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等待貝里葉先生
每個人都揣測著他人的祕密，
就如同我們其實也不瞭解自己一樣。
故事發生在法國巴黎的蒙馬特。
幾十年來，蒙西卜經營雜貨店，過著平凡的小日子。某天，一位自稱「貓夫人」的女子登門，委託他監視作家老公是否外遇。另一方面，某天在咖啡館寫稿的自由記者海蓮娜，有個陌生男子上前耳語，說：「請問妳在等貝里葉先生嗎？」
就這樣，兩人分別打破了原有的生活規律，步上了奇妙的人生歧路。
成了菜鳥私家偵探的蒙西卜因而開始察覺原本視而不見的細節，意外發現了家人們的祕密。而海蓮娜則因為每天下班都會得到無以擺脫的花束，使得她展開了與城市裡陌生人的對話。
故事氣氛荒誕又緊張，一觸即發的連環效應甚至改變了人生道路。透過主角脫離生活規律時的內心衝突與焦慮猜疑，彷彿看見日常平凡的生活與工作底下，正在醞釀著越來越厚的張力，疑雲重重的情節鋪陳讓人迫不及待想知道水落石出的真相。
這是一個關於對無趣人生中斷的可愛故事，鼓勵著我們，不論是實質上的「出走」或「心情」上的出走，都是為了能有不同的故事可以與他人分享。
就如同我們其實也不瞭解自己一樣。
故事發生在法國巴黎的蒙馬特。
幾十年來，蒙西卜經營雜貨店，過著平凡的小日子。某天，一位自稱「貓夫人」的女子登門，委託他監視作家老公是否外遇。另一方面，某天在咖啡館寫稿的自由記者海蓮娜，有個陌生男子上前耳語，說：「請問妳在等貝里葉先生嗎？」
就這樣，兩人分別打破了原有的生活規律，步上了奇妙的人生歧路。
成了菜鳥私家偵探的蒙西卜因而開始察覺原本視而不見的細節，意外發現了家人們的祕密。而海蓮娜則因為每天下班都會得到無以擺脫的花束，使得她展開了與城市裡陌生人的對話。
故事氣氛荒誕又緊張，一觸即發的連環效應甚至改變了人生道路。透過主角脫離生活規律時的內心衝突與焦慮猜疑，彷彿看見日常平凡的生活與工作底下，正在醞釀著越來越厚的張力，疑雲重重的情節鋪陳讓人迫不及待想知道水落石出的真相。
這是一個關於對無趣人生中斷的可愛故事，鼓勵著我們，不論是實質上的「出走」或「心情」上的出走，都是為了能有不同的故事可以與他人分享。
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2016
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595 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 20, 2024
"If you want to discover Paris, it's better to sit on one of the city's benches. From there you can study several million people trying to find their place in life."
Sacré-Cœur, Paris. A long hot summer. The day begins like any other, people trying to cope with the already oppressive heat. Tourists and workers going about their business.
"It's only once a day becomes extraordinary that the time leading up to it seems ordinary."
Mancebo is a greengrocer, of Tunisian origin. Seven days a week he sits on a stool outside his little shop, watching the world go by. One day flows into the next, and into the one after. For twenty five years he has done this. Store opened by 10am. A pastis and a chat each 2pm at Le Soleil the café down the road, with his cousin Tariq, who runs the cobbler's shop across the road. Lunch and dinner are a quick trip to his flat above the store.
One rainy evening, the mysterious "Madame Cat" makes him an offer he can't refuse. From his store he has a bird's eye view to the place she shares with her partner. Who she suspects of having an affair. For reasons unknown even to Mancebo, he happily agrees to play private detective.
"Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, madame?"
Helena is a freelance journalist who works out of cafés to avoid the heat. A recent divorcee and Mum of a young son, life has lost its spark. Depression and anxiety are wearing her out, and prescribed meds are not helping. One day flows into the next, and into the one after.
An attractive man enters the café and approaches Helena with the above question. Without hesitation her answer is:
"Yes, I'm waiting for Monsieur Bellivier."
To the top of an office tower Helena goes with the mysterious stranger. She agrees to work for several hours each weekday for three weeks. Her role being to simply forward emails received to another email. No-one else shares her office. At the end of each work day, a beautiful bunch of flowers await her at the reception desk.
And so Mancebo and Helena's lives are changed by that single moment. That chance encounter. Where both learn so much about themselves and their families, which wouldn't have happened otherwise.
There are secrets, and more secrets.
Some interesting subplots. Via alternating chapters we get glimpses into Mancebo and Helena's lives. What makes them tick and how they view the world around them, and their role in it.
"People aren't always who we think they are."
It's a quiet and thoughtful book, with subtle humour. The City of Paris is beautifully brought to life. I felt a warmth toward Mancebo and concern for Helena, and the hope that as summer drew to a close, both would have their questions answered.
3.5 ⭐ warm stars. It's quite beguiling. A lovely slow burn.
Sacré-Cœur, Paris. A long hot summer. The day begins like any other, people trying to cope with the already oppressive heat. Tourists and workers going about their business.
"It's only once a day becomes extraordinary that the time leading up to it seems ordinary."
Mancebo is a greengrocer, of Tunisian origin. Seven days a week he sits on a stool outside his little shop, watching the world go by. One day flows into the next, and into the one after. For twenty five years he has done this. Store opened by 10am. A pastis and a chat each 2pm at Le Soleil the café down the road, with his cousin Tariq, who runs the cobbler's shop across the road. Lunch and dinner are a quick trip to his flat above the store.
One rainy evening, the mysterious "Madame Cat" makes him an offer he can't refuse. From his store he has a bird's eye view to the place she shares with her partner. Who she suspects of having an affair. For reasons unknown even to Mancebo, he happily agrees to play private detective.
"Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, madame?"
Helena is a freelance journalist who works out of cafés to avoid the heat. A recent divorcee and Mum of a young son, life has lost its spark. Depression and anxiety are wearing her out, and prescribed meds are not helping. One day flows into the next, and into the one after.
An attractive man enters the café and approaches Helena with the above question. Without hesitation her answer is:
"Yes, I'm waiting for Monsieur Bellivier."
To the top of an office tower Helena goes with the mysterious stranger. She agrees to work for several hours each weekday for three weeks. Her role being to simply forward emails received to another email. No-one else shares her office. At the end of each work day, a beautiful bunch of flowers await her at the reception desk.
And so Mancebo and Helena's lives are changed by that single moment. That chance encounter. Where both learn so much about themselves and their families, which wouldn't have happened otherwise.
There are secrets, and more secrets.
Some interesting subplots. Via alternating chapters we get glimpses into Mancebo and Helena's lives. What makes them tick and how they view the world around them, and their role in it.
"People aren't always who we think they are."
It's a quiet and thoughtful book, with subtle humour. The City of Paris is beautifully brought to life. I felt a warmth toward Mancebo and concern for Helena, and the hope that as summer drew to a close, both would have their questions answered.
3.5 ⭐ warm stars. It's quite beguiling. A lovely slow burn.
December 30, 2017
I love the concept of this book; that a woman sitting in a cafe is asked whether she is waiting for Monseiur Bellivier and, for whatever reason, says yes. This is what happens to Helena, whose curiosity leads to a mysterious job, where she spends the day on the deserted top floor of an office block forwarding coded emails to Monsieur Bellivier, and where the day ends with her being handed a bouquet of flowers by the receptionist. In another part of Paris, Mancebo accepts an equally mysterious job: to spy on the writer who lives in the building opposite his shop and apartment, whose wife is convinced he is having an affair. But both these jobs entangle Helena and Mancebo in bigger mysteries than they could have anticipated, mysteries which eventually entwine.
