Monday, January 7, 2013

Les dieux voyagent toujours incognito

Les Dieux voyagent toujours incognito

 

 


I recently started to read books for one main reason: do like a lot of my friends who keep reading and share thoughts about them. I have to admit that it is also a great time killer! When you read an interesting book, time flies almost as fast as it does when you play video games. And surprisingly enough, I have been greatly encouraged to follow this path by the first book that I read in a very long time: “Les Dieux voyagent toujours incognito”, written by Laurent GOUNELLE. I have always been careful about translating books titles because of the possibility of losing the real meaning, but I think I’m pretty safe with that one: “Gods always travel unknown”. I had no idea what it could be about as I read the title but it became in no time one of the best stories I ever read.

The book starts with the description of a scene happening in Paris. A man, Alan GREENMOR is standing at a very high point on the Eiffel tower, ready to jump and commit suicide. We learn about his life and how he came to that decision: he was born of a mother who never cared about him but herself, he had numerous fathers as his own left him and his mother as he was not even conscious, he had been working in a field he was not at all interested in, and last by not the least, he’s been living a boring life until he day he met Audrey, who became right away the love of his life. He decided to commit suicide right after Audrey left him for no other reason than that she has lost interest in him.

He had planned his death following the instructions of a book he read about the perfect spot to do so, unnoticed.  Then the most unexpected thing happened: a man was standing right in front of him, watching him calmly. A discussion is engaged and Alan ends up accepting the craziest contract: he should not commit suicide, and instead, he should do exactly EVERYTHING the man, Yves DUBREUIL, tells him to do. Alan has to face a set of challenges which do not match a bit to his personality.

Laurent GOUNELLE is the writer of that novel. His books are highly inspired by his psychological studies, and just like Paulo COELHO, he teaches his readers on how to reach happiness and self-satisfaction. “Les Dieux voyagent toujours incognito” is full of lessons about how to deal with situations in which we do not feel comfortable, and how one should focus on what is really important in life.

I surprised myself enjoying the reading of this book, as it is the first one I read in a very long time. I even read the last 100 pages in only one night, and when it comes to me, this is an amazing record! Everything seems perfect in this book: the story itself, the way it is written, the tips you can learn from it and the inspiration you can get to change your own life. I have to say it helps me a lot to deal with daily situations. I don’t know if the English version exists yet, but I strongly recommend anyone to read “Les Dieux voyagent toujours incognito”, that’s why I don’t reveal the great and so unexpected climax! It will be really hard to explain it anyway!

See you on Friday!

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