We enter immediately into that comfort novel way "together, that's all" where everyone hides his suffering or his wanderings behind very desperate housewives uninhibited appearances and paid up. There is also this little boy always alone on a stair, there Claudie, Sarah, and Sophie, parties or adulterous husbands, deceived also, lovers, friendships, attachments: the great ball of life and in the middle, Clotilde who are lulled by this small world. Not easy ajar when the shell from your childhood you are sent your clumsiness and your ugly face. All this life buzzes and immediately puts the reader empathize with these characters, especially that of Clotilde. The romance of girls who does good and we take pleasure to find at the sweet and comforting image of its coverage while colorful macaroons.
But Clotilde must find work, and she is sworn she will never again households. So when she landed a job at the Contemporary Art Museum across the street, she hardly believes. Thus began another form of narrative: the Clotilde log. And always his impression to usurp his place, while it animates workshops for children seem happy everyone. Since the balm to the heart is income that the job is found, it must be that looms a love story, right? And this is where the reader (or more likely the reader) could start to find the plot a bit heavy and too big son. I admit I thought, it becomes too easy and too predictable. But this time as chosen by the author for daring to do with his character that very few dare, and then I say bravo. I am also disturbed that convinced by this courageous pirouette: the author has guts and does not take its readers for turkeys. So yes there is a happy ending, but springs, raised secrets, an emulsion that takes from the first pages and not falls. And under the shell, a lot of heart.
Although more themes than it appears at first in this novel: the look on obesity, self-confidence, the discomfort, the pretenses of appearances (all social conditions), couples scratched, battered children (and not only), the shell that everyone is built to face his demons, some thicker than others, beautiful ideas on the role of culture (especially in times of crisis), etc.
It is regrettable that some characters are secondary or virtually disappear (the old aunt, Sophie, Sarah), but they were important catalysts that give way to a plot that takes until the last page.
In short, a good novel that appears rather feminine (if only by the cover!) But that does not lapse into silliness, and this is not so common.