This was a charming book based on a brilliantly imaginative concept. The characters are vividly portrayed and are a real driving force for this story where nothing much seems to happen, but where the slow pace nevertheless had me gripped throughout. I would advise you to go into this book expecting little beyond an answer to the question, "Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier?", and let it surprise you.
P.S.: This book's beautiful cover fits perfectly on my colour-coded bookshelves. What's not to love?
This was a charming book based on a brilliantly imaginative concept. The characters are vividly portrayed and are a real driving force for this story where nothing much seems to happen, but where the slow pace nevertheless had me gripped throughout. I would advise you to go into this book expecting little beyond an answer to the question, "Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier?", and let it surprise you.
P.S.: This book's beautiful cover fits perfectly on my colour-coded bookshelves. What's not to love?
July 29, 2020
Helena Folasadu is approached by a man while she is working on some freelance journalism in a cafe. "Are you waiting for Monsieur Bellivier?" Bored, and on impulse, she says yes.
Mancebo, a greengrocer, is taken aback by a woman who visits his store. Would you spy on my husband for me? she asks, and he says he will.
Helena and Mancebo tell their stories of their adventures into worlds where secrets are the norm, and in the process, they learn that they are not the only ones who are keeping silent on things in their lives.
A fun romp set in Paris that kept me curious about what would happen next all through the story.
Mancebo, a greengrocer, is taken aback by a woman who visits his store. Would you spy on my husband for me? she asks, and he says he will.
Helena and Mancebo tell their stories of their adventures into worlds where secrets are the norm, and in the process, they learn that they are not the only ones who are keeping silent on things in their lives.
A fun romp set in Paris that kept me curious about what would happen next all through the story.
November 9, 2019
This was a terrible book. 300 pages that SLOWLY built to a very anti climatic and disappointing ending. I kept holding out hope it would get better and the ending would be so amazing it made up for the first 90% of the book, but nope. Disappointing and pointless all around.
July 5, 2017
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier was an absolute delight to read. I was at first intrigued by the notion that a complete stranger could walk up to me and ask if I was waiting for someone, and that by simply answering yes, I would be exposed to interesting and exciting new opportunities. This fascinated me. When Helena is approached by a stranger and answers that, yes, she is waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, we have the beginning of a gripping and extremely interesting story. I honestly could not put this book down and stayed up reading until the early hours of the morning to finish it.
The characters in this novel are sublime and I truly feel that I got to know them. Helena Folasadu is a freelance journalist and spends most of her days working in cafes. She likes the buzz of people, and that connection that she feels with the outside world. I totally understood this aspect of her character, that need for human interaction, as writing can be a lonely occupation. I feel this was one of the reasons that she said 'yes'.
Mancebo, is as equally captivating and interesting as Helena. He is a Tunisian shopkeeper, a family man who also wants excitement and change from the hum drum life that he is leading. He also says 'yes', this time to the woman living in an apartment across the street from his grocers shop, who wans him to spy on her husband, as she is fearful that he is having an affair. He believes this spying mission gives him purpose and status in life. I could understand his motives, and why he sought excitement and meaning for his life.
The storyline is a complex one and I had no idea of who Monsieur Bellivier was until the very end. But, for some reason this really didn't matter, as for me it wasn't the central focus of the book, although the book is named after him. For me, it was the getting to know Helena and Mancebo and of how these two characters evolved during the length of the book. I loved reading about them and how their lives completely changed because of simply saying 'yes'.
Paris is brought to life on the pages of this exquisite book, but what I loved was that it was not the tourist side of Paris that I read about, but rather the everyday Paris that was put to paper. The Paris that we do not see was brought to life, and I was so sad to say goodbye to this book as I felt that I was saying goodbye to a Paros that I had grown to know and love.
Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier is a pure delight to read. It is a book about identify, finding yourself and the importance of surrounding yourself with people and taking a chance on life. I adored every page.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
The characters in this novel are sublime and I truly feel that I got to know them. Helena Folasadu is a freelance journalist and spends most of her days working in cafes. She likes the buzz of people, and that connection that she feels with the outside world. I totally understood this aspect of her character, that need for human interaction, as writing can be a lonely occupation. I feel this was one of the reasons that she said 'yes'.
Mancebo, is as equally captivating and interesting as Helena. He is a Tunisian shopkeeper, a family man who also wants excitement and change from the hum drum life that he is leading. He also says 'yes', this time to the woman living in an apartment across the street from his grocers shop, who wans him to spy on her husband, as she is fearful that he is having an affair. He believes this spying mission gives him purpose and status in life. I could understand his motives, and why he sought excitement and meaning for his life.
The storyline is a complex one and I had no idea of who Monsieur Bellivier was until the very end. But, for some reason this really didn't matter, as for me it wasn't the central focus of the book, although the book is named after him. For me, it was the getting to know Helena and Mancebo and of how these two characters evolved during the length of the book. I loved reading about them and how their lives completely changed because of simply saying 'yes'.
Paris is brought to life on the pages of this exquisite book, but what I loved was that it was not the tourist side of Paris that I read about, but rather the everyday Paris that was put to paper. The Paris that we do not see was brought to life, and I was so sad to say goodbye to this book as I felt that I was saying goodbye to a Paros that I had grown to know and love.
Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier is a pure delight to read. It is a book about identify, finding yourself and the importance of surrounding yourself with people and taking a chance on life. I adored every page.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.
October 27, 2020
3,5*
Als erstes muss ich mal loswerden, wie absolut verliebt ich in den Schreibstil der Autorin bin. Das Buch war unfassbar atmosphärisch und ich habe mich jedes Mal beim Lesen gefühlt, als wäre ich mitten in Paris. Ich fand die Figuren sehr schön ausgearbeitet und ich hatte wirklich alles bildlich vor Augen während des Lesens. Das hatte ich schon lange nicht mehr. Dennoch hat mir irgendwie etwas gefehlt bei dem Buch. Ich kann nicht sagen was, denn die Geschichte an sich hat mir eigentlich sehr gefallen. Sie wartet nicht mit Spannung auf, aber gerade die leisen Töne machen sie so bezaubernd. Die Gedanken von Mancebo haben sich vlt nur manchmal zu sehr im Kreis gedreht, und waren zu abgefahren. Auch wenn ich hin und wieder wirklich schmunzeln musste. Alles in allem ein nettes Buch, dass ich sehr schnell gelesen habe.
Als erstes muss ich mal loswerden, wie absolut verliebt ich in den Schreibstil der Autorin bin. Das Buch war unfassbar atmosphärisch und ich habe mich jedes Mal beim Lesen gefühlt, als wäre ich mitten in Paris. Ich fand die Figuren sehr schön ausgearbeitet und ich hatte wirklich alles bildlich vor Augen während des Lesens. Das hatte ich schon lange nicht mehr. Dennoch hat mir irgendwie etwas gefehlt bei dem Buch. Ich kann nicht sagen was, denn die Geschichte an sich hat mir eigentlich sehr gefallen. Sie wartet nicht mit Spannung auf, aber gerade die leisen Töne machen sie so bezaubernd. Die Gedanken von Mancebo haben sich vlt nur manchmal zu sehr im Kreis gedreht, und waren zu abgefahren. Auch wenn ich hin und wieder wirklich schmunzeln musste. Alles in allem ein nettes Buch, dass ich sehr schnell gelesen habe.
