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Astragal (2013)

by Albertine Sarrazin(Favorite Author)

3.65 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0811220737 (ISBN13: 9780811220736)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

New Directions Publishing Corporation

review 1: Reminiscent of Breathless (Godard) and Elevator for the Gallows (Malle), this novel, the first person account of a young prisoner on the lam inverts the paradigm of the innocent young woman pulled into a life of crime by a charismatic young man. Our injured fugitive narrator was incarcerated and imprisoned long before she met her Jules (or Julien, as the case may be). Her subjectivity and culpability are expressed with a youthful nonchalance that ran throughout the Nouvelle Vague. She sees nothing wrong with what she has done and fears only the legal repercussions, return to the discomfort of the prison that she broke her ankle to escape. And yet, this book is not a tirade against the broken judicial system. It takes no moral stance. Morality has no place in the life of An... morene. Fast-paced, engaging, charismatic...I couldn't put it down.
review 2: A surprisingly lyrical and well told narrative, and a compelling individual as well. It's refreshing to hear about a life on the lam told in the first person. It may have been the effect of the translation from the French (which was excellent) but this story rings with a narrative quality - a rhythm - I haven't come across elsewhere. Sarrazin has the knack of making the obvious understated, and bringing out the detail with a dry and self-effacing humor. I think I'll remember this one for some time to come. less

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