Pierre Péju — The Girl From The Chartreuse

Random House UK 2007 Hardback, 176pp. One wet afternoon while driving a load of books to his shop, Étienne Vollard runs over a little girl, Éva. Haunted by guilt, Vollard visits Éva in hospital and reads stories to her while she lies in a coma. He also meets Éva's mother, Thérèse, a struggling single parent whose dream is to be faraway and alone. When Éva awakes, the three of them are immediately aware that their lives are forever altered. This profound and moving novel is about life, childhood, loneliness, and learning to accept and understand our differences. DJ. (ISBN: 9781843431923). Very Good.