¿Qué tal el dolor?

by Pascal Garnier

Simon Marechall sta per morire. Il male che lo corrode dall'interno gli lascia poco tempo da vivere e gli rende difficile portare a termine il suo ultimo lavoro: uccidere un uomo. Perché Simon è un killer, e ora è stanco. Solo e amareggiato, in una cittadina che non conosce, incontra Bernard, un ragazzo ingenuo e innocente. Non sa perché gli stia simpatico, forse perché è tanto diverso da lui. Simon chiede a Bernard se vuole guadagnare un po' di soldi, un compito semplice: deve essere il suo autista in quest'ultima operazione. Inizia così il primo romanzo pubblicato in Italia di Pascal Garnier. Un autore, scomparso da poco, che in Francia sta guadagnando un culto sempre maggiore, grazie a una serie di romanzi che si avvicinano, per stile e temi, a quelli di George Simenon ed Emmanuel Bove. Garnier affronta un classico tema noir – quello dell'incontro tra un vecchio killer e un giovane puro e ottimista – e ce lo restituisce con un gusto originale e moderno: Come va il tuo dolore? è solo il primo capitolo di una serie di romanzi che sono puro piacere da leggere.

Genres: Fiction, Noir, Crime, France, Mystery, Literary Fiction, French Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Pascal Garnier, who died in March 2010, was a talented novelist, short story writer, children’s author and painter. From his home in the mountains of the Ardèche, he wrote fiction in a noir palette with a cast of characters drawn from ordinary provincial life. Though his writing is often very dark in tone, it sparkles with quirkily beautiful imagery and dry witted humour. Garnier’s work has been likened to the great thriller writer, Georges Simenon. Gallic books has now published many of his titles, including - The Panda Theory, How’s the Pain?, The Islanders, Moon in a Dead Eye, and The Front Seat Passenger.

Reviews

[Glenn Russell]

"How you doin'?" - one of our customary greeting. But in some parts of Africa, the question posed when meeting someone is "How's the pain?"

How's the Pain? - an appropriate title for this Pascal Garnier crime noir novel featuring sixty-something Simon Marechall, a hit man continually assailed by stomach pain.

How's the Pain? - not only a crime thriller but also a work of existentialism written in much the same spirit as Albert Camus' The Stranger and about the same page length.

Pascal Garnier frames his tale thusly: morose Simon Marechall books a hotel room in the small French town of Val les Bains. Simon is on the cusp of retirement and needs a driver, preferably young and upbeat, to provide the needed emotional support for his three hour trip down to the coast town of Cap d'Agde so he can carry out his final job.

Simon finds his man whilst sitting on a park bench. Twenty-one-year old Bernard Ferrand from nearby Bron happens to be in town paying a visit to his mother. Although Bernard had the two small fingers of his left hand sliced off by a machine in the factory where he works, he doesn't mind a bit - after all, he's right handed and the pain isn't that great. Following a few more exchanges, Simon can see happy-go-luck, down-to-earth simpleton Bernard will make the perfect driver.

Pascal Garnier is all about lacing his existential tales with generous helpings of black humor. The team of hit man Simon and simpleton Bernard provides the author with ample opportunities - matter of fact, each exchange between these two gents contains more than a cupful of the comic.

Ah, Simon and Bernard - think of sullen tough guy Sean Penn or the Spanish/French actor Jean Reno teaming up with a smiling, always willing to please Stan Laurel-type. To take one example, picture Bernard's reaction when he discovers Simon isn't a common, everyday exterminator like he said he was, "I have a pest-control business. Getting rid of rats, mice, insects, cockroaches and so on." but an honest-to-god hit man, just like in the movies. Bernard says, "I'd have rather you just got rid of rats." Simon answers, "Rats, people - they're all the same. They breed just as quickly."

Pascal Garnier also takes the time to makes a blistering study of other characters, existential to the core, of a young mother and her baby, an older taxidermist on the lookout for a husband and most notably, Bernard's mother, a woman left on her own after Bernard's father took off when the baby was born.

