Some Maintenance Required

by Marie-Renée Lavoie

Bestselling author of Autopsy of a Boring Wife Marie-Renée Lavoie is a master of making us fall in love with her characters. She does it again with the tender coming-of-age story Some Maintenance Required.

It is 1993, the last year of school and Laurie’s final spring before adulthood. She works part time at a restaurant and looks after Cindy, her neglected, potty-mouthed little neighbour. Like her mother, Laurie devours books and dreams big. Her father works at a garage, where Laurie constantly struggles to keep her car running. It is here that a budding romance intensifies Laurie’s understanding of class differences, and opens her eyes to a more complicated world. With her big heart, she takes Cindy globe-trotting without even leaving town, and learns how to come to terms with circumstances beyond her control. Life teaches Laurie that everyone requires some maintenance sometimes. A story of taking responsibility and coming into adulthood, Some Maintenance Required is as funny and as impressive as its main character.

Genres: Roman, Canada, France, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Marie-Renée Lavoie a un don particulier pour les dialogues vivants, les héroïnes truculentes et la poésie du quotidien. Depuis La petite et le vieux (Éditions XYZ), son premier roman plusieurs fois primé, elle ne cesse d’étonner et d’émouvoir avec ses fictions qui sonnent fabuleusement vrai.

Elle a aussi conquis le public jeunesse avec La curieuse histoire d’un chat moribond, la série Zazie et Le dernier camelot (Éditions Hurtubise).

Marie-Renée Lavoie est née en 1974 dans le quartier Limoilou, à Québec. Elle détient une maîtrise en littérature québécoise de l’Université Laval. Elle enseigne présentement la littérature au collège Maisonneuve.

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fabulous book. I absolutely adored it!! This author just keeps getting better and better and better! This was my third Marie-Renée Lavoie novel—all beautifully translated by Arielle Aaronson—and I will read every new book she writes! She reminds me so much of Miriam Toews (my #1 fave). Both write about real people living real lives, and both use a ton of humour in their writing because, I think, people are generally pretty funny! Our lives are messy; things can be serious one minute and kind of ridiculous the next because we don’t live in a soap opera! We live genuine, often hilarious lives and that’s the kind of life I want to read about. And it’s exactly the kind of life Lavoie writes about!

This is a very readable “coming-of-age” story about an ordinary family in what I think is meant to be Quebec City, or maybe Ottawa? Dad’s an auto parts manager and Mom’s a parking booth attendant at a nearby hospital. She surrounds herself with paperback novels that she reads over and over again.

Their “miracle child” Laurie (born to them late in life) shares Mom’s love of books and reading is an activity that sometimes takes centre-stage in the life of this family. Laurie works part-time in the food industry to save money for school (she hopes to attend university in the fall). She’s very funny, big-hearted, and a fiercely loyal friend. That comes in handy when she drops by to see her best pal, Sonia, on the first day of her restaurant job. While chatting, Laurie learns that the male manager insists his female wait-staff work braless! Laurie lays into him 😤 then flees with Sonia in hand (who BTW, is now jobless).🤭

Laurie’s best moments are spent with Cindy—a potty-mouthed, somewhat feral 7-year old—who is quickly and lovingly accepted as part of the family. Her delinquent parents totally neglect her, yet Laurie is careful to ask permission each time she takes her home. IMO, the two are the real bright stars of this book. Their conversations and the wondrous time they spend together are absolutely magical. (I’m trying very hard not to let any spoilers slip!)

This is a wonderful book. I gobbled up every word and hoped it would never end. Every character shone with a fully-formed personality and I really felt I knew them. And the dialogue was terrific.

I don’t know what else I can say except that it’s completely worthy of the full 5 stars. And just as I did, if you read this book, you’ll find your heart has grown three sizes.🧡🧡🧡

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Isabelle Lavigne · Rating 5 out of 5]

C’est plein d’humanité, d’amour,de bonté et d’humour.

[PalmPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

What loveable characters.
I did not want this gorgeous book to end. ❤️

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tragicomic Delight!

SOME MAINTENANCE REQUIRED by bestselling storyteller Marie-Renée Lavoie, author of Autopsy of a Boring Wife is a highly recommended quirky, emotional, thought-provoking, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud funny, and ultimately uplifting novel about love, loss, self-discovery, survival, and hope.

Exploring both the dark corners and hidden joys of life's journey –and the remarkable resilience of the human soul. In this tremendously moving novel, the author demonstrates how people trapped by life's circumstances can break free and find a place in the world where love is genuine and selfless.

