Nellie
New Member
ISBN: 978-1-84659-045-0
Published: September 2008
Publisher: Telegram Books
This isn't as saucy as the title might sound, but it is very funny and very touching. The book is translated from the original French manuscript, and has quite a unique style. There is something of Pushing Daisies about it, as a sly and witty narrator observes the life of Hector. We meet Hector just as he is about to throw himself under an underground train. We learn what has lead to his decision to end his life, although fortunately for him, he doesn't succeed.
Hector collects things, in fact he collects collections. Everything from cocktail sticks to rabbits feet. His collective urge is so overwhelming that he starts to fail to function in life. Then one day he meets a woman who becomes his wife and so starts a new collection... he collects moments of his wife doing cleaning the windows.
It all sounds a little odd, and rather creepy, but it isn't. The book deals with how everyday worries about what others must think of us can build into something quite overwhelming and totally out of proportion, but it also recongnises that these things can be brought back into perspective when someone close cares enough to listen and understand.
There are some absolutely hysterical scenes in the book, one of which has a dinner party ending in a most unexpected way, but there are also painfully touching scenes too as Hector tries to find his way through his very everyday life.
This one isn't for everyone as it is a little strange, but worth trying, especially if you like the Pushing Daisies type of narrative.
Published: September 2008
Publisher: Telegram Books
This isn't as saucy as the title might sound, but it is very funny and very touching. The book is translated from the original French manuscript, and has quite a unique style. There is something of Pushing Daisies about it, as a sly and witty narrator observes the life of Hector. We meet Hector just as he is about to throw himself under an underground train. We learn what has lead to his decision to end his life, although fortunately for him, he doesn't succeed.
Hector collects things, in fact he collects collections. Everything from cocktail sticks to rabbits feet. His collective urge is so overwhelming that he starts to fail to function in life. Then one day he meets a woman who becomes his wife and so starts a new collection... he collects moments of his wife doing cleaning the windows.
It all sounds a little odd, and rather creepy, but it isn't. The book deals with how everyday worries about what others must think of us can build into something quite overwhelming and totally out of proportion, but it also recongnises that these things can be brought back into perspective when someone close cares enough to listen and understand.
There are some absolutely hysterical scenes in the book, one of which has a dinner party ending in a most unexpected way, but there are also painfully touching scenes too as Hector tries to find his way through his very everyday life.
This one isn't for everyone as it is a little strange, but worth trying, especially if you like the Pushing Daisies type of narrative.
which means something like "Yeah, that's nice but it's not literature" :lol:
