Les larmes de saint Laurent

by Dominique Fortier

This second work from critically acclaimed Quebec novelist Dominique Fortier, whose debut was shortlisted for a Governor General's Award in both French and English, is an enthralling shell-game of a novel. Composed of three stories linked by theme and image, it brings alive a captivating cast of characters both historical and fictional. For lovers of boldly original literary fiction such as David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, Peter Carey's Oscar and Lucinda, and Michael Cunningham's The Hours.



In Wonder past and present, science and emotion, speak to each other to create a brilliant whole from three distinct parts. Readers are swept from a devastating volcanic eruption in 1902 to today's Montreal by way of a scientific love story in Victorian England. Along the way we follow Baptiste Cyparis, "The Man who Lived Through Doomsday," who traveled the length and breadth of the United States with Barnum & Bailey's circus, and meet Edward Love, the mathematician who discovered the mysterious waves that shake the earth. This luminous novel confirms Fortier as both a first-rate storyteller and as a master stylist.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Roman, France, Literary Fiction, Canada

332 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Dominique Fortier est née à Québec en 1972. Après un doctorat en littérature à l’Université McGill, elle exerce les métiers de réviseure, de traductrice et d’éditrice. Elle a traduit une quinzaine d’ouvrages littéraires et scientifiques, dans des disciplines aussi diverses que les sciences politiques, la linguistique et la botanique. Elle vit à Outremont. Du bon usage des étoiles est son premier roman.

Reviews

[Toni Osborne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a three part novel that brings to life a cast of characters both historical and fictional and opens with a much too formal and opulent narrative to have piqued my fancy but this doesn't remove the interesting points it may have tried to convey.

The first part “Monster and Marvels” is based on the true story of Baptiste Cyparis, an Afro-Caribbean man who was recruited by the Barnum & Bailey Circus after he survived the apocalyptic eruption of Martinique’s Mt. Pelée in 1902. At first this captivated me but it unfortunately petered out in no time and I “wondered” what went wrong and how come it left me so flat.

Then we suddenly move to the second part, “Harmony of the Spheres. In a style effortlessly precise and rather poetic we fall into a kind of puzzle hard to understand. Its characters Edward and Garance, are an eccentric couple both gifted and very strange. Edward, a mathematician, has a compulsion for numbers and it was quite a challenge to attempt understanding where this story was leading. In fact I never did and again I “wondered” why.

And finally everything seems or wants to come together in “Love and Waves”. Set in my hometown of Montreal this last part is the encounter between a young woman and a man whose quiet courtship is based on routine and solace. Unfortunately by then I had lost all interest and my patience was at its end. As I reached the last words, I no longer “wondered” why these stories couldn't take hold of me…… and finally I could move on.

This novel is a real concoction and a very unsatisfying one. The story is convoluted, wholly unaffecting, populated with lazy and boring characters. Whether I wasn't in the mood or simply couldn't grasp the essence, this novel simply never managed to hold my interest. It was hard to connect the dots and make sense of the whole thing. Was this book too original or maybe the style too flowery? If you like verbose description this novel may be right up your alley, it definitely was not mine. Did things get lost in translation, I doubt it…..

[Sabrina Auger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I can't stand when an author goes on historical digressions, but I loved this book. The bits that seem to go off the plot actually tie the stories, threads of families, stories and volcanoes making it a cohesive whole.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

J'ai aimé. Trois histoires dont la dernière fera un lien avec les deux autres. De la Martinique en passant par Pompéi jusqu'à Montréal sur le Mont Royal, ces histoires construites à partir de faits historiques réels sont touchantes. Ce qui m'a agacé dans ce roman c'est l'écriture de Forcier pour ce genre de récit. Trop de description sur la nature, sur certains moments. Je ne critique pas son écriture poétique mais ici, elle empêche une certaine fluidité qui aurait été nécessaire, à mon avis, pour ce récit.

