As Night Follows Day

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not Thrilling
Review: A double murder in a small French village in 1949 are provides the opportunity for Moinot to delve into the bloodstream of rural life and present character studies of the old and young still there. Moinet expertly recreates the sounds, smells, and textures of a pastoral life which is cloaked in pettiness and the oppression of everyone knowing the other's business. The murders serve only a catalyst for the older villagers to reflect on their own lives and try and come to terms with what it means to have lived. And for the young Adrien, they spark the imagination to an almost unthinkable degree-somewhat reminiscent of Emmanuel Carrere's novel, Class Trip. What goes almost unnoticed by the reader is the absence of anyone from 16-45 years old, those who presumably were swept elsewhere by the recent war. It's a somewhat interesting psychological novel, but its primarily appeal will be for those intrigued by rural France. The murders themselves are rather banal-as, of course, most murder is in real life-and the label thriller doesn't really capture the book's true nature.

Rating:
Summary: Vivid France
Review: This book allthough a bit short was well worth the read. It was a bit diffrent from what I usually care for but what a supprising breath of fresh air. The author is quite tallented in providing imagry of the country side of france, one can almost smell the fresh bread being cooked and taste the wine !! The little book deals with a murder that happens in the town however is not the focal point of the book. GREAT character development is only the tip of the iceberg on this one !!!