In this continuing story of his life Pascal is raw from a relationship of nine years (I'm guessing the patient and forebearing girlfriend in "Reunion") and hooks up with a pretty weird girlfriend. I can relate to the crazy aimlessness after ending a contented long-term relationship. While not quite as engaging or laugh-out-loud as I found "Reunion" this one has considerable charm and insight, enough to make it a very worthwhile read. ( )

You have to feel for a guy that is actually way better looking than he draws himself. Girard clearly has self-esteem issues, and they seem to be on parade in this account of his attempt to date again after breaking up with his girlfriend of nine years. He finds himself drawn to a girl he sees shoplift a copy of his book, and then it is one awkward moment after another. Were this a work of fiction (I'm assuming it is not), it might be criticized for some narrative soft spots. But real life is not always like a fast paced novel. But for anyone who has been in anything like the situation Girard finds himself, the story will be a comfortable reminder that life, while it doesn't always work out as we might have hoped, can still be full and interesting. ( )