February 22, 2024
Ir notikumi, kas maina cilvēka dzīvi un nereti tie notiek tad, kad cilvēks neapzināti ir tam gatavs. Divi cilvēki piekrīt netipiskam lūgumam, kas aizved viņu dzīves dažādos līkločos, kā arī atklājas daudzi noslēpumi. Mansibū kunga dzīve izmainās par 180 grādiem. Fonā šim visam ir Parīze un karsta vasara. Sākums lēni iešūpojās, bet beigas bija ļoti raitas.
October 10, 2020
What a waste of paper.
So Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is a French book with two main characters, their stories being told in alternating chapters. We have Mancebo, a Tunisian shopkeeper with a boring life who is asked by a mysterious woman to spy on her husband across the road, and Helena, a depressed journalist who is asked in a cafe if she is waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, decides what the fuck and says yes.
Mancebo's story is a little bit interesting. It's nice to see him breaking the mould and making his life more exciting, I guess, good for him. Otherwise it was meh. There are random weird plotpoints like how the author decided halfway through that Mancebo had a previously unmentioned and overall unimportant and irrelevant daughter in England. Then he finds out his cousin is secretly an arms dealer and that his wife, who is vehemently against smoking, secretly smokes.
Wow, wild, am I right.
Helena's story was an absolute mess. It was like the author had a lot of vague ideas and decided to mishmash them all into one story. First of all, Helena is a single mother and has an ex husband. Then we have the Monsieur Bellivier job where all she does is go to an office and forward emails to a mysterious address and always receives flowers every day from her secret employer. She starts leaving these flowers on a random grave in a Jewish cemetery.
Then things get fucking weird. An old man turns up one day and punches her before having some kind of fit. Helena calls an ambulance, turns out old man has attempted to kill himself with poison. Everyone just forgets about this for the rest of the book. Old man later tells Helena that he's angry because she puts flowers on his mother's grave and he hates his mother. Oh, why, you ask?
His mother was a Jewish doctor in the 1940's who was taken to a concentration camp and forced to treat the Nazi soldiers. For some reason this clown hates his mother because idk, "she didn't suffer."
Basically, boohoo, I hate my mum because she was in a concentration camp and had the nerve to actually survive.
But this isn't where this story ends. Oh no. We get old man's sister bringing Helena a diary their mother kept in the concentration camp. The author fills up space with the boring story of Dr Judith treating people and thinking she's lucky to be alive etc. Then Helena decides to write a book about Judith.
The bare bones of each story was supposed to be a) Mancebo finds out about his neighbour and b) Helena finds out about Bellivier.
But the author clearly decided that the three pages that story would've taken up wasn't enough and filled the pages with IRRELEVANT BORING SHITE.
THE ENDING
The book was so boring and weird I just wanted to find out who Monsieur Bellivier was and skipped bits here and there. Turns out Bellivier is the man Mancebo was hired to watch. He just randomly decided one day to fuck with people by hiring them to do mysterious jobs and getting them to induce the next person and then give them some kind of present every day. It makes literally no sense.
Why would this dude waste his money, energy and time hiring out an office space and paying people to sit there forwarding emails all day for literally no reason.

At least he actually was cheating on his wife, I guess.
So Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is a French book with two main characters, their stories being told in alternating chapters. We have Mancebo, a Tunisian shopkeeper with a boring life who is asked by a mysterious woman to spy on her husband across the road, and Helena, a depressed journalist who is asked in a cafe if she is waiting for Monsieur Bellivier, decides what the fuck and says yes.
Mancebo's story is a little bit interesting. It's nice to see him breaking the mould and making his life more exciting, I guess, good for him. Otherwise it was meh. There are random weird plotpoints like how the author decided halfway through that Mancebo had a previously unmentioned and overall unimportant and irrelevant daughter in England. Then he finds out his cousin is secretly an arms dealer and that his wife, who is vehemently against smoking, secretly smokes.
Wow, wild, am I right.
Helena's story was an absolute mess. It was like the author had a lot of vague ideas and decided to mishmash them all into one story. First of all, Helena is a single mother and has an ex husband. Then we have the Monsieur Bellivier job where all she does is go to an office and forward emails to a mysterious address and always receives flowers every day from her secret employer. She starts leaving these flowers on a random grave in a Jewish cemetery.
Then things get fucking weird. An old man turns up one day and punches her before having some kind of fit. Helena calls an ambulance, turns out old man has attempted to kill himself with poison. Everyone just forgets about this for the rest of the book. Old man later tells Helena that he's angry because she puts flowers on his mother's grave and he hates his mother. Oh, why, you ask?
His mother was a Jewish doctor in the 1940's who was taken to a concentration camp and forced to treat the Nazi soldiers. For some reason this clown hates his mother because idk, "she didn't suffer."
Basically, boohoo, I hate my mum because she was in a concentration camp and had the nerve to actually survive.
But this isn't where this story ends. Oh no. We get old man's sister bringing Helena a diary their mother kept in the concentration camp. The author fills up space with the boring story of Dr Judith treating people and thinking she's lucky to be alive etc. Then Helena decides to write a book about Judith.
The bare bones of each story was supposed to be a) Mancebo finds out about his neighbour and b) Helena finds out about Bellivier.
But the author clearly decided that the three pages that story would've taken up wasn't enough and filled the pages with IRRELEVANT BORING SHITE.
THE ENDING
The book was so boring and weird I just wanted to find out who Monsieur Bellivier was and skipped bits here and there. Turns out Bellivier is the man Mancebo was hired to watch. He just randomly decided one day to fuck with people by hiring them to do mysterious jobs and getting them to induce the next person and then give them some kind of present every day. It makes literally no sense.
Why would this dude waste his money, energy and time hiring out an office space and paying people to sit there forwarding emails all day for literally no reason.

At least he actually was cheating on his wife, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2017
Sällan har jag känt mig så ambivalent i relation till en bok. Efter en lite trevande start finns ändå mycket att tycka om hos Röstlunds debut - miljöbeskrivningarna (efter 15 år i Paris kan hon sin stad), de två huvudkaraktärernas inre processer... Särskilt rörande är det att följa Mancebo, den karaktär vars trovärdighet jag tvivlade på under de första kapitlen. Jag uppskattar att romanens två parallella spår befolkas av en hel del trasiga, förvirrade människor - för mig en intressantare bild av en europeisk storstad än det romantiserande anslag som så ofta används i berättelser om exempelvis Paris. Ändå saknas något. Jag saknar lite udd eller kanske en känsla av högre angelägenhetsgrad. Blir inte riktigt klok på vad Röstlund vill med boken, eller om hon helt valt vilken sorts berättelse det är. Det är i vilket fall som helst tillräckligt välskrivet för att hålla min uppmärksamhet hela vägen, och hade det inte varit för de två sista sidornas banalitet och tvångsmässiga "ihopknytande av säcken" så hade jag hamnat på en stark 3,5:a i betyg.
January 14, 2020
Viena no tām grāmatām, kurām pēc vāka noformējuma un nosaukuma nekādi nevar saprast, par ko tur būs un vai vispār būtu vērts lasīt. Drīzāk pēc šiem parametriem grāmata man izskatījās kā viena no tām tipiskajām tantu grāmatām, tāpēc ilgāku laiku to pat neapsvēru kā vienu no tām, kuru lasīt kā nākamo. Mani nācās pierunāt vairākkārt, apgalvojot pretējo - ka man tā visdrīzāk patiks. Tā jau galu galā arī bija. Nav nekāda tantu grāmata, bet pavisam normāls un pat smieklīgs detektīvstāsts. Vispār - pat divi stāsti, kas galu galā savijas kopā vienā. Vai tas bija `spoileris`? Nebūt nē, tas izlasāms arī uz grāmatas aizmugures vāka. Likās, ka meistarīgi uzrakstīts.
