Joseph Kaplan is a fabulous dancer. The waltz and tango took him on all tracks. In his arms, the most potted girls become sylphs.
But Joseph is hardly physiognomist. When he then crossed the street, it exceeds them without recognizing them.
Became a doctor, he moved to Algiers at the Pasteur Institute. There he joined a small group of Mauritius, Christine, Nelly. Life is good. But the war will come to fly his happiness shattered.
Through the adventures of his character, Jean-Michel Guenassia takes us through a century at full speed. Fiction and History with a capital H cleverly mingle. Born in 1910, Joseph takes us on Paris establishments dance floors. He speaks enthusiastically tango and Carlos Gardel. It then travels through the neighborhoods of Algiers and makes us regulars Café Padovani.
But even in this city, Jews are rounded up. In djebels, people suffering from hunger, toil as slaves, die from malaria. Far from his specimens, Joseph is faced with the harsh realities.
In the 40s, abortion is prohibited. Women who use "of angels abortionist" will often leave life.
Czechoslovakia still exists. Getting there is not an easy task. When Joseph finally arrived in Prague, he unsuccessfully sought his father. Again, deportation has ravaged. The policy of the country is dangerous. Yesterday's friends can become enemies. These Friendly neighbors they are not spies? And when it is taken in the jails of the state, when we know there is between, never when it comes out, or even if it will come out one day.
But when Ernesto appear? And who is he? This discovery is a highlight of the book. It is better not to read the back cover before starting this big novel, and above all, do not consult the opinions of the readers who snitch in their comments, depriving one that will go down in history of fun surprise.
Not a break in this wonderful adventure that we make discoveries in all fields.
I experienced another great satisfaction. It is that of having already read "The club incorrigible optimists" and be able to find, in this second novel, the characters of the first. Tell me: "Everyone wonders where has disappeared so-and what it has become, and I know it! ".
I felt great admiration for Joseph, able to do what seems impossible: put the bad times behind him and forgive. Even a hundred years old, Joseph knows draw a line under the past and look forward.
This book has five hundred and thirty to five pages, however, I slowed down reading because I did not want to leave Joseph and his universe.
So I can say that I loved and I highly recommend it.
