How's the Pain?

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The title of this Garnier novella comes from an African greeting. Rather than ask how one is doing, it is their custom to ask “How’s the pain?” That sums up the tone and style of this darkly humorous tale perfectly.

This is my fourth Garnier book and I must say that he uses the novella style to maximum effect. Precisely the correct length so that the humor remains sharp and the darkness does not overwhelm—a perfect balance.

I am becoming quite a fan of Garnier. He is clearly a master of the noir novella, so much so that I started off by comparing him favorably to the great noir masters yet now I believe that I should stop show more making comparisons altogether because his voice is so distinctive and original.

Ironic, yet realistic. Darkly fatalistic yet quite funny at times. Vicious and unredeemed/unredeemable characters that nonetheless are sympathetic because of their understanding and acceptance of their own flaws.

Each Garnier work is a jewel in its own right and this is no exception. show less

Simon Marechall is a hit man preparing for his last job before retirement. The job is down south along the French coast. After meeting Bernard, a young man who has been injured at his workplace, Simon decides to take him on as a driver. Setting off down south, they spot a bit of trouble on the roadside between a feuding couple. Bernard stops to help, and soon Fiona and daughter Violette are tagging along with Simon and Bernard. Along the way, bodies pile up as Simon does what he does best, pest control. This odd little group begins to appear just like a family on a holiday as they find lodgings in a campsite at the beach and grapple with the way forward. Except for Simon, who knows this is the end of the road long before the journey show more began.

In this book, the pain is deep and widespread. Garnier is a master at seeing the underside of life. In typical fashion, he presents a world that is both horrific, sleazy, comic, and ordinary all at the same time. And like most of his stories, this one gets right under the skin. Before you know, you almost feel sorry for a hit man. Garnier never fails to deliver unexpected, offbeat characters, scenes, and dialogue. All of which makes him one of my favorite writers.

Thanks to Gallic Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.com show less

This story about an aging and very sick killer's final days is neatly plotted and darkly funny in so many ways as the killer engages the services of a man with three fingers on one hand to act as his driver while he finishes his last job. The series of incidents that ensue are definitely something out of a farce. This book has violent death, a peculiar mother (as did Garnier's The A26), romance, and trips to the beach. It's about as weird a combination as you can get, but Garnier pulls it all off and makes it almost believable. The three-fingered man's choices even seem to make sense given the situation he is living in. A wonderful story--highly recommended.

French author Pascal Garnier (1949-2010) here offers a sympathetic but deceptively simple story. Bernard, a somewhat naive young man, gets involved in the unsavory affairs of the old “pest exterminator” Simon. The beginning of the book is rather confusing, but at the end the puzzle pieces fall into place. There are also rather implausible plot twists, the character of Simon is not entirely consistently drawn, and the general tone is very dejected: “la vie est merde”, which is further reinforced by the sad fate of Bernard’s mother. But the young man himself makes up for a lot: he shows a disarming openness, vitality and decisiveness that you would not suspect behind his lame, good-guy appearance. And that contrasts sharply with show more Simon’s despondency and cynicism. In my view this novel isn't perfect, but it's a nice read. show less

A slim full bodied taste of French Noir.

Simon (whose business is to exterminate "Vermin") is at the end of his life and on his last job but on a whim he decides that he needs a driver and asks his very new young friend, guileless Bernard, to take the job.. but life (and death) has its own plans.

Caught firmly between life's hope and its inevitable darkness, this is an amusingly dark novel, punctured with flashes of violence that still manages to retain a soft spot for human frailty. It's really the tone and structure that standout, as Simon's cynical observations and desperate nostalgia rub against Bernard's youth and optimism. Two characters, one of whom wants a future and another who needs an ending. Although It’s not really an odd show more couple story, all characters are wonderfully skewed (but never over the top) from the elderly taxidermist who needs love to Bernard’s alcoholic mother, no it’s more clash of plans versus life’s chaos.

The structure just adds an extra thoughtfulness to the novel (end at the beginning). May I add that personally it was refreshing to read a non USA noir, although it took me a while to visually swap to a French background! The translation seems good too, although some English words felt a bit jarring i.e. dole (meaning benefits)

Recommend to genre fans or wanting a quick, immersive, morally ambivalent read. show less

This one is about relationships. After all, aren't all stories of murder and crime really about failed relationships and unmet needs.

Bernard accepts a job from Simon, they drive to the seaside. Bernard has never seen the sea, it's all an adventure for him. He's seriously unambitious. Simon is close to retirement. One job to go. They meet Fiona and little Violette along the way. They meet Rose at the beach. Love starts and hope springs by the seaside. Everything goes along swimmingly. But Simon is older than he appears, nearing the end.

But wait, its a crime novel, murders abound, violence, venal human behaviours never cease. But the strange little family unit that develops surpasses all human failings.

I'd describe this short French novel as "comic noir". Simon is a "vermin" exterminator on one last job before he retires when he meets Bernard, a gullible young man at loose ends. Because of his ill health, Simon hires Bernard as his driver, and soon finds himself also encumbered with a pretty young woman with a squalling baby who were rescued by Bernard. And Bernard discovers that Simon's definition of "vermin" is not what he initially thought.

This is a clever, offbeat and quirky novel, and I enjoyed it very much. Amazon says that Garnier has been compared to Simenon.
Recommended