Monsiuer Ibrahim

by Eric-Emmanual Schmitt

Set in the 1960s in Paris’ Jewish quarter, Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is about a troubled Jewish boy, Moses, or Momo, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a solitary Muslim shopkeeper named Monsieur Ibrahim. Momo’s story begins when he attempts to lose his virginity in a bordello at the age of 11. Following the disappearance and death of Momo’s father, a passive-aggressive lawyer who read in the dark and neglected his son’s well-being, Ibrahim adopts the orphaned boy. The two decide to make a trip across Europe to the birthplace of Monsieur Ibrahim, where the most essential aspects of life and death are revealed when they are least expected. In Oscar and the Lady in Pink, an entirely different tale of love and courage is born. Oscar is ten years old an dying of leukemia. He knows that his bone marrow transplant has failed, but the only person in the hospital who will talk to him about dying is his beloved Mamie-Rose, an elderly volunteer who visits the sick children. When it becomes clear that Oscar’s time is growing short, Mamie-Rose gives him a wonderful he should pretend that every day he lives represents the passage of ten years, and each day he should write down his experiences as a letter to God so that he might feel less alone. With Mamie-Rose as his guide, Oscar begins a journey through days made fuller by the richness of his imagination and spirit. In these stories full of laughter and love, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt has given us illuminating tales about suffering, love, compassion, and faith in both God and mankind. (from the back cover)

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[AnnetteW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Monsieur Ibrahim, sweet, sad, funny, poignant and uplifting. But the standout is actually Oscar and the Lady in Pink. One of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. Of the 150,000,000 people on Goodreads I was the only one reading it, although 6 want to. I hope this gorgeous tale of life, love and truly living will find it's way to lots more people. The planet will be better for it!

[fatmayld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richtig schön geschrieben, aber das Ende wahr sehr traurig.