Philippe Labro (1936–2025)

The French author, Philippe Labro has written a lot about the United States. This novel is the story of a young French student who studies at a prestigious university in the US, some time in the 1960s. The French student successfully adapts to his new environment, better, we are told than some of his predecessors, and through the story we are introduced to campus life at that time, loves and taboos.

Reading this novel, I had the feeling that we are probably sharing in many of the author's own show more experiences. However, somehow, the novel lacks spontaneity, and is a somewhat boring, lifeless narration, perhaps because it was written 30 years later, when the author's memories were no longer that fresh. show less

The writing is VERY good. The events in the book, tho, were a bit underwhelming. I think it lacks high tensions. I like the way the main character thinks and narrates.

An interesting angle with which to examine World War II, told through the eyes of a young boy growing up first in a provincial town, then a city in France. While the various episodes recounted are compelling stories, the writing style is rather detached and the other characters remain too distant to be truly memorable and engaging.

I found it a pleasurable memoirs book about youth and could certainly identify with the descriptions of the adaptation to life within a foreign culture when you're young.