June 15, 2019
Nekādu īpašu Monmartras šarmu nesajutu. Tāda nepabeigtības sajūta. Neko jau pašpasludinātais privātdetektīvs Mansibū tādu sevišķu neatklāja. Katrā ziņā dīvainās un nesaprotamās lietas, ko viņš novēroja savu ģimenes locekļu darbībās, nekādu tālāku virzību neveidoja. Un arī novērošana, par kuru Mansibū pat saņēma atalgojumu, neatklāja neko tādu, par ko būtu vērts saņemt atalgojumu.
Interesantāka sižeta līnija likās Helēnas piedzīvotais, darot dīvainu un it kā bezjēdzīgu darbu. Tāds savdabīgs sociālais projekts, kas varētu izvērsties par ko patiešām aizraujošu, bet izčākstēja.
Interesantāka sižeta līnija likās Helēnas piedzīvotais, darot dīvainu un it kā bezjēdzīgu darbu. Tāds savdabīgs sociālais projekts, kas varētu izvērsties par ko patiešām aizraujošu, bet izčākstēja.
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January 24, 2018A mildly amusing weird read. A novel to pass the time away and entertain one whilst hanging around. Not really my cup of tea.
February 25, 2024
Atmospheric and lovely setting, but quite a poor storyline
May 31, 2021
Šī bija ļoti īpatnēja grāmata. Pats stāsts un intriga bija lieliska, tomēr visu laiku traucēja galveno varoņu iekšējā jūtu intensitāte un domas. Dažbrīd tās atgrūda lasīt tālāk un kādu laiku grāmatu liku nost un atsāku tikai pēc laika. Jā, un vāks prasījās citāds.
October 2, 2020
Vardaglig paus. Behaglig. Lugn. Småfin.
July 13, 2021
My true rating is 2.5 stars. Can't get the half star to work. Not a rave read. The setting is Paris, and one humdrum life collides with a lonely life.
May 7, 2024
This book started off really well. So well in fact that I was surprised by the lack of 5* ratings. This book had all the ingredients that ought to make me want to love it: Paris, some characters from immigrant backgrounds and intrigue. But it was meh.
Plot/ Story: 1.5* not much of a story. Mancebo's side plot was good but I had zero interest in everything else including Monsieur Bellivier and Helena.
Writing style: 2* starts off really well but then drags with tedious side plots particularly the story regarding Edith. Very contrived and silly.
Mystery/ Intrigue: 2* massive yawn fest apart from Mancebo's family drama, I lost interest in the actual main plot and anything related to Helena.
Characters: 2* only Mancebo and his family are interesting as many are not what they seem. The intrigue related to them is good.
Mancebo: the most interesting character in this book, his growth from a green grocers (with an unexciting life, following the same routine), to a quasi private detective "working" for Madame Cat to spy on her partner was engaging.
How he develops spying abilities, begins to notice things that mattered to him personally but he hadn't paid attention to previously, to his growing relationship with his son was the only reason I persevered with this otherwise dull story.
Amir: Mancebo's quiet and well-behaved son. He was a lovely character .
Fatima Mancebo's fiesty wife. Her sections were hilarious to read, particularly how dramatic she can be.
Tariq: Mancebo's cousin, another well written character.
Adele: Tariq's wife who appears very obedient. Doesn't do much work (domestic or outside the home) due to her ailments.
Helena: tedious paranoia Karen. I spend through her chapters. She was annoying.
Monsieur Caro: no idea why he and his family were added. A stereotypical (and very much done before) story of an old cantankerous man who suddenly becomes a sweet grandfather figure. This side plot starts with him slapping Helena upon meeting her (because she used to lay flowers on his mother's grave) and then becoming her best friend and baby sitting her son. I think the author was hoping to create a "cute" side plot but it was so contrived and silly.
Monsieur Bellivier: let's not even bother .
Plot/ Story: 1.5* not much of a story. Mancebo's side plot was good but I had zero interest in everything else including Monsieur Bellivier and Helena.
Writing style: 2* starts off really well but then drags with tedious side plots particularly the story regarding Edith. Very contrived and silly.
Mystery/ Intrigue: 2* massive yawn fest apart from Mancebo's family drama, I lost interest in the actual main plot and anything related to Helena.
Characters: 2* only Mancebo and his family are interesting as many are not what they seem. The intrigue related to them is good.
Mancebo: the most interesting character in this book, his growth from a green grocers (with an unexciting life, following the same routine), to a quasi private detective "working" for Madame Cat to spy on her partner was engaging.
How he develops spying abilities, begins to notice things that mattered to him personally but he hadn't paid attention to previously, to his growing relationship with his son was the only reason I persevered with this otherwise dull story.
Amir: Mancebo's quiet and well-behaved son. He was a lovely character .
Fatima Mancebo's fiesty wife. Her sections were hilarious to read, particularly how dramatic she can be.
Tariq: Mancebo's cousin, another well written character.
Adele: Tariq's wife who appears very obedient. Doesn't do much work (domestic or outside the home) due to her ailments.
Helena: tedious paranoia Karen. I spend through her chapters. She was annoying.
Monsieur Caro: no idea why he and his family were added. A stereotypical (and very much done before) story of an old cantankerous man who suddenly becomes a sweet grandfather figure. This side plot starts with him slapping Helena upon meeting her (because she used to lay flowers on his mother's grave) and then becoming her best friend and baby sitting her son. I think the author was hoping to create a "cute" side plot but it was so contrived and silly.
Monsieur Bellivier: let's not even bother .
August 8, 2017
"If you want to discover Paris, it's better to sit on one of the city's benches. From there you can study several million people trying to find their place in life."
This is what Mancebo does, sits outside his shop watching the world everyday - "unconsciously registering everything that goes on in the street." Then one evening, in the wind and rain, a woman appears in the shop - in passages that reminded me of Rapunzel, Snow White and some disney / dahl mash up fairy tale - and asks him to spy on her husband. Why pay a detective when Mancebo sits opposite the building in which her husband frequents, watching everything that goes on? Why pay a detective when Mancebo would be the last person anyone would ever suspect of spying? He says yes. Why not?
Then there's Helena, sitting in a cafe and as a joke, or out of boredom, she finds herself engaging in a exchange with a strange man who is furtively seeking out someone for some kind of purpose that appears very mysterious. She doesn't really believe he'll fall for her claim that she is the person he has been sent to meet and it really starts out as a game to see how long she can play along with him but it's amazing how convincing she can be based on such a limited conversation! Before she knows it, she finds herself accompanying him to an office building, being given her own office space and paid money to forward emails that are all written in code.
I was intrigued by this set up, and I was taken with these characters and what was going on immediately! I enjoyed the gentle, humorous lilt of the author's writing as she described the characters, their internal thoughts, relationships and decisions. And I enjoyed the setting which was wonderfully evoked.
It is told in alternating points of view and alternating story lines which weave themselves together as the story line evolves. It did take me a while to acclimatise to the different voices as the narrative switches quite sharply but as one is in third person and one first, one male and one female, there is enough to differentiate the voices. After initially settling in to the story with Mancebo so easily perhaps I was a little jolted by the introduction of the second thread but with a little more perseverance and concentration, I was caught up in the story once more.
I think the thing I enjoyed the most though was the writing style. The prose is understated but simultaneously arresting and evocative, if that is possible! Rostland is able to convey the sights, smell, touch and sounds of the city, the characters, their environments, the situations they find themselves in with a deft hand and I found it a real treat to read such well crafted prose. There were a few lines that really stood out and really showed some nice observations about the characters.
Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy literary fiction
This is what Mancebo does, sits outside his shop watching the world everyday - "unconsciously registering everything that goes on in the street." Then one evening, in the wind and rain, a woman appears in the shop - in passages that reminded me of Rapunzel, Snow White and some disney / dahl mash up fairy tale - and asks him to spy on her husband. Why pay a detective when Mancebo sits opposite the building in which her husband frequents, watching everything that goes on? Why pay a detective when Mancebo would be the last person anyone would ever suspect of spying? He says yes. Why not?
Then there's Helena, sitting in a cafe and as a joke, or out of boredom, she finds herself engaging in a exchange with a strange man who is furtively seeking out someone for some kind of purpose that appears very mysterious. She doesn't really believe he'll fall for her claim that she is the person he has been sent to meet and it really starts out as a game to see how long she can play along with him but it's amazing how convincing she can be based on such a limited conversation! Before she knows it, she finds herself accompanying him to an office building, being given her own office space and paid money to forward emails that are all written in code.
I was intrigued by this set up, and I was taken with these characters and what was going on immediately! I enjoyed the gentle, humorous lilt of the author's writing as she described the characters, their internal thoughts, relationships and decisions. And I enjoyed the setting which was wonderfully evoked.
It is told in alternating points of view and alternating story lines which weave themselves together as the story line evolves. It did take me a while to acclimatise to the different voices as the narrative switches quite sharply but as one is in third person and one first, one male and one female, there is enough to differentiate the voices. After initially settling in to the story with Mancebo so easily perhaps I was a little jolted by the introduction of the second thread but with a little more perseverance and concentration, I was caught up in the story once more.
I think the thing I enjoyed the most though was the writing style. The prose is understated but simultaneously arresting and evocative, if that is possible! Rostland is able to convey the sights, smell, touch and sounds of the city, the characters, their environments, the situations they find themselves in with a deft hand and I found it a real treat to read such well crafted prose. There were a few lines that really stood out and really showed some nice observations about the characters.
Waiting for Monsieur Bellivier will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy literary fiction
June 14, 2019
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An excellent read for literary fiction lovers, Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is a book about finding yourself through small things that happen in our daily lives and the importance of being surrounded by people whom you love and trust.
The blurb of this books is what drew me to it and I thought that the plot was very interesting. The two main characters, Helena (a journalist) and Mancebo (a grocery shop-owner) encounter certain opportunities that change the way they think and lead their lives.
The novel kept me hooked initially as the characters had distinctly different story lines and were independent of each other until they begin to mesh towards the end. In my opinion, Mancebo’s story was slightly more detailed than Helena’s which made it more enjoyable to read and understand his motivations for doing the things he does.
I enjoyed the complexity of the story and was unable to identify Monsieur Bellivier till the very end although it didn’t matter much as I felt it wasn’t an integral part of the way this story was told (even though the book is named after him).
The way the lives of the characters change by simply saying ‘yes’ to what’s thrown at them is fascinating. The story is set in Paris and it was a relief not to be bombarded with the touristy side of the city. Instead, subtle hints were mentioned throughout the books, like, the maddening heat, etc.
The writing by Rostlund is exquisite and I always enjoy stories that are said in multiple perspectives. The mystery aspect was kept well preserved and I did not find anything that I could have predicted.
I felt that the story could have been made much more appealing given the plot. There was a lot of ambiguity and I did feel that some parts are still confusing.
Towards the middle of the book, I had lost interest completely because it dragged quite a bit. A lot of the bits and scenes mentioned in enormous detail felt unnecessary and did not add to the story. I would have definitely enjoyed it more had it been fast paced.
I was expecting something to happen that could draw me back to it with a fresh excitement, but unfortunately it didn’t and I found it a dull read.
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is an easy and laid back read, perfect for holidays and vacations. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there was a bit more action. The blurb made me had high expectations and I guess that is why I was left disappointed.
If you enjoy literary fiction, go for it. Even though the book wasn’t an ideal read for me, you will not regret the style in which this book is written and some of the observations are so minutely detailed that it makes you wonder how beautifully a story can be crafted.
An excellent read for literary fiction lovers, Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is a book about finding yourself through small things that happen in our daily lives and the importance of being surrounded by people whom you love and trust.
The blurb of this books is what drew me to it and I thought that the plot was very interesting. The two main characters, Helena (a journalist) and Mancebo (a grocery shop-owner) encounter certain opportunities that change the way they think and lead their lives.
The novel kept me hooked initially as the characters had distinctly different story lines and were independent of each other until they begin to mesh towards the end. In my opinion, Mancebo’s story was slightly more detailed than Helena’s which made it more enjoyable to read and understand his motivations for doing the things he does.
I enjoyed the complexity of the story and was unable to identify Monsieur Bellivier till the very end although it didn’t matter much as I felt it wasn’t an integral part of the way this story was told (even though the book is named after him).
The way the lives of the characters change by simply saying ‘yes’ to what’s thrown at them is fascinating. The story is set in Paris and it was a relief not to be bombarded with the touristy side of the city. Instead, subtle hints were mentioned throughout the books, like, the maddening heat, etc.
The writing by Rostlund is exquisite and I always enjoy stories that are said in multiple perspectives. The mystery aspect was kept well preserved and I did not find anything that I could have predicted.
I felt that the story could have been made much more appealing given the plot. There was a lot of ambiguity and I did feel that some parts are still confusing.
Towards the middle of the book, I had lost interest completely because it dragged quite a bit. A lot of the bits and scenes mentioned in enormous detail felt unnecessary and did not add to the story. I would have definitely enjoyed it more had it been fast paced.
I was expecting something to happen that could draw me back to it with a fresh excitement, but unfortunately it didn’t and I found it a dull read.
Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier is an easy and laid back read, perfect for holidays and vacations. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there was a bit more action. The blurb made me had high expectations and I guess that is why I was left disappointed.
If you enjoy literary fiction, go for it. Even though the book wasn’t an ideal read for me, you will not regret the style in which this book is written and some of the observations are so minutely detailed that it makes you wonder how beautifully a story can be crafted.
July 31, 2017
I was hoping this would be cute and quirky French-inspired story. It's quirky alright but more of a commentary on social isolation / mental health / family secrets and anything lighthearted and cute.
The story centers around two people: Helena - burnt out journalist and recently divorced mum who is struggling with anxiety and depression - and Mancebo - proprietor of a little grocery store and a man who is certain of everything in his life.
Restless but uncertain, Helena impulsively says yes when a strange man asks her "Are you waiting for Monsieur Belivier?" This starts her on a strange short term job forwarding emails. At the end of each day she gets given a bunch of flowers from her new employer, whom she has never met. The flowers are an increasing source of anxiety and paranoia for Helena and by giving them away she starts to make unexpected new connections.
Mancebo is a man of routine. For the 20 + years he has run his little shop he has been certain of how his day will go and what everyone around him does: That all starts to change when his neighbour Madame Cat asks him to keep an eye on her writer husband while she is away. Madame Cat is certain he is having an affair and wants to prove it. Mancebo takes to his new job with gusto but in the process everything he thinks he knows will be turned on its head!
I have to admit I enjoyed reading Mancebo's story more than Helena's, particularly in the beginning as I found Helena a little hard to empathise with, but that was just my personal opinion. This story is really study in social isolation and mental health and how a change in perspective can influence you for better or worse.
I've just made it sound really serious - its not; but I did find the psychological side of the characters interesting - sometimes more so than the plot. There were a few points where I did wonder where the book was heading, especially Helena's story, and why these two unrelated people are in the same book (it does eventually become clear).