Bernard's mom recounts her failures: she failed as a hat maker (too ornate; nobody actually bought one), failed as a hippie shop owner (her partner, a hippie, ran away with all the money), failed as a dog groomer (one of her machines turned a dachshund into a charred hot dog) and failed as a fortuneteller (her only three clients were killed in ghastly accidents within days of their reading). As she says in her advanced age, "My past was a disaster; my present is a joke; thank god I have no future!"

Lastly, let me mention violence in this and other Pascal Garnier novels is never romanticized or gratuitous - quite the contrary, any killing is usually expressed in no more than a sentence "He aimed the gun and fired, the man dropped on the spot." This to say, the French author's novels are technically crime fiction but they could just as easily be categorized and shelved as literary fiction or existential fiction.

I'm an enthusiastic new fan. I plan to read and review all twelve of Pascal Garnier's short novels that have been translated into English. Thank you, Gallic Books!



Bernard takes time out to enjoy the simple pleasures of life out in nature. "He stood up and looked for a really flat pebble. Skimming stones was another of his talents. The pebble glanced across the surface of the water like a flying saucer, bouncing six times before reaching the opposite bank. It was a hot day. He took his clothes off and lay in the current, holding his injured hand up towards the sky like a periscope so as not to get the bandage wet. He wasn't thinking about anything now. It was just nice to dissolve into the water."


French novelist Pascal Garnier, 1949-1960

[JimZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4 starrer for me.

So I’ve read ‘Moon in a Dead Eye’ (2009, tr. 2013) and ‘The Panda Theory’ (2008, tr. 2012). All three as issued by Gallic Books have been translated by Emily Boyce. At the end of this book (2006, tr. 2012) is an Afterward in which she gives a quasi-review of Garnier’s style in relation to other works she sees similarities to. It’s quite good.

She has this interesting comment near the end of her short Afterword:
• “…With their stark violence and tendency towards the surreal, his novels have echoes of Tarantino or the black comedy of the Coen brothers. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry, leading some to label his genre the ‘roman gris’, with touches of brightness lightening the grim outlook of ‘noir’.”
That’s a succinct and I think accurate way of describing Garnier’s writing, at least based on the three novels of his I have read so far. Oh, I had to look up “gris” which is ‘grey’ in English.

I've read 3 of Garnier's novels with at least eight to go. Gallic Books (belgraviabooks.com) has given a good deal to Garnier aficionados in that they have ten of his 11 novels in three sets for $16.95 each.
John Banville has a great review of Garnier’s oeuvre in the April 9, 2020 issue of the New York Review of Books, to which I subscribe. If you can gain access to the review (but I think you have to be a subscriber to read all of it) here is the link: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020...). I would recommend holding off on reading it until after you read his oeuvre because Banville lets too many cats out of bag in his review. I purposefully did not read certain sections because he gives away the goods of Garnier’s books I have yet to read.

I will quote this from Banville’s review because it explains why I have next to nothing to say about this book: “…One of the difficulties of writing about this master romancier is that it is impossible to give an account of his books in any sensible way—in any way at all, really—without revealing the plots. This is true of any mystery yarn, no matter how wooden its characters or preposterous its dénouement.”

The main protagonists are Simon, an older man who does not appear to be in good health for a good bit of the novel, Bernard, a young likeable man he runs across early on in the novel, Bernard’s mother Anais who is an alcoholic, and a young women, Fiona, and her baby, Violette, who seems to poop in her diapers every time Garnier makes mention of her.

Reviews:
http://www.complete-review.com/review...

https://crimefictionlover.com/2012/10...

This one is in French: https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/livre...

[Marc Lamot · Rating 2 out of 5]

French author Pascal Garnier (1949-2010) here offers a sympathetic but deceptively simple story. Bernard, a somewhat naive young man, gets involved in the unsavory affairs of the old “vermin exterminator” Simon. The beginning of the book is rather confusing, but at the end the puzzle pieces fall into place. There are also rather implausible plot twists, the character of Simon is not entirely consistently drawn, and the general tone is very dejected: “la vie est merde/life is shit”, which is further reinforced by the sad fate of Bernard’s mother. But the young man himself makes up for a lot: he shows a disarming openness, vitality and decisiveness that you would not suspect behind his good-guy appearance. And that contrasts sharply with Simon’s despondency and cynicism. In my view this novel isn't perfect, but it's a nice read. Read in French (Comment va la douleur?). Rating 2.5 stars.

