Hélène Louise's Blog, page 13

LE GOÛT AMER DE L’ABÎME – Neal Shusterman

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Ce roman remarquable (et je pèse mes mots) vient de paraître aux éditions Nathan. Voici quelques arguments pour vous poussez à lire – pour les bonnes raisons.

Tout d’abord si votre unique expérience de l’auteur se réduit (comme moi) à son succès français « La Faucheuse » parue chez CollectionR, ne vous attendez pas à retrouver le même type de lecture YA. Cela n’a rien à voir, ni dans les thèmes, ni dans l’ambiance, ni surtout dans l’intention.

Comme l’auteur l’explique dans la postface ce livre, qui traite de la maladie mentale chez l’adolescent, est largement autobiographique. Ce que vit le personnage et ses proches est très largement inspiré de la maladie du fils de l’auteur, désormais adulte et en bonne santé. D’ailleurs les dessins qui agrémentent le livre, sont de lui.

Je suis toujours à la recherche de romans traitant de la différence et se faisant l’apôtre de la tolérance vis-à-vis de celle-ci, quelle que soit sa nature : origines, orientation sexuelle, handicap, maladie, personnalités atypiques, etc. Cependant je suis toujours méfiante quand à l’information donnée ; si l’auteur(e) n’est pas directement concerné(e) par le sujet, des erreurs sont possibles, même avec la meilleure volonté du monde ! Je pense par un exemple au superbe et si émouvant « Je t’ai rêvé » de Francesca Zappia, que j’ai adoré mais qui renvoie une idée faussée de la schizophrénie juvénile. Bien pire encore sont les romans qui instrumentalisent une différence pour écrire un roman « à touches », qui appuiera sur les bons boutons du lecteur, l’émouvant sans aucun doute mais sans aucun souci du réalisme et dans un immense dédain des personnes réellement concernées.

Avec ce roman passionnant, fascinant et émouvant, mes attentes ont été comblées ! L’auteur a en effet puisé dans son expérience personnelle pour écrire cette histoire originale et divertissante malgré son fond si sérieux, pour nous ouvrir à la maladie mentale, en particulier chez l’adolescent.

Le roman s’articule en une double narration. D’une part nous suivons la vie quotidienne de Caden, 15 ans, alors que ce garçon brillant et sans problème, sociable et bien dans sa peau, sombre peu à peu dans la maladie. Parallèlement une histoire étrange et inquiétante nous est contée, un conte onirique à la limite de l’absurde, une quête en mer sur un vaisseau dominée par les deux personnages phares du roman, le capitaine et le perroquet.

La partie dans le monde réel durant la première moitié du livre est terrible, poignante. Âmes sensibles ne vous abstenez pas, ce n’est pas un roman pessimiste mais au contraire porteur d’espoir ! L’histoire onirique qui double la vie réelle est brillamment écrite, dans une ambiance qui rappellera les Peggie Sue de Serge Brussolo, Alice au pays des merveilles de Lewis Caroll ou peut-être plus encore ces rêves absurdes qu’on essaie de raconter au réveil, encore nourri de la conviction de leur logique parfaite.

Un des grands attraits de ce roman magistral est l’exercice de devinettes auquel le lecteur va s’adonner, à faire coïncider peu à peu les deux récits, à rechercher les symboles, à comprendre, intuitivement, les pensées errantes de Caden. Ce livre d’une fausse simplicité est formidablement bien écrit.

Nous suivons enfin la guérison de Caden, les difficiles étapes du traitement, les souffrances qu’il engendre, les immenses difficultés. Il est impossible de ne pas s’attacher à Caden, d’admirer son courage et son intelligence, sa culture et sa curiosité, sa persévérance, ses efforts à se raccrocher du bouts des doigts au réel, et surtout son amour pour sa famille, pudiquement révélé à travers son regard si lucide. Comme il le dit lui-même, la maladie mentale est une épreuve autant pour le malade que pour ses proches…

Un roman très fort et presque brutal mais aussi distrayant et parfois même drôle, qui réussit le tour de force d’informer sans réserve, sans rien édulcorer, tout en étant formidablement positif. Un roman incontournable pour tous ceux qui veulent mieux comprendre une maladie effrayante. Un espoir de nous montrer plus tolérants et plus ouverts !

