Episode 1: A Favorite Pick by an Ardèche-born and Nomadic Author

Because there is no greater pleasure in life than when it is shared, the founder of Alvernia, a passionate reader, periodically shares her literary favorites and book recommendations that explore, intrigue, and support personal development.

To kick off this column, I drew inspiration from comments I had written in the past at the end of certain books I read. I was particularly moved when I reread the one I had left about the second novel I read by Diane Peylin...

Back Cover : « This is an apocalypse. My apocalypse. It's not just a tragedy. No. That would be too simple. I could just have a good cry and grit my teeth. But here, everything is too overpowering, I can't even cry. Beneath my feet, there is nothing left. Nothing solid. Nothing to lean on. In a second, everything vanished. I am hanging by a thread over a vast abyss. I look up and search for the thread. »

A true and poignant story. The struggle of a mother who wanted to see her son grow up.

What I liked : the authenticity, humor, and resilience of the author.

Why I recommend reading this book : the comment I left in October 2015 speaks for itself. « Thank you, Diane, for baring your soul to your readers. I believe that if I were ever touched by this dreadful disease, I would be less afraid thanks to your words... Bravo for this simply heart-wrenching self-portrait!"

Two years later, I was touched by a different but equally dreadful cancer, and I was not afraid. Although I no longer remembered my comment or the details of this book at all, it remained engraved in my subconscious, and I now believe that the author's resilience inspired me in my own battle.

I already loved Diane Peylin's first novel, and her biography alone makes me dream:
Owner of holiday cottages in the Ardèche gorges, teacher, and then a nomad during a world tour on a sailboat. Today, she is a writing workshop facilitator and above all a novelist. (source: https://www.lecteurs.com/auteur/diane-peylin/3229326)

Back Cover
To be born somewhere... On November 5, 1978, two cries pierce the same night. One under a mango tree, the other in a hospital room. One in the poverty of Madagascar, the other in Western opulence. The great "heads or tails" of existence... And yet. The parallel lives of Eva and Miangaly, these twins who are unaware of each other, will shuffle all the cards dealt at their birth. Because the pursuit of happiness, here and elsewhere, is never a straight line...

What I liked : the rich text with little ironic nods (the little sister is named Sue Ellen...), the quotes from song lyrics that we have all hummed in the past (at least if you're from my generation), the references to real events that situate us in the fabric of these two destinies that we desperately await to intersect...

Why I recommend reading this book : it exudes something beautiful, real, colorful, and fragrant as if we were a part of it. Indeed, we easily remember, just like one of the heroines, the first time our taste buds savored a square of chocolate!

What I like about this author : Diane Peylin knows how to be authentic, moving, and make you laugh and cry at the same time.

When I discover an author I like, I tend to devour all of their previous works and eagerly await their next ones, which undoubtedly raises my expectations. I have been less sensitive - without passing judgment - to her other books so far, but I always look forward to the release of one of her new novels.

As you may have guessed, what I particularly enjoy in my "Feel good" readings is that they touch me, make me resonate, and leave an impression that could prove useful someday.

See you soon for another sharing of reading!