[Nick Grammos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is about relationships. After all, aren't all stories of murder and crime really about failed relationships and unmet needs.

Bernard accepts a job from Simon, they drive to the seaside. Bernard has never seen the sea, it's all an adventure for him. He's seriously unambitious. Simon is close to retirement. One job to go. They meet Fiona and little Violette along the way. They meet Rose at the beach. Love starts and hope springs by the seaside. Everything goes along swimmingly. But Simon is older than he appears, nearing the end.

But wait, its a crime novel, murders abound, violence, venal human behaviours never cease. But the strange little family unit that develops surpasses all human failings.

[Gram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully dark and quirky tale about a handful of oddball characters whose paths cross after Simon, an elderly vermin exterminator - who's really a contract killer - hires the naive Bernard to drive him to his next kill.

Along the way, Simon is introduced to Bernard's alcoholic mum & failed shop owner, Anais and Bernard's first ever lover, the feisty single mum Fiona and her baby daughter and poop machine extraordinaire, Violette. Later, Simon becomes embroiled in a not quite forgettable one night stand with retired taxidermist and hopeless romantic, Rose. For a few hours afterwards, he contemplates retirement and a cosy future with Rose.

Oh, and - now and then - Simon shoots people.

For reasons which will become clear, the book's ending is given away in the first few pages, but that doesn't matter at all. Just sit back and enjoy the wonderful black humour and delightful descriptions packed into this books's all-too-brief 160 or so pages.

Highly recommended.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do enjoy Garnier's work, this being the seventh book I have read of his this year. That also happens to be the sum total of his books that my library owns. Maybe five stars is overdoing it for a 163-page paperback, but the entire book is simply delicious. I love his mix of noir and humour.

The book is a diary of the last days of hit man Simon who gets acquainted with a few people during this critical time. One is a young man who recently lost some fingers as well as his job that he hires to drive him to his last job. Through him he meets the boy's alcoholic mother, a young unmarried mother with a babe in arms and a lovelorn taxidermist.

Nothing goes according to plan. Sitting on a beach watching a wounded seagull flail. "Tired of flapping around, it sat on a rock and waited for a miracle that would never come. In which part of Africa was it that people greeted each other every morning with the question 'How's the pain?' Simon could no longer remember."

Library Loan

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5) I've been a fan of Garnier's work for a couple of years now (most notably The A26), but this one was sort of a letdown. Reading it before a trip and during a flight, I knocked it out pretty quickly, yet it didn't have the oomph I usually get from the ending of one of his novels/novellas. This is not a mandatory read for fans of his prose and action, but I wouldn't say it's a total waste if you're looking for one of those quick reads that will leave you entertained (mostly).

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The title of this Garnier novella comes from an African greeting. Rather than ask how one is doing, it is their custom to ask “How’s the pain?” That sums up the tone and style of this darkly humorous tale perfectly.

This is my fourth Garnier book and I must say that he uses the novella style to maximum effect. Precisely the correct length so that the humor remains sharp and the darkness does not overwhelm—a perfect balance.

I am becoming quite a fan of Garnier. He is clearly a master of the noir novella, so much so that I started off by comparing him favorably to the great noir masters yet now I believe that I should stop making comparisons altogether because his voice is so distinctive and original.

Ironic, yet realistic. Darkly fatalistic yet quite funny at times. Vicious and unredeemed/unredeemable characters that nonetheless are sympathetic because of their understanding and acceptance of their own flaws.

Each Garnier work is a jewel in its own right and this is no exception.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to a 'Book Spa' with a bibliophile friend and this was one of the books suggested for me. I had not heard of the Author before and had no preconceived ideas on what it would be like.
I was hooked immediately. Dark humour, well observed cameos of human nature and it makes you think. Very French. It is a short book so hard to write more without spoiler alerts. I would definitely read more by this author. Big thanks to Lucinda from Mr B's Book Emporium for your insightful recommendation!

[jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

pascal garnier, the prolific french author of noir fiction and children's literature both, is enjoying some posthumous stateside recognition with a number of english translations. how's the pain? (comment va la douleur?) is the tale of simon, an aging hitman as he embarks upon his last job. with the unintended involvement of some secondary characters, the ornery and misanthropic killer's final hit turns out to be more difficult than expected. with moments of dark humor, garnier's novel is an entertaining and diversionary read.

the shark was drowning its sorrows inside its glass cage. it turned this way and that for no apparent reason, taking no notice of the opaline jellyfish and shoals of multicoloured fish swimming out from clumps of soft seaweed. there was not much to choose between aquatic life and life on earth; either could be equally boring. the proof was in the amphibians which had dithered between the two for thousands of years without ever making their minds up, or the valium-drugged crocodiles whose sleepy eyes peeked above the surface of muddy pools. like simon, who stood watching them, all these creatures seemed to be on standby, waiting for something that was always just out of reach. over-excited kids pressed their noses against the glass, banging their horrid chubby little hands against the walls of the tanks. their shrieks ruined the silence of this other world. from the looks on the faces of their harassed parents, it was clear many would gladly throw their offspring to the piranhas. the world might well end in the same murky green waters that spawned humanity.

*translated from the french by emily boyce

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

like a Simenon noir (eg Black Snow), and not just because it is set in France with some Belgium thing going on too. It is as dark, and violent and God-less, but funnier and messier. Not as thrilling maybe or as bone chilling, and with less complex characters. I prefer the tightness of Simenon, here the writing is full of similes, some surely taking the piss (in one a man bounces off across the beach like a tennis ball, and in the next chapter someone else bounces off like a beachball), and often awkwardly memorable (knees like banister knobs). But there's no pause in the narrative; if I may join in the figure-of-speech fun, it drives straight towards the brick wall of death at full speed. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Andy Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The translated title is "How's The Pain?"

A great title for this book which comes from an African country who greet each other with these words.

I fear I am getting a bit addicted to these "noir" novels. I chose "The Devil All The Time" as my favourite book of 2012.

I urge you not to read the blurb on the back, unless you do so now, and forget about it when you get round to reading it.

It's an innocent sort of blackness that works for this novel. Ordinary characters surround the protagonist, and again, that makes the idea of the novel work so well.

Shades of the great Dan Rhodes books, and a bit of Long Midnight of Barney Thompson.

I will search out more Garnier, and certainly more "noir".

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the heart of this story is an unlikely friendship between a naive twenty something man and an elderly gent on the cusp of retirement. The road trip and unlikely friendships are the stuff of great films. Simon Marechall who claims to be an 'exterminator of vermin' at the end of his career meets Bernard an aimless but good soul who he employs as his driver so that Simon can complete his last job. They set out from Val les Bains to Cap d'Agde. On the way they meet other characters a shallow young lady with a baby and an older lady who is a taxidermist and takes a shine to Simon. Bernard's alcoholic mother Anais has a few chapters dedicated to her as a portrait of her failed life unfurls. We know more about Anais by the end of the story than we probably know about the books protagonists.

This is another one of John Banville's recommendations. I admired the writing style, a moped fades into the distance "leaving a long rip through the fabric of the sleeping city", "time did not follow its usual course in hotel rooms; it stagnated like the dead arm of a river" his shoes sit quietly at the base of the bed. "On the dot of eight o'clock, the TV news signature tune spread like a powder trail down the row of caravans, the newsreader's chubby face replicated endlessly". The ordinary and everyday is present but it's given a touch of poetic resonance.

Even though the story seemingly lacked character depth, I still felt invested in the characters. Even the clinical violence in the book seems mundane, every day and lacks the gratuity of other books about hit men. There is no real dogged pursuit of an individual. When there is it is almost anti-climactic. This book is different, darker, more circumspect and particular than a lot of noir. Simon's age lends a poignancy to the story. There is a healthy dose of existentialism. This would make a great film as it would fit well with what world cinema produces on a yearly basis. This is offbeat Gallic noir. I liked Garnier's style, noir in name noir in nature.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon Marechall is a dying hit man who joins up with a young man named Bernard to act as his driver. Along the way, they pick up a young woman and her infant daughter. Simon manages to shoot several of his victims, and both Bernard and Fiona (the young mother) learn find out about his profession, though neither of them become too upset about it. Then Simon wants Bernard to do one last favor for him, which we learn about at the very beginning of this excellent novelette.