Paru chez Nathan le 30 août 2018

408 pages – 16,95 €

The guardian – Sarah Fine

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(I thank Netgalley and 47North for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

A very good sequel to « The serpent »: if you have liked the first book of the series you’ll probably like this one as much.

I appreciated some nice inventivity for the middle part, with a strong atmosphere and an interesting point of view.

I also like that the author doesn’t drag for books and books some situations and managed to close some of them.

The relation between Ernie and Gabe evolves in a credible and nuanced way, I liked the new characters, especially one who’s not quite what we would have believe at first (nebulous l know, but no spoils!)

To be continued

La mystérieuse affaire de Styles – Agatha Christie

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Depuis quelques temps j’ai entrepris de relire petit à petit tous les livres de l’auteur en vo. Je me rappelle assez bien de certains, mais pas du tout ou très peu d’autres, comme celui-ci.

Ce roman est le premier roman policier de l’auteur, la première fois où Poirot entre en scène ! C’est aussi un roman très moyen, que je me suis surprise à ne pas beaucoup apprécier, alors que je suis fan de l’auteure… Je ne l’ai su qu’après avoir fini le livre, ce n’est donc pas un biais

The Black God’s Drums – P. Djèlí Clark

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This short story was a good read, particularly interesting for its setting, an uchronic New Orleans. This aspect I loved, it was cleverly done, beautifully evocative and food for thoughts.

In fact it was maybe too much for such a short story, which is a little unbalanced for that, sometimes penalised with some pieces of info-dump, when some character or an another begins to lecture about some History point.

An other weak point in my point of view was the rather uninspired characters. They evolve and interact well, but it’s the usual trope: the clever and ressourful urchin, the beautiful and wise brothel’s owner, the beautiful, independant bisexual Capitaine, the multiracial clique, the wise and mysteriously powerful old women. The only interesting character was Féral, but I wasn’t very pleased with the implicit idea (white people leaving in the wild who evolve as caverns’ humans in a few generations, really?).

An other point bothered me. The author have his heart set on showing strong women, leading their lives as they like, which is absolutely fine and commendable. Some of the women of the story are working in a brothel, as a choice it seems, without being oppressed. I’m completely in favour of official prostitution, it should be a normal job, chosen and regulated, and not used to enslaved people. But in the story the brothel is a classical one, where the women are described as nearly in the nude, with a lot of make-up, always smiling, sitting on clients’s laps – an attitude expected of them, not respectful, demeaning even, which I’m sure wasn’t the author’s intentions. Some editing would have been nice here.

My recriminations are over! The story is very good, an easy flow, with good characters, some mysteries and a very strong and personal atmosphere. Note that if you’re not francophone nor living in Louisiana, you may be lost with the French and Cajun’s expressions which pepper the novella (all understandable phonetically for me, but I’m French!). They give a lot of authenticity to the story and I loved them, but it’s a shame that editors don’t seem to believe in footnotes anymore…

(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie

I’ve probably read nearly all the AC’s novels a long time ago, but don’t remember much of many of them and decided to reread them in English. I love the author, for the mysteries but also for her characters’ subtlety.

But for this one I was surprised to find the story not much enjoyable.

My main complain was with the relation between Poirot and Hastings. Poirot likes to tease his friend and use his average skilled mind to access to an other point of view, a mundane one. That I knew, it’s part of the game. But in « The Mysterious Affair at Styles » it goes too far. Poirot humiliates Hastings, who doesn’t even realise it, which is improbable in many occasions. For him not to understand Poirot’s intentions he should have been very stupid. For instance he should guess that when Poirot makes a scene it’s quite intentional, to obtain some result. Those interactions, quite repetitive, show a cruel Poirot and a naive Hastling, thinking himself intelligent but acting with painfully stupidity.

I was enlightened reading the book’s presentation: it was AC’s first Poison novel, and AC must have understood that it was necessary to rebalance the relation between Poirot and Hastings in the next stories.

And other point didn’t enthusiasmed me: the denouement comes a few months after the murder, which is quite unusual for the author, and dilutes the reader’ immersion.

