false 47776 23 Reading Anna Gavalda's story collection, <I>I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere</I>, is a bit like choosing the mini-éclair over its full-size counterpart--while the smaller size makes each morsel that much more satisfying, you can't help but wish for just one more bite. Still, in many cases, Gavalda does a better job of capturing the essence of human emotion in each five-to-ten page story than many writers manage to do in epic novels.<p> Gavalda sets up every story such that each character's fate can be decided in a single moment. Whether the protagonist's pivotal moment is decided by fate or free will is what keeps these 12 stories fresh and unique. In "Lead Story," traveling salesman Jean-Pierre does not learn the true horrific consequences of an almost-missed exit on the highway until opening <I>Le Figaro</I> the next morning. The veterinarian in <I>Catgut</I> decides her fate in the instant after a brutal crime leaves her feeling physically and emotionally victimized. And when the mysterious stranger answers his cell phone on a first date in <I>Courting Rituals of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés</I>, our heroine decides she has heard enough to cut short what could have been a passionate love affair. ("I come to my senses all at once. Traitor. Ingrate.") It is in these crucial instants, where fate plays a hand, that Gavalda truly shows off her ability to convey love, longing, loneliness, and satisfaction. And perhaps the clarity of these moments is worth more than any full-size French pastry. <I>--Gisele Toueg</I> 892968 book 1999 I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere total:596|5:149|4:243|3:141|2:42|1:21| 596 2245 871 81 4 1 false false Thu Aug 09 16:56:55 -0700 2007 Wed Feb 06 14:37:18 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jan 04 12:58:03 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 04 12:58:13 -0800 2009
Is That So Much To Ask?, 5 Mar 2006


"I shifted somewhat abruptly. She stood back up behind me and put both hands flat on my shoulders. She said, "I'm going to go. I want you not to move and not to turn around. Please I am begging of you.
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"I'm tough at work, but that's just because I'm playing a role, you see? I have to be tough, I have to make them think I'm a tyrant. Can you imagine if they discovered my secret? If they figured out that I'm shy? That I have to work three times harder t...more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 30 18:21:19 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 23 01:01:17 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Jul 24 04:35:57 -0700 2007 Tue Jul 24 04:38:22 -0700 2007 3 1 false false Tue Feb 03 11:07:18 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 03 11:16:35 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 16 07:05:05 -0700 2009 Sat May 30 19:20:52 -0700 2009
I think that, in some ways, these stories appealed to th...more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 02 10:46:21 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 22 10:22:05 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Mar 21 12:12:46 -0700 2008 Fri Mar 21 14:01:44 -0700 2008
J’ai trouvé ces nouvelles toutes plus charmantes les unes que les autres, ces petites parodies des soucis quotidie...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Oct 24 13:49:41 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 24 13:56:28 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Feb 15 21:23:33 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 15 21:31:48 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 22 00:55:49 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 28 04:00:57 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 21 23:57:33 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 28 03:23:33 -0700 2009
I thought it was quick book for summer, but I found myself captivated and happy. She is using language in the best...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon May 18 06:07:02 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 30 17:25:56 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 12 22:43:20 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 12 22:44:07 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 03 23:39:11 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 04:13:03 -0700 2009
It was good, yes, but not brilliant. Her style, while distinctive, was rather constant throughout all the stories. Nothing particularly quotable, but some nice, rather poetic passages. Nothing really memorable or distinctive either.

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i usually forget stories quickly after i read them. i...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 03 13:09:21 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 13:11:01 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Mon Oct 22 08:12:23 -0700 2007 Tue Jul 15 10:24:57 -0700 2008 ...more...]]>