Pascal Garnier's How's the Pain? makes for a crisp and short read. French noir, I find, can be every bit as good as American noir.

[hopeforbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Jak się ma twój ból?” opowiada historię Simona – tępiciela szkodników, który rozważa odejście na emeryturę. Poznaje przypadkiem młodego chłopaka Bernarda i postanawia zaoferować mu pracę, bo potrzebuje kierowcy na dwa dni.

Jednak na pierwszych stronach nie poznajemy historii ich poznania, a jesteśmy świadkiem śmierci… Więcej nie zdradzam. Odkryjcie sami tę świetną historię!

„Jak się ma twój ból?” to świetnie skonstruowana niewielkich rozmiarów powieść, która trzyma w napięciu. Zdecydowanie do przeczytania na raz! Napisana bardzo prostym językiem, ale traktuje o trudnych tematach. Bardzo przypominała mi „Bliznę” z wyd. poznańskiego, więc jeśli lubicie tę historię, to „Jak się ma twój ból?” również powinien Wam przypaść do gustu. Ja bardzo polecam.

[Magdalith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rozczarowanie.
Nie dotarł do mnie przekaz tej książki i przez cały czas trwania lektury czułam (i wiedziałam, bo z wielu recenzji jakie czytałam wynika, że jest to mądra i głęboka rzecz) że coś mi umyka. Bardzo obiecujący tytuł, bardzo smakowity początek, nawet okładka zachęca. Ale, poza kilkoma trafnymi spostrzeżeniami, interesującymi zdaniami i ciekawymi porównaniami, całość raczej przeleciała przeze mnie bez większego echa. Od tej fabuły i wykreowanych postaci odbiłam się jak od szyby.
Spróbuję jeszcze innej powieści Pascala, a jeśli historia się powtórzy, będzie to znaczyło, że nadajemy/odbieramy jednak na innych falach. Dziwne, bo ja bardzo lubię takie pesymistyczne, dołujące historie i ponury klimat.
Mimo wszystko polecam, książka może intrygować. Tak słyszałam.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An engaging, concisely written, bleak and unpredictable noir fiction short novel about Simon, a handsome, well off, older man who is contemplating retirement. He is ill. Simon meets 21 year old Bernard. Bernard lives with his alcoholic mother in a small tourist town in France. Simon employs Bernard as his driver for a short time. On their journey they meet Fiona, a young woman and her baby, Violette. In another town Bernard meets Rose, an older woman who is a taxidermist. We also learn more about Bernard’s mother, Anais.

An easy to read novel with interesting characters.

This book was first published in french in 2006.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny and affective noir set in presentday france with some classic character studies, insightful social/political/economics commentary. and bonus! little known facts about french mineral water and pop singer.
story is how a cold blooded, solitary hitman solves his health care problems.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with other books by Garnier, this relatively short novel is contains an overhanging sense of dread. Not a whodunnit, but a character driven exercise in noir of which Garnier was a master. No more details since it needs to unfold on its own merits.

[Marina Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Garnier to date. My full review is here:
http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2012...

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Marechall knows death. After long years working as a pest exterminator, he is now preparing for his final job before the end; for he knows he won’t last long. But his field of work isn’t just about rodents and insects. He has another activity. And, though something has apparently changed with the acceptance of his new and innocent driver, Simon still has a job to finish. And his final victims are of the human kind.
One of the most impressive aspects of this author’s work is that his stories might be relatively short, but there is nothing missing. From the element of intrigue associated with Simon’s extravagant activities to his path towards death, not forgetting, of course, Bernard’s unimaginable innocence and Fiona’s ambiguity, everything seems to belong. And, in less than two hundred pages, the author takes on a journey: of life and death, of discovery and resignation, of innocence and ruthlessness.
Given the sombre theme, it comes as a surprise how light this book can be. Maybe it is the writing, with its fascinating contrast between the clarity of the dialogues and the unexpected, though brief, introspectiveness of the descriptions. Also, there’s something bizarrely intriguing in how such a main character as Simon, who is so far from being what one would consider a good person, can create such an interesting proximity. Maybe it’s because of Bernard... or death.
One last aspect worth mentioning is how everything seems to converge to an already known finale. We know from that start how Simon’s story will end. But how will he get there... well, that is the question. The very same question that makes reading this short book so enthralling and, despite knowing Simon’s end, so utterly surprising.
Made of different kinds of endings and of a fascinating balance between mystery, innocence and pain, this is the kind of book to read in one sitting. And then return to remember the best passages and the strange journey that Simon – and Bernard – took us in. Quite impressive, overall.

