Write to Kill

Rating:
Summary: As good as the two first Malaussène stories
Review: If you're looking for a witty, breathtaking and original story, with deep things in it but which doesn't cry out loud "hey look I'm deep", with that little surreal touch that breaks into the reality, go for the Malaussène stories. This is the 3rd one. Start with the first "the scapegoat".(I read those in french, hope the translation is good).

Rating:
Summary: Does not quite "kill"
Review: This should have been an illustrated novel (bande desinee). (Pennac is an illustrator of Tardi BDs.) Vivid, memorable characterization, but marred by a kludgy, repetitive translation; misses wry and hits cute too often. The plot thrums along though suffers at the end from the same thing that marred "Smilla's Sense of Snow", a desperate sprint for the finish line. Writer blinded by science and hoping you'll believe the implausible ending. Still, fresh, barbed and imaginative.