Novella set in PARIS

7th May 2021

The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain, novella set in Paris. Translated by Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken.

“Soaked in Parisian atmosphere, this lovely, clever, funny novel will have you rushing to the Eurostar post-haste” (Daily Mail)

Laurent owns a bookshop in Paris, he is a caring man who checks in regularly on his customers, to ensure they are doing ok. One day, as he is going about his business, he discovers a mauve handbag atop a refuse bin. He picks it up and attempts to do the right thing by taking it to the police station to hand it in, but they are busy with more important matters. We know it belongs to Laure, who, subsequent to having her handbag stolen, involuntarily embarks on adventures of her own.

He is faced with the moral conundrum of delving into the handbag to ascertain ownership, but good manners make him reticent – it feels alike a personal transgression to rummage around in a woman’s bag; what kinds of personal things and accoutrements might be  revealed? Fortified with wine he opens it up and wonders at the myriad of compartments and pockets secreted in the handbag.  He discovers not only a make-up bag, but a bottle of Habanita by Molinard (I am curious to know now what it smells like, as he describes the musky fragrance of the perfume residues in the handbag with such detail and warmth and the lingering scent indeed causes a rift in his relationship with Dominique!). And of course he discovers the eponymous red Moleskin notebook of the title.

And the clues begin to mount up. Will he find enough information to piece together a profile and reunite the handbag with its owner?

What makes this short book such a stunning read is the evocation of detail and of Paris. The author can create a story from virtually nothing and make it interesting and so very readable – and of course grateful thanks to the translator team of Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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