How can you recognize a good novel?

Ok, I admit ... I normally do not like the French literary awards and I read very few thrillers, but then I could not resist: a French literary award given to a Switzerland! You still have to say that the story had everything to please me: a writer and his mentor in the North Eastern USA ... Joël Dicker and I must have the same literary references.

The story then takes place on the coast of New Hampshire in a small town where lives a famous writer, Harry Quebert whose only novel became a literary classic. Marcus Goldman is a young writer who just published a huge bestseller and that everyone, especially his publisher, expects a new novel. Only it's the blank page. Marcus goes to Harry who was his professor at the university and his mentor in order to find a solution to his problem. But now, the page will remain resolutely white until the body of a young girl disappeared in 1975 and resurface with her mysterious past Harry. Between 1975 and today, we have to make many return trips to pick up piece by piece this terrible and sad story and finally discover the truth about Harry Quebert.

This book it worth two literary prizes? It is not for me to judge, but what I can say is that I had a great time playing. The plot is very well put together: I have left to each index never guess who was the real culprit. The relationship between the two men and pretty good view, I especially appreciated the advice from master to student: one is in an investigation, but we are also in the construction of a novel and also in building 'a character. Finally, it is well written and there are almost no means Geneva accent (I noted one small twist characteristic sentence). It is however regrettable the improbability and finally the lack of interest is the love story of the novel, but that does not spoil the plot, nor the pleasure of reading.

Once is not custom, here is a quote from the book: "A good book, Marcus, is not measured in his last words only, but the collective effect of all the words that preceded them about half. second after finishing your book, after reading the dernir word for a moment, he should think only of what he has just read, look at the cover and smile with a hint of sadness because all characters will miss him. A good book, Marcus, is a book that you regret having done. " And that's exactly how I feel after reading a good book and this one was.

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