In his novel Based on a true story, Delphine de Vigan told the story of a writer pursued by a somewhat too intense admirer who became encrusted in her life until she took her place. There is a relationship between this thriller-like story and Carole Fives’ most recent novel.
In something to tell you, Elsa Feuillet, an unsuccessful novelist, wildly admires Béatrice Blandy, a renowned writer who died of cancer a few years earlier. The widower of the latter, Thomas, wishes to know this Elsa who revered his wife so much that she even dedicated one of her novels to her.
Their relationship will evolve very quickly. Elsa moves into her idol’s apartment – a veritable mausoleum in memory of Béatrice –, wears her perfume, slips into her clothes. The couple even makes love under the gaze of the deceased whose photos adorn almost all the walls.
In search of an unfinished manuscript, Elsa slips one day into the office of the late writer, an almost sacred place that no one has dared to touch. Happens what had to happen, admiration turns to obsession and then to appropriation.
We will not reveal the punches of the novel which is also intended as a reflection on writing (influence, borrowing, plagiarism…), but let’s say that the suspense effect is half successful. The plot is one-dimensional, borderline simplistic. As for the characters, we would have liked them with a little more depth. And we found the many nods to Hitchcock’s cinema plated. Despite this, we reached the end of something to tell you without being asked.
The Parisian literary community was amused by this novel inspired by real-life events. Béatrice is Emmanuelle Bernheim, a French novelist who died in 2017 from cancer. Her spouse, Serge Toubiana, works in the film industry (he is the current president of Unifrance) as the character of Thomas. We do not know if Carole Fives has a romantic relationship with him, but we do know that they are friends… Ah, the key novels!
something to tell you
Carole Fives
Gallimard
168 pages