“After the storms”, Patrice Godin

Retired to a studio on Mount Desert Island to write his new novel, Martin O’Connor, a fifty-year-old in the midst of an existential crisis, learns of the death of his mother, Eileen, with whom he had a difficult relationship. Before hitting the road to attend the funeral, he goes back in time, quietly confiding in Jane, a free woman he meets by chance, who helps him regain a semblance of well-being. A true romance of the road, After the storms once again reveals the sensitivity of Patrice Godin. In simple writing, the author – who is on his fifth novel – explores human flaws while ensuring a rhythm adapted to the evolution of his hero. The slowness and silence which envelop the first part of the story match the need to live in the present moment felt by Martin. The sequel, hurried, cold, marries the rage of the hero, who reveals the violence of his troubled past. And throughout this identity journey, the character is nourished by numerous literary references which enrich and support his state.

After the storms

★★★

Patrice Godin, Libre Expression, Montreal, 2024, 200 pages (released January 17)

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