[Elena (ThePurpleCarrot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mireille Duval · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai beaucoup aimé! Dominique Fortier a vraiment un style unique, il y a une sorte de poésie dans le format de ses romans, avec les interruptions encyclopédiques et les liens entre éléments à prime abord disparates. J'ai préféré la deuxième partie mais elles avaient toutes leur charme - la survie de Baptiste, Garance!, et les chiens (j'ai même versé une larme pour Damoclès, moi qui suis très peu "chien"). Je suis bien contente d'avoir un autre livre de Mme Fortier qui m'attend dans ma bibliothèque.

[Calypsa]

Dominique Fortier a de grandes forces. Sa manipulation de l'Histoire pour servir sa trame narrative en est une. C'est l'une des choses que j'ai le plus aimé, les références historiques qui servent l'histoire et pas le contraire. Ce n'est pas un roman historique, c'est un roman qui se sert de l'Histoire. Elle réussit aussi à créer des liens concrets entre les trois récits, ce qui vient créer un ensemble fonctionnel que l'on peut appeler un roman et pas un recueil d'histoires courtes. C'est quelque chose que j'ai vu d'autres auteurs échouer à faire, mais elle a très bien su nous faire sentir l'évolution dans le temps qui mène de l'une à l'autre des histoires. Enfin, son style change pour s'adapter à chacune des histoires, ce qui les rends plus intéressantes et distinctes que si elles avaient toutes été racontées de la même manière. Ça a été un réel plaisir à lire.

Le seul défaut du livre, vraiment, c'est ma manière de le lire, je crois. Je prends le blâme pour ma propre indifférence. Je suis quelqu'un qui tend à aimer les histoires qui se concentrent sur les personnages et ici, comme il y a trois histoires, on devait passer à une autre dès que je m'attachais aux personnages. De la même manière, il semblait toujours me manquer juste un tout petit quelque chose pour vraiment m'attacher et comprendre qui étaient ces personnages. Mais ce n'était pas l'objectif du roman, et je le comprends, alors pour moi, ce ne sera pas une lecture mémorable, mais ça n'en reste pas moins un très bon livre.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai été séduite par la couverture de ce roman mais malheureusement le contenu m'a déçu peu à peu.

Ce sont des histoires vaguement connectées avec des personnages réels et des autres fictifs et ce n’est pas toujours clair de qui il s’agit. Les premiers chapitres sur l’éruption du Mt. Pelée en Martinique et la subséquente vie du seul survivant, Baptiste Cyparis engagé par le fameux cirque de Barnum & Bailey aux Etats Unis comme une des attractions, “L’homme qui a survit l’Apocalypse”, c’était tellement bien écrit, beau et touchant que je me suis félicitée pour une telle trouvaille.

La suivante histoire du mathématicien britannique Augustus Edward Hough Love et sa jeune femme francáise, c’etait un peu décevant. L’auteur avait construit un lien trop ténu avec l'histoire de Baptiste Cyparis en envoyant la jeune couple Love à une visite de Pompéi et le volcan Vésuve.

Mais c'était encore mieux que le dernier chapitre qui se déroule à Montréal au Canada. J’ai eu l'impression que l'auteur avait complètement perdu le fil. Ici il s’agit d’une femme à l’âge indeterminé et sans nom qui a un souffle au coeur et aime les chiens. Au cimetière du Mont Royal, elle connaît un jeune homme, également sans nom, qui lit des livres sur Pompéi et Herculanum. Il suivent des descriptions interminables des paysages, du climat, des arbres etc - tout ça assez vague, lent et ennuyeux - et une histoire d’amour pas surprenante.

Le pire c'était le dénouement très forcé qui ne réussissait pas à unir les différentes histoires à un tout satisfaisant.

4 étoiles pour la beauté du langage, 2 étoiles pour le contenu.

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les deux premières histoires sont magnifiques. Autant j'ai adoré leur narratif un peu non-chalant, leurs descriptions qui s'étirent, le style "laisse toi porter", autant ces caractéristiques m'ont déplu dans la dernière histoire. J'ai adoré la beauté qu'on nous fait voir dans le banal ou même le drame, les images puissantes d'une situation unique. J'ai adoré le personnage si unique mais en même temps qui nous rappel tellement de gens, son rapport à la vie, à l'amour, à la connaissance. J'ai détesté les derniers personnages peu approfondis, banals, prévisibles, avec leur histoire qui ne m'a pas touché. J'imagine qu'il faut quand même un grand talent pour m'accroché ainsi à des histoires d'une autre époque. La cible a toutefois été grandement raté pour son histoire contemporaine.