The story centers around two people: Helena - burnt out journalist and recently divorced mum who is struggling with anxiety and depression - and Mancebo - proprietor of a little grocery store and a man who is certain of everything in his life.
Restless but uncertain, Helena impulsively says yes when a strange man asks her "Are you waiting for Monsieur Belivier?" This starts her on a strange short term job forwarding emails. At the end of each day she gets given a bunch of flowers from her new employer, whom she has never met. The flowers are an increasing source of anxiety and paranoia for Helena and by giving them away she starts to make unexpected new connections.
Mancebo is a man of routine. For the 20 + years he has run his little shop he has been certain of how his day will go and what everyone around him does: That all starts to change when his neighbour Madame Cat asks him to keep an eye on her writer husband while she is away. Madame Cat is certain he is having an affair and wants to prove it. Mancebo takes to his new job with gusto but in the process everything he thinks he knows will be turned on its head!
I have to admit I enjoyed reading Mancebo's story more than Helena's, particularly in the beginning as I found Helena a little hard to empathise with, but that was just my personal opinion. This story is really study in social isolation and mental health and how a change in perspective can influence you for better or worse.
I've just made it sound really serious - its not; but I did find the psychological side of the characters interesting - sometimes more so than the plot. There were a few points where I did wonder where the book was heading, especially Helena's story, and why these two unrelated people are in the same book (it does eventually become clear).
April 7, 2020
Kui ise kevadisse Pariisi ei saa, tuleb sinna kujutlustes rännata. Mis siis, et Tuneesiast pärit toidukaupmehe Mancebo pisike poeke ei asu tegelikult üldse nii väga Montmartre´i jalamil. Poekese ees tänaval istudes saadabki ta oma päevakesi rahulikult mööda, sest kuidas muudmoodi sa linna ikka tunnetad, kui nähes teda mööda voolamas. Ühel päeval aga sekkub vaikellu ootamatus ja Mancebo saab väljakutse tegeleda detektiivitööga. Selle käigus selgub, et pole sel vaiksel tänaval ja Mancebo endagi perekonnas asjad nii vaiksed midagi. Samal ajal ligineb kohvikus istuvale ajakirjanikule tundmatu ja küsib, kas tema ootab siin härra Bellevier´d. Ajakirjanikul pole aimugi, kes see härra Bellevier on, aga otsustab vastata jaatavalt. Sellest muutub temagi elu ja igapäevategevustele lisandub esmapilgul täiesti tarbetuna näiv e-kirjade edasisaatmine sellele müstilisele härra Bellevierile, pärast mida ulatatakse talle igal päeval töölt lahkudes lillekimp. Niimoodi need kaks liini siis raamatus kõrvuti jooksevad ja muidugi tekib õigustatud küsimus, kas neil omavahel ka mingi seos on ja kes see härra B. siis on. See aga jäägu juba igaühe enda lugeda.
Taas kord kergemaks lugemiseks sobiv teos. Peab küll ütlema, et kui raamatu esimene pool oli põnev, siis lõpp vajus veidi ära ja lõpplahendus jäi minu hinnangul veidi poolikuks. Ise poleks sellist lõpplahendust ka oodanud, aga kui järele mõelda, siis sellest tulenevalt võib vabalt filosofeerida meie elude ja tegevuse mõtestatuse üle. Natuke rohkem oleks võib-olla tahtnud mõne asja lahtikirjutamist, aga et see on alles autori debüütromaan, siis loodetavasti järgmised tulevad veel paremad.
Taas kord kergemaks lugemiseks sobiv teos. Peab küll ütlema, et kui raamatu esimene pool oli põnev, siis lõpp vajus veidi ära ja lõpplahendus jäi minu hinnangul veidi poolikuks. Ise poleks sellist lõpplahendust ka oodanud, aga kui järele mõelda, siis sellest tulenevalt võib vabalt filosofeerida meie elude ja tegevuse mõtestatuse üle. Natuke rohkem oleks võib-olla tahtnud mõne asja lahtikirjutamist, aga et see on alles autori debüütromaan, siis loodetavasti järgmised tulevad veel paremad.
August 17, 2019
The French excel at a genre (of their own creation?), which is quirky/cute characters who take on convoluted scavenger-style hunts often involving a lost object with meet cute outcomes. Röstlund, we are told, is not French but has lived in Paris for many years. That background is reflected in her writing. She's clearly influenced by that uniquely French genre, but she puts her own twist on it by making it more serious and less quirky or cute. I didn't mind the more serious tone of this book; in fact, I respect Röstlund for daring to play with it. I found this book interesting, and I remained intrigued, throughout, to discover where the hunts (less scavenger and more physiological) would lead. I thought the characterizations were well-rounded and I liked learning about less well-known parts of Paris.
However, I found the ending disappointing. Not about who Monsieur Bellivier is (I'd already figured it out), but the two protagonists uncover many other secrets in their quests and then those secrets are not fully developed. The reader isn't told what either of them do with their new knowledge or what the fall-out from their discoveries are.
However, I found the ending disappointing. Not about who Monsieur Bellivier is (I'd already figured it out), but the two protagonists uncover many other secrets in their quests and then those secrets are not fully developed. The reader isn't told what either of them do with their new knowledge or what the fall-out from their discoveries are.
March 24, 2018
J'ai alterné les émotions, entre curiosité et attendrissement, perplexité et étonnement, mais j'ai globalement ressenti beaucoup d'attachement à accompagner les personnages dans cette lecture aux épisodes improbables. Le roman nous plonge dans les rues de Paris avec une authenticité rayonnante, et c'est tout à l'honneur de son auteur, Britta Röstlund, une suédoise résidant en France depuis 17 ans. Son regard est empreint d'admiration et d'amour, et cela se ressent. Très jolie rencontre !
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January 29, 2019
Quando ho iniziato a leggere questo libro , ho pensato che fosse piatto e noioso, tutto molto lento e ripetitivo . Solo con il proseguire della lettura mi sono resa conto che quello fosse l'obiettivo dell'autrice. Questi due personaggi che vivono nella loro routine, quasi incastrati . Il personaggio più sorprendente per la sua evoluzione però e Mancebo, che darà una svolta alla sua vita , un cambiamento radicale riuscendo a cogliere la vera essenza della vita , riuscirà ad essere finalmente se stesso , finalmente libero.
August 10, 2019
So nice to be captivated by a story line without crime and gore as its central plot line. Taking a humble Parisian grocer and giving him a role as a PI and a writer turned email-forwarder for what mysterious purposes proved to be something I was very interested in reading. The characterisation was spot on, the detail and mystery about right, and development of sub-plots around deception and honour were all very well done. The kind of book you could give to a lot of people and they would enjoy.
May 1, 2018
NIENTE DI SPETTACOLARE
Quale sorprendente mistero si nasconde dietro il nome di Monsieur Bellivier? Beh, sicuramente una verità imprevedibile ma, in fin dei conti, niente di spettacolare. Confesso comunque di essermi appassionata alle storie dei due protagonisti, tra le quali ho preferito quella di Helena perché, a differenza della scialba conclusione che il romanzo riserva alla vicenda di Mancebo, la sua è coronata da un finale che mi è parso anche più denso di significato.
Quale sorprendente mistero si nasconde dietro il nome di Monsieur Bellivier? Beh, sicuramente una verità imprevedibile ma, in fin dei conti, niente di spettacolare. Confesso comunque di essermi appassionata alle storie dei due protagonisti, tra le quali ho preferito quella di Helena perché, a differenza della scialba conclusione che il romanzo riserva alla vicenda di Mancebo, la sua è coronata da un finale che mi è parso anche più denso di significato.