Note that she wrote a different revelations scene first (in Court, not in private, as we can find in many if not all Poirot’s novels) and that my edition published it in the end, which was interesting, not in itself (the same things are said and development) but writing wise.

So, not a very good AC, but still a good read, and a must read one for Poirot’s aficionados!

Foundryside – Robert Jackson Bennett

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(I thank Netgalley and Quercus Books – Jo Fletcher Books for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

Foundryside was an excellent fantasy read, enjoyable, without any of the  excesses of its genre, and with good characters, neatly distinctive, some good dialogues and much inventivity. A lot of mysteries are disclosed along the story, with various efficiency for my part (some were too evident, others were eh?… but also many good ones). The pace is good most of the times, and if the treatment of the special magic of this world may be sometimes a little overwhelming, it was always interesting.

What I particularly appreciated is that even if the world is classically unjust with people living harshly, and if some characters have suffered from some kind of horrible fate, like torture, war or isolation, the author never dwells unhealthily and unbearably on it. The story is quite comfortable to read, even for sensitive readers as I am.

Another point which is great: all the characters have they own distinctive voice and personality, which helps to create a vivid and entertaining story. The heroine’s sidekick, Clef, is especially fun and likeable.

I could only maybe regret a certain lack of depth characters’ development-wise, not for real lack of it, but more because of the general tone, which is generally fun and off-handly.

A good read for fantasy readers who appreciate inventivity, nice and sympathetic characters, much action and unexpected developments, humour, spectacular bad guys and sneaky acrobatic action!

Rogue Protocol – Martha Wells

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I love Murderbot and will read and buy (I’ve already got this lovely paper book one) any novella of the series. Still this one, if a very good read, wasn’t my favourite. If I was happy to meet Bootie again (she has a secret name, probably not this one!) her dry humour, her exasperated patience towards humans, I was a bit frustrated. The plot used a lot of descriptions and I was often confused, not sure of what was going on. And if I understood the point made by the author with this new adventure, it was a rather sad one, without any heartwarming human – Murderbot relationships, so…. I look forward the next one.

Despite these reservations, a must read for all Murderbot’s fans!

(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

 

Battlestar Suberbia -Chris McCrudden

I’m in two minds about this book. In a way it was very entertaining, with interesting characters, a story well developed with plenty of action, mysteries and revelations. The author has worked a lot to imagine the background, which comes with many details, quite funny, for a very coherent whole – but, alas, not a coherent world.

When I began the book I was ready for advanced machines, overwhelming and terrifying, « The Matrix »- like. But not all. The machines are all powerful, but are looking like our actual devices (smartphone, motorcycle, hair-dryer, you name it), with a very advanced mind, and some legs, arms, etc. They speak, they move but still have the need to recharge their batteries. No magic here. The descriptions are very good, quite entertaining, for a very cartoonish effect. The humans are now a sub-class, nearly slaves. The have one only job, cleaning. Nothing else. Some are intimately cleaning the machines, who loved human touch, in what are clearly brothels. Those low jobs are considered like prostitution in a rather weird but convincing way with, again funny and imaginative stageplay.

So far so good.

My problem was with the narration’s tonality: for such a crazy theme, the tone was rather serious, dystopian even. It wasn’t a goofy what’s-the-hell kind of book, wrote with off-beat humour and a laid back style. It was earnest. And the whole sounded dissonant to my ears. I was frequently snatched from my read, wondering about some background holes: where the energy comes from? and the food? and all the human necessities?

To conclude a well thought story, quite entertaining with endearing characters and some very inventive ideas, but with a lack of logic which prevented me to really approve my read. A shame…

The Moons of Barsk – Lawrence M. Schoen

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(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

I read, two years ago, « Barsk, the elephant graveyard » and it was an incredible read. The kind of read I, even after having read thousands of books as I’ve had, will never forget. I’m getting more and more touchy and demanding with my readings, not by vice, but because having read so many books, and review some hundreds, and wrote some more, have made me very critical: I now know what I like, what I don’t want to read about, and what I can’t read on regardless some obvious narrative, psychological or logical flaws. « Barsk, the elephants’ graveyard » was an outstanding read, just perfect, so rare…

At the time I didn’t know that a sequel was to be expected. When I saw « The moons of Barsk » on Netgalley, I couldn’t believe my luck! I immediately pre-ordered the pbook (such a beautiful cover!) and ask for the ARC. I was very proud and happy when my request was accepted and took care to re read the first Barsk Book before, as I’ve already planed to do this summer (premonition, eh? ).