[Marie Gravelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful mix of true-life science stories and fiction. The stories range from the Mt. Pélée Volcano eruption in 1902 Martinique to mathematician Edward Love's investigation into wave mechanics to modern-day life in Montréal and their surrounding characters. A circus is also involved, to add some oddity to the stories.

Fortier writes in a poetic and lyrical manner, which I really enjoyed in French.

[Camille Morin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trois histoires entrelacées qui m’ont captivée.

J’ai beaucoup d’admiration pour la plume de Dominique Fortier, que je trouve chirurgicale! Certes il faut être concentrée et j’en relis parfois des passages à plus d’une reprise mais j’adore plonger dans les univers qu’elle créer.

Difficile de choisir une histoire préférée parmi les trois mais je dirais que la dernière m’a particulièrement plu parce qu’elle contient de si belles descriptions de Montréal…

Je recommande !

[Raynald Provost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les romans de Dominique Fortier sont peuplés de personnages avec des curieuses obsessions comme les volcans, la musique des sphères, les pôles ou le Mont St Michel. Ils sont sans émotions et fascinés, des Asperger presque. Mais le style d'écriture de D.F., c'est pratiquement ma propre fascination. C'est une pétarade d'images et de descriptions qui n'arrêtent pas de m'émerveiller.

[Alyssa Morazé · Rating 2 out of 5]

The translation in the beginning and then sporadically throughout felt clumsy.

The stories were very distinct separate and sometimes hard to follow or understand why you were trying to follow them at all. There were sometimes whole chapters that felt pointless (the second last in particular). And the way it "all comes together" it really doesn't for me.

[Thierry Normandeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

《 On ne sait ni où ni comment est née la musique, tout comme on ignore l'origine du langage. Mais on peut facilement imaginer que les toutes premières manifestations (claquement des mains en cadence, ou des pieds par terre, bout de bois frappé sur une pierre, puis sur une peau tendue) ne faisaient que reprendre les battements de coeur dans notre poitrine. 》

[Catherine Côté · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre en trois récits, plus ou moins entremêlés, à mon avis. Le récit du milieu est définitivement mon préféré, celui que j’ai eu le plus de mal à délaisser. C’est cette histoire qui monte la note, définitivement.

[Joanne-in-Canada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how this qualifies as a novel--more like three novellas with some connection.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.5]

commentaires à venir

[Arielle Acosta Perelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trois histoires qui ne m'ont pas très captivées, et qui n'étaient pas vraiment bien reliées à mon avis.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

J'ai essayé! J'ai essayé tellement fort. Quelques pages chaque soir que je me force de lire. Mais j'en peux plus. Il me reste moins de 20 pages à lire, mais je ne suis pas capable.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

J'avais tellement aimé les autres livres de Dominique Fortier, mais hélas je n'ai pas vécu le même coup de coeur cette fois-ci. Au départ l'histoire est intrigante, cependant vers la fin ça s'étiole. Quel dommage!

[Myriam Breton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent récit, mais les trop nombreuses descriptions détaillées ont un peu eu raison de mon plaisir de lire.

[Danielle Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Très bien écrit mais vraiment trop lent, trop scientifique et trop poétique pour moi.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une très belle écriture mais…..je n’ai pas réussi à accrocher au texte.

[Andrea P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

This book was really intriguing to me, I really loved the way it was written and how these three stories speak to each other. I went in not knowing what to expect from this book and I came out really thinking about everything that happened. I actually read through some of it, and then went back to re-read it because I really felt like I needed to let things sink in more. This is a story that really needs your attention, it's not something that you can just glance over while doing something else, and I love that it took all my attention, those are the best types of books.