Set in 1993, Laurie is eighteen and about to embark on her life into adulthood and enter college. A good student, and hard worker, she discovers she has a lot to learn and finds maturity comes with often tricky challenges.

Laurie has two wonderful parents who are both working class. Her mom, Suzanne (I adore her), is a voracious book reader and booklover. She travels like a globetrotter through books. (love all the book references), works in a hospital parking lot booth, 17 sq ft. She has a great attitude, intelligent, and everyone loves her. She surrounds herself with things she loves.

Her love and passion for reading have been passed down to her daughter, Laurie. Laurie now has decisions about college, apartments, jobs, car, finances, friendships, love, relationships, and what she wants to do with her life.

Her dad works at a garage, and Laurie now has a car she calls the Pony he attained for her. She works at a part-time bakery while in school and then gets a job at a restaurant, where she excels. She is often puzzled by life when things do not go as planned.

She often wonders how her mom can be happy with her life and be fulfilled working in a claustrophobic parking booth and never complains. And her dad at his dead-end job. They are lovely providers, and their life seems happy, and they want her to get a college education and a good job. With her friends, sometimes she is embarrassed by them and feels guilty about their vocations. Also, the people she meets in these types of jobs along her journey- how can they be happy? Do they not want more?

Her mom is the most beautiful person she knows. She wants more for herself. However, her mom has a positive attitude, caring, kind, and intelligent. When she gets sick, she is devasted, and life is so unfair.

Then we meet Laurie's latest project: her neighbor, a second-grader, foul mouth little girl named Cindy, curses like a sailor, has little food and clothes, and horrible parents, and finds her way into their hearts and home after Suzanne invites her in. Their home is now a safe haven for the little girl. (Lots of laugh-out-loud funny and whiny scenes). Cindy is like Laurie's bratty little sister.

Cindy's family is poor but they are not abusive but neglectful. She barely has anything to eat or wear. Instead of calling children's services for the neglect, and risking getting lost in the foster system, they decide to keep her close. Befriend her, take her under their wing to try and be a strong influence in her life in any way they can. Will they be able to save her from this environment?

Cindy is rough around the edges, pouty, with no role models. Laurie befriends her and sets the stage for travel through books, and teaches her things about life, school, manners, etc. Then the family moves without her knowing- she must find her. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Laurie learns that although she can't fix everything for Cindy or herself, at least she's no longer alone.

Laurie faces many new challenges and emotions: death, grief, class, privilege, social injustices, work, dating, romance, career, and complex relationships. Her car and people in her life break; some maintenance is required. A PERFECT TITLE!

I LOVED the audiobook! Short (5 Hours, 25 Minutes) but big on life lessons and wisdom. Highly entertaining, narrated by the fabulous Hilary Huber. A perfect range of voices for all the full cast of diverse characters, their vulnerabilities, fears, and distinct personalities

My first book by the author. Love her insightful writing style! Bittersweet, sad at times, but sparkling and witty, heartfelt and clever—a story about finding your place in the world, no matter your age and how impossible it seems. I cannot wait to read the author's backlist.

For fans of authors: Elizabeth Berg, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Fredrick Backman, Anne Tyler, and Joyce Maynard (some of my favorites).

Readers will find friendship, community, and kindness on full display. The characters will tug at your heartstrings and it is hard not to root for Suzanne, Laurie, and Cindy! You will find yourself missing Laurie as the book ends and desire a follow-up to see where she landed and, of course, Cindy.

A perceptive journey, maneuvering this course we call life— from the eyes of an eighteen-year-old girl. An eye-opening, dazzling coming-of-age, mother/daughter, family drama novel meets humor and literary fiction. Think, This is Us.

In tragic and comic detail, the author cleverly renders the notion that every life—however blessed—has its share of loss, but those crushed hearts can be revived with the help of others. Sprinkled with literary influences, well-developed relatable characters, and beautiful writing—a 5 Star must-read for all booklovers! Makes you think about the little joys in life. One you will want to read more than once.

A stirring, insightful novel of tremendous warmth and humor that illuminates the kindness and cruelties of our daily lives.

A special thank you to #DreamscapeMedia and #NetGalley for an audiobook ARC to listen to, enjoy and review.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
July 2022 Must-Read Books List

[MAPS - Booktube · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 🌟

Dans le même univers que La petite et le vieux.
J’ai moins accrochée à cette protagoniste, Laurie, et son histoire.

