Robert des noms propres (The Book of Proper Names) Book

This is an unusual book for me.

First of all, the arc/rhythm of this book. This book starts with strong and bold introduction. A story about a happy couple, in love and in trance with each other embraces and affections. Both consummate and the girl pregnant, too soon by age but ripe enough with the idea. The girl, Lucette carrying a baby of 8 months, rubs her belly and wish that soon she will have a baby that interest in the idea of becoming a dancer. The father, Fabien who are far from reach when she needed wants a different fate for his child. She killed him as she loathed on how he want to name his child, Tanguy. The child born in a jail and named her, Plectrude. The mother committed suicide soon after.

There are not so much dynamics in the middle arc. Plectrude fate lies with Lucette's sister, Clemence. She immediately raised and shaped Plectrude as her own among 2 of her own children. Clemence became obsessed with Plectrude. She shaped her up to be a dancer just like her late sister wished for. Plectrude was a different 'mould' from any other typical children. She has a very unique set of eyes, as what they call as 'eyes of a dancer'. At age 13, she was in love with a new transferred boy named, Mathieu Saladin. Awed by his scar across his face but distasted by his behaviour. Heartbroken and ashamed, she left her school and joined a dance school, Petit Rats. She pushed her limits as she weight as a feather and just like a feather without a wind blow, she fell. Enraged, not by herself but by her new mother. Revoked the title as her mom, as a golden child, Clemence spilled out the dark truth about her true mother, Plectrude crushed.

In the end. At age 19, just like her mother, she's pregnant. She decides that she will do no harm to the father of her child and just like her mother she had the urge to kill herself right after the baby born. She's dangling her feet at the bridge, contemplating between the sorrow of her child fate will have with her and the promising of her child life in others care. Far from sight, a voice she once knew called her. Saved by a man named Mathieu. Her long lost crush. For 7 years of waiting and searching for her to come back, he found her and this time he sealed his lips with her. Never letting go.

At the finish 'line', she met Amelie Nothomb (the author) and she killed her as Amelie questioning and comparing the fate of her mother and hers. Both of the character, Plectrude and Mathieu endings unwritten.

Thoughts. I am enjoying this book at the beginning and the ending. Very unusual and a bit strange. Interesting read, nonetheless. That's all.