The writing of this book captures the reader, it's beautiful and very emotional. I found myself becoming very invested in the stories, and I was sad to see each of them end, yet the story still continued on in the next story in a different way. Each of the characters are all affected by their surroundings in such strong ways. First there is Baptiste, the only man left alive after a volcano erupted. The story of his life after is absolutely amazing, watching as he deals with this heavy burden of being a lone survivor, being different from everyone and is put on display for a circus.

At the same time in a different place, you have these two people who are special and are interested in the hidden parts of the world. I especially loved their view on the world and how they saw things differently from everyone else around them. They take every little thing in and listen to the things around them, they are hyperaware of their surroundings and it helps them seek out answers to the world.

In all three of these stories the earth itself is a huge character, that as you read along you feel like you are learning more about. The relationships in all the stories are also a big part of each of the stories, my favourite by far is the last story, reading how these two strangers meet and learn about each other is amazing. Their interactions are so sweet and innocent.

This is a book that I believe the more times you read it the more you will find new and interesting things in the story. It is one that is meant to be re-read quite a few times, the writing is beautiful and will definitely draw your attention.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat's Review

This novel was written by an author who has an exquisite ability to evoke imagery in a way that is both understated yet powerful. She brings to life the oppression of Martinique for the slaves, the love that grew between two people who had difficulty connecting to others, and life in a modern city seen through the eyes of two people who seem to belong to an earlier time.

Although the themes tackled in this novel are strong, the book itself is subtle in its approach to them. In many ways, it's a collection of three short stories with a thread that ties them together, although if you're not paying attention, you could miss that connection entirely. This is not a hit-you-over-the-head-with-the-connections type story; rather, it leaves little traces behind for the reader to discover. I imagine if I reread the book, I would find even more small hints than I did the first time.

That being said, this isn't a quick or easy read. Despite an erupting volcano and life with the Barnum and Bailey circus, this isn't a book filled with action packed scenes. It's an understated story that deals with the human condition at the heart of it. The will to live, the bonds we forge, the sacrifices we make for those we love- these are the true themes of the book. To expect something different, in my opinion, would lead to disappointment.

Kat's Rating: A Good Read

I think this is a wonderfully written novel and a good translation of the original. I maintain that these could have been three separate short stories bound in a collection, and I wonder if that might actually make the book more enjoyable to a reader expecting a clear connection from one part to the next.

I fear that some readers will miss much of the nuances of the book because they're focused too much on finding the connections. Read it without any such expectations, and I think you'll enjoy it.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from Random House Canada in return for an honest review. - See more at: http://www.katsbookbuzz.net/2014/01/r...

[Chihoe Ho · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would prefer to have read it in French, if I could read French fluently. The translation just didn't click with me, and I found it extremely laborious to follow through the narrative. This is quite disappointing, especially after someone pointed out that translator Sheila Fischman is of "Ru" fame. Furthermore, while I can pick out at the links between the three stories set in various times and lands that make up "Wonder," it felt like a stretch trying to connect the dots. Because it is offered up as a comparison on the jacket, lets say "Cloud Atlas" does it much better.

What I did like about it, here and there, is the gothic feel it exuded in the earlier stories that is reminiscent of great books like "The Night Circus" and "Shadow of the Wind." However, enthrall me, "Wonder" did not.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****Goodreads Giveaway win

I wish I could still read French, because I think this book would be just as wonderful to read, maybe a bit more exotic. Well worth the read if you like "historical" stories that are creative and imaginative.

I cried at the end, animal lovers take heed. I had an inkling that something was going to happen, but I still felt unprepared. Got some looks on the TTC.

I recommend this novel!

[Tina Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely blown away. I just loved the subtle connections between the stories, and the stark way she describes both the joy of being in love and the terrifying pain of being alone. It's amazing.

I also gained a new respect for authors who focus on setting and atmosphere, rather than character or plot. Setting has never been my favourite literary element, but what Fortier does with it is truly remarkable.

An amazing book. Can't wait to read more.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trois histoires apparamment peu liées finissent par se retrouver dans la troisième partie. Difficile en cours de lecture de faire le lien.

Un hommage à la terre, à la force de la nature, à la vie et à Montréal.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

I wanted to love this story more than I did. Knowing that the book was translated from its original French to English made it hard for me to ignore some of the errors in writing.