Pascal Garnier (1949–2010)

This is the sixth of Garnier's short books I have read in a short time. They are addictive. You know things are going to get quite dark after an initial setup, you just don't know how. This is perhaps the most nihilistic one yet. It's almost possible to pity the lead characters, a man returning to Versailles for the funeral of his mother, a woman he meets (and used to know quite well), and her blind brother. But they're really all so horrible in their own ways, that it's more like watching a train wreck. Except it's a train wreck full of really nasty people, so it's kind of fun. As a more positive note, this book may put you off drinking for a while. Remains to be proven in my case, however. Unfortunately, Garnier, like Jean-Patrick Manchette, is no longer with us. But as I work my way through their body of work--almost all consisting of short novels, or novellas really, I'm gaining quite an appreciation for French noir.… (más)

Collection of three of Garnier's short novels, all impressive.

The A26: I started reading Garnier after devouring a couple of books by Jean-Patrick Manchette. Garnier is even darker. This story presents violent death as just another part of a dreary succession of days we struggle through with little motivation or satisfaction. At least that's about the best I can sum it up. But the writing is so good, and the humor and satire so sly, that it is quite engrossing. Not quite like watching a car wreck, but also the sort of pleasure you don't think you should be having. It is well-written, doesn't drag on, and as dark as it gets, which is appropriate for the dark times we're living in. The French settings and the little details about French life are also quite interesting.

How's the Pain?: This story about an aging and very sick killer's final days is neatly plotted and darkly funny in so many ways as the killer engages the services of a man with three fingers on one hand to act as his driver while he finishes his last job. The series of incidents that ensue are definitely something out of a farce. This book has violent death, a peculiar mother (as did Garnier's The A26), romance, and trips to the beach. It's about as weird a combination as you can get, but Garnier pulls it all off and makes it almost believable. The three-fingered man's choices even seem to make sense given the situation he is living in. A wonderful story--highly recommended.

The Panda Theory: Strange and compelling story of a man who, apparently by chance, stops in a small town and becomes involved in the lives of several people, including a restaurant owner with a sick wife, a down-and-out couple looking to cash in, and a hotel clerk who is attracted to him. Interspersed with the present day narrative, we have glimpses of the man's prior life with his wife and daughter, who we know have died, but not how. The ending here may not sit well with a lot of readers. My own feelings are ambivalent, but the writing from start to finish is superb, and Garnier opens up the lives of his characters in very revealing and believable ways. Recommended.… (más)