Chimo

This is a fascinating, lyrical, erotic, dark, profound novel about life in a French housing project about what brings light into life, and about what snuffs it out. It is about coming of age and trying to make sense of the senselessness of life. I could not put it down, was disturbed by it, and will be thinking about it for a long time to come.

This is the second time I've read this book. It is definitely well written -- the story of an unemployed young man living in "the projects", and a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl, Lila, who befriends and seduces him. Good writing makes me forgive a lot, but on second reading, this book lost some of its erotic appeal for me. It's erotic aspects read more like a young man's fantasy than a real exploration of an erotic relationship.

"People see your empty pockets in your eyes." This includes ones heart, ones soul. Written as a stream of consciousness, this harsh tale is spontaneous, sadly erotic and poetically beautiful; a gem of a novel.