Sans moi

This new work by French novelist Desplechin stars two women: a single mother and copywriter living in Paris and Olivia, a homeless person, drug abuser, and victim of sexual abuse as a child. These two unlikely individuals connect when the narrator needs help caring for her children after her marriage dissolves. Olivia seems less than an ideal candidate, but she gets the job. The narrator and Olivia begin to take care of each other, as well as the children, and a friendship blooms. As Olivia settles in, she rids herself of her disreputable "friends," quits taking drugs, and begins to think about her future. The narrator, on the other hand, begins to have a life crisis what she does for a living seems meaningless, she feels like a bad mother, and she is so very tired. Throughout, the friends change roles, caregiver and caretaker, as needed. Desplechin explores the intricacies of friendship, mapping out the rights and the responsibilities, the joys and the sadness. The author's commentary is spare, yet the full effect of the growing relationship is apparent. Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
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