R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 9/2/2021 + 1452 more book reviews

Loved this little gem and don't know why I let it languish on my bookshelf for so long. Basically, this is a story about, Jean Perdu, who grieved for over twenty years for his lost love, Manon Basset. He was so hurt when she left that he never opened a letter she left for him. When he does all over twenty years later he knew what an egotistical fool he had been because he found she was dying. Now he sets out to repair his heart and find a way to live the rest of his life, traveling with his barge to the areas where Manon grew up and once lived.

Fascinating characters include Catherine, a neighbor whose husband put her suitcase outside the door and locked it; Luc Basset, Manon's husband; Cuneo, a fellow traveler looking for his lost love; and Samy, the author of a book that helped Perdu, through the years. As the trip unfolds, Perdu visits Manon's family, who share her diary with him so he has insight into her last days. Cuneo and Samy fall in love and Jean realizes he must reconnect with Catherine, his charming neighbor.

The author shares so much wisdom about life. Let me share just one with from page 188: "I became myself when my son died," he said falteringly, "because grief showed me what's important in life. That's what grief does. In the beginning it's always there. You wake up and it's there. It's with you all day, everywhere you go. It's with you in the eveing; it won't let you go at night. It grabs you by the throat and shakes you. But it keeps you warm. One day it might go, but not forever. It drops by from time to time. And, then eventually...all of a sudden I know what's important - grief showed me. Love is important. Good food. And standing tall and not saying yes when you should say no."

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