Je dois cependant soulever que l’autrice a une force pour créer des « familles », ici les employés du garage où son papa travaille.

La loop du début à la fin est intéressante .

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Renée signe un autre roman d'un humanisme et plein d'humour... Un beau voyage a travers des personnages attachants et surtout touchants ! SI vous avez aimé "La petite et le vieux", vous allez adorer ce roman !

[Claudine · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai adoré ce roman, drôle et touchant à la fois. Tous les livres de Marie-Andrée Lavoie sont excellents!

[Maude Fleurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mon dieu que ça m’a touché l’humanité de cette histoire, la beauté de la passion commune de la littérature avec en plus avec la précision du nombre d’heure que ça prend pour le lire. Un vrai bijou que t’aimes autant que ton premier char!

[Patrick Martel · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3/5, I liked it)
Nous sommes à Québec, en 1993. La narratrice, Laurie, est étudiante au niveau collégial et ambitionne mollement de poursuivre ensuite vers l’université. Elle a de petits boulots, une bonne amie, des parents attentionnés, qui eux aussi ont de petits boulots. Il y a également la jeune voisine, une enfant négligée par ses parents, qui trouve régulièrement refuge chez Laurie. Elle a une voiture, un char, une Pony. Elle habite Limoilou, en bas d’la ville. C’est ça le monde la narratrice. C’est ça LES CHARS MEURENT AUSSI.

Il s’agit d’une chronique, du récit de quelques saisons. L’auteur raconte le quotidien de la jeune femme, mais raconte également l’essence d’une ville, d’une société, d’une époque. Même si cette histoire ne se déroule que quelques générations avant aujourd’hui, nous sommes à-même de constater que des choses ont changée, que la gentrification des quartiers, que l’ouverture sur le monde, que la scolarisation ont réduit (du moins aux yeux de ce lecteur) l’écart, ou l’apparence d’écart, entre certains quartiers, entre la basse ville et la haute ville.

Le style d’écriture de Marie-Renée Lavoie est très sympathique. Les dialogues sont à la fois réels, sensibles et souvent drôles. Aucun artifice n’est déployé. On est dans le quotidien ordinaire. Pas de trash, par d’ultra-drame.

J’ai longtemps repoussé la lecture de ce livre —livre choisi en mars 2019 par la Ville de Québec dans son projet de lecture commune #unevilleunlivre —, croyant être devant « un livre de fille » (je sais, je sais…!). Une amie m’a cependant fort incité à plonger, que j’allais aimer. J’ai effectivement aimé. Je me suis identifié à l’époque ainsi qu’aux décors et aux références.

Maintenant que la lecture est terminée, je peux affirmer que LES CHARS MEURENT AUSSI est effectivement un livre de fille, mais pas dans le sens péjoratif du terme. C’est l’histoire du quotidien d’une fille, vu par les yeux d’une fille. Voilà.


"Madame Deslauriers était une femme équilatérale, aussi large que haute. Une femme tronc dont les formes s'étaient dissoutes depuis longtemps dans la masse uniforme et compacte de son corps."

[Catherine Dugal · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai adoré. La plume de l'auteure me ravit. Sa façon d'aborder des sujets du quotidien, les plus légers comme les plus graves, est juste parfaite. Les personnages sont vraiment attachants. Je recommande cette belle lecture pleine de tendresse, d'humanisme et d'humour.

[Natasha Dubé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si pas pour un début un peu lent, ce livre serait exactement ce que je recherche à tout moment. Drôle, sensible avec personnages colorés et bien étoffés. Je prendrais bien une suite! 4/5

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai bien aimé ça ! humain, doux et ça se lit tout seul.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’ai passé de bons moments avec ce livre, trop court! J’ai ri aux éclats, j’ai été émue (ok j’ai sorti les mouchoirs) et j’ai adoré les personnages (et le petit clin d’œil de La petite et le vieux).

[Pierre-Alexandre Buisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'infiniment petit qu'explore habituellement Lavoie est ici magnifié par une galerie de personnages irrésistibles, et ce roman d'apprentissage campé dans les années '90 à Québec est un véritable délice. Un roman populaire dans la plus pure tradition, avec d'attachants protagonistes aussi colorés que nuancés.