** I received this book from Gallic in exchange for an honest review

[Owen Townend · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comically macabre character novella.

I first recommended How's the Pain? to a book club without having read it beforehand or any intention of picking it up myself. It was well-received which almost never happens. Years later, I decided to find out why.

Though I only recently started indulging in French noir books, I can already tell Garnier is a master of the genre. In this book, he explores an odd couple road trip dynamic with extra gallows humour. Simon is a self-made businessman who has grown tired of the 'pest control' game and life in general. Bernard is a plucky young lad who has promised to drive Simon to the coast for a sea view and generous payment. However, there are several pit stops along the way that slow their journey and frustrate Simon who just wants to retire without fuss. Love blossoms, blood is spilled and vengeance is had.

The real strength of How's the Pain? lies in it's layered insight of the key characters. Perspectives change with each short chapter, extending to Bernard's alcoholic mother Anaïs hallucinating and a young baby named Violette catching her wiggly toes. You get to feel that no named character is a bit player, they all get to show their inner world and perhaps explain themselves.

Meanwhile the actual plot is simple and tragic. Garnier taps into the exhaustion of old age and uncovers its comic potential. Simon has had a long and harrowing life but at least Bernard still has a shot at happiness.

My one complaint with this book is its storytelling method. While I see how beginning with a startling consequence before showing the action that leads to it can be a great hook, it happens too often and becomes needlessly illogical. The first time it is used is the best and enough.

That aside, How's the Pain? is a funny bitter pill that is worth swallowing. If you like your laughter black and sudden, this is just the novella for you.

[Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Co mi się w niej podoba: zręczne ogranie schematu z zestawieniem młody-stary, mądry-głupi, bogaty-biedny. Podoba mi się motyw przypadkowości i złączenia obcych ludzi w zgraję z pozoru do siebie niepodobną.
Co mi się nie podoba? Nie podoba mi się brak puenty, brak akcji, czegoś ciekawego i to był chyba największy problem: postaci i fabuła kompletnie mnie nie angażowały, nie czułam potrzeby czytania do końca, nie odnalazłam w niej klimatu, atmosfery, no niczego. Nie było tam ani mnie, ani żadnych moich wartości.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was odd. Very French. Reminded me of The Stranger by Camus. Not sure why. It is a bit of an enigma and very short (I read it in one sitting) but it is immensely engaging. It also reminded me of The Death of Bunny Monro by Nick cave. Not sure why that either. The characters live real lives, no doubt about that, and I was torn between a good review and a bad one. I think it's maybe three and a half stars. But I'm so glad I read this. It takes a special kind of writer to produce this stuff and, of course it's a translation so who really knows? Definitely worth a go.

[zuzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Brian Kindall · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an existential world we live in – godless and dark. Pascal Garnier – author of How’s The Pain? - knows this. And yet he can’t quite seem to let his characters completely descend into that bleakness without a little humor, and maybe even some hope. Garnier can’t let them suffer and thrash around without a little humanity.

The book’s main character is Simon, an old hired killer out to perform one last job before he retires. He’s meticulous about his profession and indifferent to his victims. He tells people he is an exterminator, and approaches his work as if he were simply ridding the world of another pest. But when he picks up a naïve young man named Bernard and hires him as his driver, Simon finds himself examining his own life in ways he doesn’t expect. Through his galumphing good-hearted approach to being alive, Bernard soon entangles Simon in a humorous set of domestic circumstances that carries him into a world he has spent his whole life avoiding, even disdaining. It’s a world of snot-nosed kids in diapers and trailer parks and backyard barbecues. It’s a kitsch world where people find pleasure in pet taxidermy and junk shops and daytime television. Although it’s set in France, this is not the quaint world of the French countryside we are used to being served. Bernard, it turns out, is just too likable for Simon to resist. The jaded killer sees something in his driver’s naiveté that’s enviable. It’s the very thing Simon hasn’t allowed himself in his long life – a sort of ignorance-is-bliss approach to life that makes this dark world a little brighter, even happy and fun.

