy, something that was destined to appear in a French noir novel, is not lingered on, but instead quickly and calmly moved on from. It appears to be a good way of dealing with things we can’t control in life, as sadly tragic events do happen and we have to move past them. That seems to be the way it happens in the novel, a tragic event occurs and the characters simply move on from it. Fortunately, because it is such a short novel, the quick turn-around has a quick and snappy effect.
Although I did enjoy the bleakness and sense of disorientation it caused, I was left wanting more and felt I didn’t gain too much out of reading this novel. Ah well, c’est la vie.
Over the course of this very short novel, 50 year old Jeff’s life takes a turn when he unexpectedly wins a prestigious literary award; one would usually look towards the future at a time like this, Jeff instead laments about his lost youth. Jeff impulsively leaves in the peak of his overnight success and in an attempt to return to his youth, he goes down an unknown and risky path full of darkness and just a hint of laughter.
The novel focuses mainly on the character rather than the plot, and more specifically on the human condition. Through our protagonist Jeff we are greeted with a humorous narrative and dialogue in the form of black humour and self-deprecation of the writer. We learn of that life isn’t straight forward; it has many ups and downs and is full of complex family relationships. It is also dreadfully clear that Jeff in the main character in a noir narrative. He leads us to a world that’s slightly trippy and sleazy as if we are looking at it through a light fog. Although this makes it seem like we are on the edge of a surrealist world, it is all too feasible.
C’est la vie is a French expression that has been adopted into the English language meaning ‘that’s life’ or ‘that’s how it is’. It seems to imply that things happen and one accepts that there is nothing you can do about it. A tragedy, something that was destined to appear in a French noir novel, is not lingered on, but instead quickly and calmly moved on from. It appears to be a good way of dealing with things we can’t control in life, as sadly tragic events do happen and we have to move past them. That seems to be the way it happens in the novel, a tragic event occurs and the characters simply move on from it. Fortunately, because it is such a short novel, the quick turn-around has a quick and snappy effect.
Although I did enjoy the bleakness and sense of disorientation it caused, I was left wanting more and felt I didn’t gain too much out of reading this novel. Ah well, c’est la vie.