I particularly appreciated to re-read the first book before this one, but if you don’t feel like doing so, you may spare yourself: all the principal elements are cleverly reintroduced in the beginning of the book, you won’t feel lost (you probably will feel nostalgic and sorry not to have reread Barsk Book One, but… your mistake ^-^)

The story takes place a few years after the end of the first book. Pizlo is now fourteen years old, and not much have changed for him, except for the fact that he’s now a speaker, but just able to Speak with Jorl, his best friend, his mentor. Jorl has a good life, married, with a beloved child, Rina, and is juggling between his work as an historian, his family time and his role as a senator.

Very quickly the story explodes in an incredible revelation, quite credible and logical in fact, and exhilarating in its fairness and cleverness. I can’t say more about it, but I can tell that this new development is perfectly carved out and used to tell an exciting story. The new characters are perfect, a so human blend of brilliancy, humanity, lucidity and also thirst for power, egotism and weaknesses.

If I loved this second book as much as the first one, I needed to read it slowly, to chew over it. I loved how the author chose to intensify his ideas, nurturing them in exciting and inspiring directions. For such an imaginary concept, Speaking is handled in a perfectly scientific way, which I applaud! Not complicated per se, but thorough, imaginative and cleverly used to make the story unforgettable. Again. A perfect « food for thoughts » book!

If Pizlo isn’t a child anymore, thinking much more a very wise and kind adult, suffering differently due to his life as a pariah, Lawrence M. Schoen demonstrates again how able he’s to introduce believable and touching children, especially gifted ones with, this time, Jorl’s daughter, Rina. And her doll, the very special Kokab!

A riveting read, as clever, subtle and heart-warming as the first one, very human for all the extraordinary perfect exposition of elephant-like post-humans. A book which will, I can’t doubt about it after reading the last sentence (so cruel for the reader…) be followed by a third one. I already can’t wait, so happy to have found, by pure chance, a so special and perfect read for me!

For Us Humans – Steve Rzasa

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(I thank Netgalley and Gilead Publishing for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

I’m nearly always interested by reading books about aliens, especially in everyday life, with a lot of practical details. In a way this book answered my wishes, in another it didn’t. Some points are never broached, or incidentally, as if of little interest, and it frustrated me while upsetting my need of coherence. That point, plus the lenght of a story that I found just about interesting, and the idea of mixing religion and faith in a very non European way (or what it felt like for me) made me stop this book at the half. The love story bored me too.

For the good points: the reading is easy, the main idea is good, the interactions between the main character are funny, verging on moving. Without my reluctance about the alien treatment I probably would have loved it. The background is fine, the idea of a begnin alien occupation is great, well exposed, with plenty of details; I really liked that aspect. The psychological incidence on the population is well thought too.

But I couldn’t understand the total lack of curiosity and information about aliens’ planets, aliens’ physiology, culture, language… And speaking about language, it was so weird to receive no explanation whatsoever about the fact that Nil – the alien – spoke English, or more so, was able to ear and speak at all. In fact he sounded very much like a foreigner dignitary (from India, America, Africa), perfectly instructed since a young age, speaking a precise and dignified English, a character from a romance or an old fashioned detective story. So, alien for his physical aspect, but not so much for his psychology.

I also found difficult the bear the narrator’s voice, most of the times. His systematic humour strongly reminded me of a sassy smartass teenager – while he must be about thirty something years old and is a sensitive, kind and cultivated man.

In the end a book I couldn’t recommend but won’t advise against it either. You probably will appreciate it if you like traditional banter between two reluctant associates, don’t mind about just outlined alien background, and are interested about a main character with a faith crisis caused by the coming out of intelligent aliens in our world (well, in USA).