November 4, 2022
For a very slow build up there was not a lot of reward. I thought this was gonna be a very typical French-movie style situation where there are chance meetings and near misses and somehow everyone is related or connected kinda like Love Actually. In reality, this was a very long and very dull story following only two characters where not a great deal actually happened, and everything was quite unsatisfyingly resolved in the last 20 or so pages.
February 19, 2024
Grāmatas vāks ir absolūti maldinošs, saturs pārsteidzošiem pavērsieniem pilns.
November 28, 2017
Met dank aan uitgeverij Cargo voor dit recensie-exemplaar.
Korte samenvatting
“Ik denk dat we allemaal dingen doen waarvan we niet weten of begrijpen waartoe ze leiden”
Helena zit van een koffie te genieten in haar vaste Parijse café wanneer er een man op haar afstapt en haar vraagt of zij op monsieur Bellivier wacht. Ze kent geen monsieur Bellivier, maar impulsief antwoordt ze ‘ja’. De man neemt haar mee naar een kantoor waar hij haar een contract voor drie weken laat ondertekenen. Dit is het begin van een bizarre opdracht voor haar.
Mancebo, een man van Tunesische afkomst heeft een buurtwinkel in Boulevard des Batignolles, Parijs. Samen met zijn vrouw woont hij in het appartement boven de winkel en aan de overkant van de boulevard heeft zijn neef Tariq een schoenmakerij. Het leven gaat zijn gangetje voor Mancebo: na zijn ontbijt gaat hij naar de markt voor verse groenten en fruit voor zijn winkel, als hij terugkomt van de markt opent hij zijn winkel. Wanneer hij het eten ruikt dat zijn vrouw klaarmaakt in het appartement boven de winkel, sluit hij zijn winkel even om te gaan lunchen en ‘s middag gaat hij samen met Tariq naar hun stamcafé om een pastis te drinken.
Op deze manier leeft Mancebo al jaren, elke dag dezelfde routine. Tot op een dag mevrouw Cat zijn winkel binnenstapt en hem de opdracht geeft haar man in de gaten houden. Aanvankelijk vindt Mancebo dit een vreemde vraag, maar hij beslist toch iets aan zijn saaie leven te doen en op de vraag in te gaan. Tijdens deze opdracht merkt hij echter gaandeweg, dat niets en niemand is wat het lijkt. Verschillende geheimen onthullen zich.
Helena en Mancebo, hebben elk een onverwachte opdracht gekregen, ze kennen elkaar niet, maar toch zullen hun levens zich kruisen op een bijzondere manier.
Conclusie
De auteur Britta Röstlund is een Zweedse freelance journaliste die sinds 2001 in Parijs woont, ‘’Wachten op monsieur Bellivier’’ is haar debuut. Het is altijd wel een beetje spannend bij een debuut, je weet niet altijd wat je ervan kunt verwachten en dit is nu net hetgeen dit boek zo goed maakt. Op de verschillende media vind je verscheidene omschrijvingen voor dit boek: chicklit, feelgoodroman, roman, …, er is precies niet echt eenduidigheid over, en dit beeld klopt met het boek. Tijdens het lezen dacht ik vaak of het nu een roman, feelgood, chicklit of met momenten zelfs een thriller was. Pas op het einde wordt het duidelijk dat het over een feelgoodroman gaat.
Het boek bevat twee volledig aparte verhalen, beide geschreven in een andere stijl. Een verhaal gaat over Mancebo, hoewel zijn verhaal wordt verteld vanuit een alwetend (auctoriaal) perspectief, kan je als lezer zijn volledige gedachtegang volgen. We zien ook hoe zijn personage groeit door de gebeurtenissen, ja Mancebo wordt steeds slimmer en slimmer. Ik vond hem een zeer leuk hoofdpersonage en ik kon me hem zo voorstellen in een film waarin Louis de Funès zijn personage zou vertolken.
Het andere verhaal gaat over Helena, dit vanuit het ik-perspectief. Hoewel ik persoonlijk niet graag boeken lees vanuit dat perspectief, stoorde het mij hier totaal niet. Het zorgde voor een scheidingslijn tussen de twee verhalen. Aanvankelijk ergerde ik me nogal aan Helena, ik wilde namelijk verder lezen wat er met Mancebo gebeurde, en vond haar nogal saai. Maar naarmate het verhaal vorderde en je haar beter leerde kennen bleek ook zij wel een zeer leuk personage te zijn. Pas in de laatste pagina’s van het boek komen de twee verhalen samen.
De auteur heeft een zeer vlotte pen, met simpele woorden prikkelt ze de lezer telkens weer om verder te lezen in het boek. Ik kon het echt niet opzij leggen, elke keer wilde ik meer weten over Mancebo en later ook over Helena. De keuze van Parijs als achtergrond was ideaal voor dit verhaal en gaf het verhaal extra kleur. Ik waande mij zo in Parijs: de boulevards, Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, etc….
Het einde is bovendien onverwacht en zeker origineel te noemen. ‘Wachten op monsieur Bellivier’ is een luchtig, vernieuwend en leuk boek. Gezien dit een debuut is ben ik wel nieuwsgierig naar haar volgende boeken, ik vraag me af of er dan terug origineel uit de hoek zal gekomen worden, of dat de auteur ditzelfde concept zal verder gebruiken. Haar schrijfstijl en verhaalopbouw waren voor mij vernieuwend en net hierdoor werd ik steeds geprikkeld om verder te lezen.
Ik geef dit boek een verdiende 4 sterren, zowel de uitwerking van het verhaal als de schrijfstijl van de auteur maken dit boek meer dan waard om te lezen. Dit is een auteur waar we in de toekomst zeker nog van zullen horen.
Korte samenvatting
“Ik denk dat we allemaal dingen doen waarvan we niet weten of begrijpen waartoe ze leiden”
Helena zit van een koffie te genieten in haar vaste Parijse café wanneer er een man op haar afstapt en haar vraagt of zij op monsieur Bellivier wacht. Ze kent geen monsieur Bellivier, maar impulsief antwoordt ze ‘ja’. De man neemt haar mee naar een kantoor waar hij haar een contract voor drie weken laat ondertekenen. Dit is het begin van een bizarre opdracht voor haar.
Mancebo, een man van Tunesische afkomst heeft een buurtwinkel in Boulevard des Batignolles, Parijs. Samen met zijn vrouw woont hij in het appartement boven de winkel en aan de overkant van de boulevard heeft zijn neef Tariq een schoenmakerij. Het leven gaat zijn gangetje voor Mancebo: na zijn ontbijt gaat hij naar de markt voor verse groenten en fruit voor zijn winkel, als hij terugkomt van de markt opent hij zijn winkel. Wanneer hij het eten ruikt dat zijn vrouw klaarmaakt in het appartement boven de winkel, sluit hij zijn winkel even om te gaan lunchen en ‘s middag gaat hij samen met Tariq naar hun stamcafé om een pastis te drinken.
Op deze manier leeft Mancebo al jaren, elke dag dezelfde routine. Tot op een dag mevrouw Cat zijn winkel binnenstapt en hem de opdracht geeft haar man in de gaten houden. Aanvankelijk vindt Mancebo dit een vreemde vraag, maar hij beslist toch iets aan zijn saaie leven te doen en op de vraag in te gaan. Tijdens deze opdracht merkt hij echter gaandeweg, dat niets en niemand is wat het lijkt. Verschillende geheimen onthullen zich.
Helena en Mancebo, hebben elk een onverwachte opdracht gekregen, ze kennen elkaar niet, maar toch zullen hun levens zich kruisen op een bijzondere manier.