[Fred Lapierre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Audree R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un beau roman tout simple, plutôt léger malgré le fait qu'il aborde de façon humoristique et magique le dur thème des classes sociales en mettant l'emphase sur le quartier de Limoilou des années 90 et les épreuves du passage à l'âge adulte d'une étudiante du Cégep. Le joual est très chantant dans l'écriture et les dialogues sont riches et omniprésents. On s'attache aux personnages rapidement et on sourit. L'autrice permet à ses personnages de fuir leur quotidien à travers leur imaginaire, ce qui est très divertissant. Une belle lecture d'été ou de vacances.

Petits coups de coeur pour toutes les scènes au bingo et pour l'arrivée du remonteur du restaurant.

Une première lecture de Marie-Renée Roy qui me donne envie de répéter l'expérience.
L'autrice est absolument charmante en entrevue.

[Jaisyn Allyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one in a day. And it was delightful. From the storytelling and imaginary adventures between the two sisters that allowed them to escape reality when things fell apart to just as a past time at the end of their days . Nothing felt a far cry, from what we, as bibliophiles try to obtain from books; an escape that keeps us going day-to-day. Everything feels a little close to home, especially for anyone that grew up in a smaller town, or has dealt with loss, the ailments of your loved ones aging, and being the breadwinner for your family in more than just a monetary way.

[Emilie Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai lu ce livre en quelques heures, prise par l'histoire, je n'arrivais plus à le déposer. C'est un livre délicieux, qui ne prends pas ses lecteurs pour des caves (pas besoin de nous dire le lieu, ou l'époque, on la devine). C'est aussi un parfait livre d'été, plein de bons sentiments et de personnages attachants. Bref, un livre qui fait du bien.

[Fanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une histoire ultra banale mais racontée avec une sensibilité qui fait du bien qui en fait un livre loin d’être banal. Je me suis retrouvée dans ce Québec du début des années ‘90 et dans cette protagoniste âgée de 18-19 ans.

[allyson King · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 étoiles. C'était bien, mieux qu'autopsie dune femme plate. Marie Renée Lavoie est clairement pas mon auteure préférée. J'ai apprécié le réalisme traité dans le vécu des personnages, la langue parlée et l'émotion véhiculée. Parfois l'écriture se voulait poétique cétait il m'a semblé un peu trop forcé et ca manquait sa cible, rendait plus difficile la compréhension du message

[France-Andrée Lafrenière · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, c’était beau, c’était bon, c’était parfait.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie-Renée Lavoie est toujours splendide. L'émotion, l'humour, tout ça mélangé comme un beau gros bol de soupe réconfortant.

[Léonie Boudreault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une histoire de banlieue modeste, de personnages simples et authentiques écrite dans une langue imagée et magnifique.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will happily read anything Marie-Renée Lavoie writes. A beautifully written novel.

[Louise Tessier · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’ai mis un peu de temps à apprécier, la langue me dérangeait. Puis je me suis attachée aux personnages et j’ai finalement beaucoup aimé!

[Fanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Première lecture de cette auteure, un nouveau style d’écriture franc et plein de sincérité! Je ne suis pas déçue.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just dreadfully boring... I admit I didn't read past chp 5 😬
It just wasn't my cuppa tea. Sorry, darlin

Thanks netgalley for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 💛

[The Sub Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded to 3.5 stars for Goodreads.

This is a coming-of-age story centered around Laurie as she enters her final year of high school. Very close to her mother, who loves to read, Laurie often finds herself swept away in books as well. When she befriends her neighbor, Cindy, a small child, who is neglected at home, she takes the time to travel the world with her, without ever leaving their home.

Okay, considering that I am the exact same age as Laurie, in the fact that this takes place in 1993 and she would graduate in 1994. I graduated high school in 1994. I was hoping to hear things that would transport me back to that time. Unfortunately, that never happened.

What did I like?
I appreciated the way Laurie and her mom took in Cindy. The patience they had with her was astounding. She was extremely rude with a horrible potty-mouth. Laurie and her mom took time to make sure she was well fed, was taught right from wrong and gave her a sense of belonging.

Her relationship with her mother was wonderful. They were much like friends, with respect for one another.

For someone of her age, Laurie was extremely intelligent when it came to life in general. She is a character that I can respect.

As the title suggests, Laurie will learn that we all require a little maintenance sometimes.

I listened to the audio version of this and the narrator was good, but I think this is a book better off being read physically.

Thank you to Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for my gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ariane Tremblay · Rating 3 out of 5]

C’est une belle histoire, mais je m’attendais à plus.