TRAP FOR CINDERELLA, Sebastien Japrisot
This is one of those books that depends on taking you by surprise and it
is difficult to review it without divulging details that will detract
from that pleasure. A girl wakes up in a hospital. She has just
undergone plastic surgery to fix the burns she sustained in a fire at
her house in a French resort. Her friend has died in the blaze. Or is
she the friend? She can't remember much, including who she is. A third
woman seems to play a role in both scenarios.
The book plays with this idea--who died and who survived. It is a moody, atmospheric
book--reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith. The book won France's most
prestigious fiction award. It is short and dark. Read it when you are
fully awake and not drowsing in bed or you won't know who is who either. 
TRAP FOR CINDERELLA, Sebastien Japrisot
This is one of those books that depends on taking you by surprise and it is difficult to review it without divulging details that will detract from that pleasure. A girl wakes up in a hospital. She has just undergone plastic surgery to fix the burns she sustained in a fire at her house in a French resort. Her friend has died in the blaze. Or is she the friend? She can't remember much, including who she is. A third woman seems to play a role in both scenarios.
The book plays with this idea--who died and who survived. It is a moody, atmospheric
book--reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith. The book won France's most prestigious fiction award. It is short and dark. Read it when you are fully awake and not drowsing in bed or you won't know who is who either.
9 comments:
This sounds intriguing, Patti! It sounds almost as much psychological as anything else, and that can really draw me in when it's done well.
His A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT is also a great read.
I've read four Sebastian Japrisot books and enjoyed them all. But, sadly, he seems to be truly a Forgotten Writer.
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT seemed to be a breakout book. But I guess not.
I read several of his novels a long time ago but not sure if this was one of them. I remember seeing the French movie. There was also a British one a few years ago which I haven't seen.
I don't know A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, just 10"30 FROM MARSEILLE (SLEEPING CAR MURDERS), THE WOMAN IN THE CAR WITH GLASSES AND A GUN, and TRAP FOR CINDERELLA. The only one I Really remember is the first one.
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT was helped along by a successful film adaptation...I haven't seen more than a few minutes of it yet, nor have I read his work (in translation)(not that I could read his original text, beyond obvious cognates in English and to some extent Spanish and Italian).
A Very Long Engagement is a very good fil. From the director of Amelie with the same leading actress.
Alice is my cohabitant...used her login accidentally...
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