Conclusie
De auteur Britta Röstlund is een Zweedse freelance journaliste die sinds 2001 in Parijs woont, ‘’Wachten op monsieur Bellivier’’ is haar debuut. Het is altijd wel een beetje spannend bij een debuut, je weet niet altijd wat je ervan kunt verwachten en dit is nu net hetgeen dit boek zo goed maakt. Op de verschillende media vind je verscheidene omschrijvingen voor dit boek: chicklit, feelgoodroman, roman, …, er is precies niet echt eenduidigheid over, en dit beeld klopt met het boek. Tijdens het lezen dacht ik vaak of het nu een roman, feelgood, chicklit of met momenten zelfs een thriller was. Pas op het einde wordt het duidelijk dat het over een feelgoodroman gaat.
Het boek bevat twee volledig aparte verhalen, beide geschreven in een andere stijl. Een verhaal gaat over Mancebo, hoewel zijn verhaal wordt verteld vanuit een alwetend (auctoriaal) perspectief, kan je als lezer zijn volledige gedachtegang volgen. We zien ook hoe zijn personage groeit door de gebeurtenissen, ja Mancebo wordt steeds slimmer en slimmer. Ik vond hem een zeer leuk hoofdpersonage en ik kon me hem zo voorstellen in een film waarin Louis de Funès zijn personage zou vertolken.
Het andere verhaal gaat over Helena, dit vanuit het ik-perspectief. Hoewel ik persoonlijk niet graag boeken lees vanuit dat perspectief, stoorde het mij hier totaal niet. Het zorgde voor een scheidingslijn tussen de twee verhalen. Aanvankelijk ergerde ik me nogal aan Helena, ik wilde namelijk verder lezen wat er met Mancebo gebeurde, en vond haar nogal saai. Maar naarmate het verhaal vorderde en je haar beter leerde kennen bleek ook zij wel een zeer leuk personage te zijn. Pas in de laatste pagina’s van het boek komen de twee verhalen samen.
De auteur heeft een zeer vlotte pen, met simpele woorden prikkelt ze de lezer telkens weer om verder te lezen in het boek. Ik kon het echt niet opzij leggen, elke keer wilde ik meer weten over Mancebo en later ook over Helena. De keuze van Parijs als achtergrond was ideaal voor dit verhaal en gaf het verhaal extra kleur. Ik waande mij zo in Parijs: de boulevards, Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, etc….
Het einde is bovendien onverwacht en zeker origineel te noemen. ‘Wachten op monsieur Bellivier’ is een luchtig, vernieuwend en leuk boek. Gezien dit een debuut is ben ik wel nieuwsgierig naar haar volgende boeken, ik vraag me af of er dan terug origineel uit de hoek zal gekomen worden, of dat de auteur ditzelfde concept zal verder gebruiken. Haar schrijfstijl en verhaalopbouw waren voor mij vernieuwend en net hierdoor werd ik steeds geprikkeld om verder te lezen.
Ik geef dit boek een verdiende 4 sterren, zowel de uitwerking van het verhaal als de schrijfstijl van de auteur maken dit boek meer dan waard om te lezen. Dit is een auteur waar we in de toekomst zeker nog van zullen horen.
June 7, 2025
Helena, a freelance journalist, accepts a mysterious job on a whim. Mancebo, a greengrocer, agrees to spy on a husband whose wife suspects him of cheating. Through taking up these jobs, Mancebo and Helena uncover secrets about themselves and others and change their lives.
This book was not at all what I expected from the blurb on the back. I had expected a lot more interaction between the two characters, but they barely meet. I think that the characters were the driving force in this book, which is not what I had assumed.
Helena can be a bit paranoid, and sometimes, she lets her imagination take over, but overall, I think her character was fairly realistic. She is in her thirties, seems quite lost in her life, unsure of what she wants to do next and struggles with mental health, but this new thing that comes unexpectedly gives her something to distract herself with at least temporarily. She makes a (kind of) friend by accident through pure accident, and by the end, we are given to understand that she has at least the beginnings of a plan, a goal in mind, and she is beginning to heal. I enjoyed her storyline and connected to and empathised with her.
Mancebo has worked in his shop for many years and from the way he interacts with his close family circle, we are immediately given to understand that he neither knows nor really likes them. There is a lot of duality in him - he is distant from everyone and does not much care about them, but at the same time, he complains about being kept out of the loop, he says he tries for his children, but he does not seem particularly interested in them as people. As a character, he is not a bad one, but as a person, I did not like him, especially the way he speaks about his wife. The way she is discribed, the disdain is used as shorthand to make the reader dislike her also, I think, but whatever she does or does not do, whatever her moral misconduct, she does not deserve to be described as an iceberg, an overfed polecat, or a beached whale by her husband. I also found Mancebo quite childish, in a way. This new ''job'' is like a new toy for him - once he is holding it, nothing else matters, and by the end, he gains a rather unsavoury superiority over everyone else in the family. I understand his motivations, but they do not make him any more likeable.
I will say that the author was very good at setting the background for the story. Throughout, there is this lingering sense of unease, a threat of violence - whether real or only perceived is not always even relevant. Despite the tone being quite lighthearted, even jokular at times, there is something uncanny that follows the two plotlines, and I think that the resolution of the plot heightens it rather than dispels it which is an undoubtedly interesting choice on the author's part. It did not really feel like a resolution or an ending, Mancebo's more so than Helena's. Their plotlines are mostly tied up, but we are very much left wondering about the side characters and what happens to them is ambiguous.
This book was not at all what I expected from the blurb on the back. I had expected a lot more interaction between the two characters, but they barely meet. I think that the characters were the driving force in this book, which is not what I had assumed.
Helena can be a bit paranoid, and sometimes, she lets her imagination take over, but overall, I think her character was fairly realistic. She is in her thirties, seems quite lost in her life, unsure of what she wants to do next and struggles with mental health, but this new thing that comes unexpectedly gives her something to distract herself with at least temporarily. She makes a (kind of) friend by accident through pure accident, and by the end, we are given to understand that she has at least the beginnings of a plan, a goal in mind, and she is beginning to heal. I enjoyed her storyline and connected to and empathised with her.
Mancebo has worked in his shop for many years and from the way he interacts with his close family circle, we are immediately given to understand that he neither knows nor really likes them. There is a lot of duality in him - he is distant from everyone and does not much care about them, but at the same time, he complains about being kept out of the loop, he says he tries for his children, but he does not seem particularly interested in them as people. As a character, he is not a bad one, but as a person, I did not like him, especially the way he speaks about his wife. The way she is discribed, the disdain is used as shorthand to make the reader dislike her also, I think, but whatever she does or does not do, whatever her moral misconduct, she does not deserve to be described as an iceberg, an overfed polecat, or a beached whale by her husband. I also found Mancebo quite childish, in a way. This new ''job'' is like a new toy for him - once he is holding it, nothing else matters, and by the end, he gains a rather unsavoury superiority over everyone else in the family. I understand his motivations, but they do not make him any more likeable.
I will say that the author was very good at setting the background for the story. Throughout, there is this lingering sense of unease, a threat of violence - whether real or only perceived is not always even relevant. Despite the tone being quite lighthearted, even jokular at times, there is something uncanny that follows the two plotlines, and I think that the resolution of the plot heightens it rather than dispels it which is an undoubtedly interesting choice on the author's part. It did not really feel like a resolution or an ending, Mancebo's more so than Helena's. Their plotlines are mostly tied up, but we are very much left wondering about the side characters and what happens to them is ambiguous.
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