Pascal Garnier offers this tale with a large dose of poetry. Even when he’s writing about something so unsettling as death, he does it with an off-kilter beauty that permeates the entire novel. “The life drained out of her body like oil from a drum.” “His voice bounced off the ceiling vaults like a trapped bird.” And Garnier doesn’t dwell gratuitously on the actual violence. It gets only a mention as it’s happening. He instead, rather tastefully, focuses his story on the world from which that violence arises. Thrill seekers will find this book unsatisfying, but lovers of great writing will be enthralled.

Monsieur Garnier himself left the world a couple of years ago. But he left behind a dozen or so gems, all recently translated into English and available for our pleasure. It’s highly worth a reader’s time to delve into their bleak, humorous, and beauty-laden pages.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Gallic Books for allowing me a free copy of How's The Pain? Never having read Mr Garnier's work I was interested to see what it's all about. Firstly it should be noted that it is more a novella than a full length novel but it seems to be the right length for what it has to say (plenty). It opens with Simon preparing for his suicide and then flashes back to how he got to that point. Simon is a pest controller, only the pests in question are human. He is on his last job but is seriously ill so, on a whim, he hires Bernard to drive him to the job. What happens on the journey is seriously funny.
The contrast between Simon and Bernard is stark. Simon doesn't much care for people and seems to be hard through and through whereas Bernard is pretty thick, naive, unambitious and easily taken advantage of but he is full of goodness with a kind heart. It is never said why Simon picks him as his driver but, at the end of his life, maybe he wants a little light in his life or, more in keeping with his character, he wants to corrupt a simple soul.
Mr Garnier packs a lot in to this short novel - human relationships, alcoholism, manipulation and through it all the malignant presence of Simon and his illness, the metaphor of sick body reflecting the sick mind. As I said the novel is savagely funny but Simon's manipulation of Bernard is heartbreaking. If you want a short, sharp read which is out of the ordinary in the crime genre then I heartily recommend How's The Pain?

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Pascal Garnier novel that i've read recently and can thoroughly recommend both.
'How's The Pain' tells the story of Simon, a hit man, posing as a pest controller, who befriends Bernard, a young man currently recovering from an industrial accident, after losing two fingers. Bernard agrees to become Simon's driver for a particular job that he must undertake. Bernard needs the money to help support his alcoholic mother and tide him over till he finds a new job. Along the way they pickup Fiona, a single mother and her baby Violette, after seeing her being assaulted by her abusive boyfriend.
The motley cast of characters are brilliant and there's a lot more humour, albeit very dark humour, in this novel compared to the other Garnier novel that I've read. The action takes place in very mundane settings such as supermarkets, filling stations, a caravan site and an aquarium and this adds to the charm of the book. Garnier starts the book with the ending, so all along we know what's going to happen, we just don't know how they'll arrive there.
I quickly becoming a fan of Garnier's 'Gallic Noir' books and I know I'll be back for further helping soon.

[Andrew Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book! A handful of tragic and brilliantly described people meet over the course of a week. Each of them is pain, physically, emotionally spiritually. As their lives intersect there are out-workings of peace and confusion, hope and hopelessness in equal measure.

With out any spoilers the book can be boiled down to this .... A hit man and a tragically optimistic sidekick go on a road trip! The pathos is extremely well done as is the writing.

This is a super book and I want to give a very special shout out to Emily Boyce the translator for Gallic books, it is superbly translated.

I can't wait to read more, Gallic Noir!

[Jim Coughenour · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book by Garnier that I've read – and each time I begin by thinking, this isn't Simenon. The prose and plots skirt the parodic, but each time I'm caught up in the story. This is pure escape lit, a mini-genre of roman gris as translator Emily Boyce defines it – "touches of brightness lightening the grim outlook of noir." The characters and settings are bleak indeed, but as with the other Garnier books, still sparkle with a very wry wit. It takes some brilliance to start with a suicide and keep the reader chuckling to himself all the way through.