I skipped over
this book several times after reading the flap, but finally decided to give it a try. It turned out to be a really enjoyable read. The premise of the story is fairly straight forward: a popular high school teacher enters into a relationship with a student and gets fired. While this may seem like a worn plot vehicle (and it is), the back story is what makes this novel shine.
The story is told from three perspectives: the teacher (Will), the student (Marie), and a fellow student (Gilad.) It is set in Paris in late 2002 at the ISF, the International School of France. The story is told as if it happened about eight to ten years in the past, so it appears the characters are looking back and remembering the story. This is what makes it interesting, the differing memories of the characters. It is also interesting how each character interacts with each other and the students, teachers, and parents that populate this story.
I am purposefully vague on details because I believe that the beauty of the story is in the details and to choose a few to highlight will only diminish the whole. Pick it up at your local branch and let me know if you liked it.
--Keir, Cliff Cave Branch
