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Hunting and Gathering

By Anna Gavalda

(15)

| Paperback | 9781594481444

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Book Description

Prize-winning author Anna Gavalda has galvanized the literary world with an exquisite genius for storytelling. Here, in her epic new novel of intimate lives-and filled with the "humanity and wit" (Marie Claire) that has made it a bestselling sensation in France-Gavalda explores the twists of fate thContinue

2 Reviews

1 person find this helpful

Camille is an artist, who draws the soul of the people and things, a sad and lonely girl. Her life is signed by a long series of disillusionments and sufferings, of the kind that are not so seldom and of the kind that is really hard to get rid of. Her life turns into a steady darker hole, no food, t ... (continue)

Camille is an artist, who draws the soul of the people and things, a sad and lonely girl. Her life is signed by a long series of disillusionments and sufferings, of the kind that are not so seldom and of the kind that is really hard to get rid of. Her life turns into a steady darker hole, no food, too much work to prevent her to think and a shabby and small place to live in, that she found when all hopes seemed to have faded...
Loneliness that you can't see on the outside, but that is killing you inside, that hurts you and leaves such deep scars, which open up again at the slightest pull and become larger and more hurting than ever.
A simply flu and a "saviour", in the shape of a descendant of a noble family, already ruined, together with a large doses of luck, pull Camille away from a very bad end. Philou, the noble, and Frank, a lad who is becoming chef de cuisine, with a nasty behaviour and really vulgar. Frank, who seems to be an asshole, but who in turn hides scars and sufferings too. His grandmother, more a mother actually, is not able to live on her own anymore and he is compelled, against his will and with a great bad conscience, to put her in a home. Three young people, very different, but also very lonely and sad. Their lives are taking a turn though.
A big flat, even if temporary, will help them coming nearer through many discussions, angers, openings and finally comprehension. And if there was place for another person in this flat?
A story made first of all of friendship, of trust that is slowly building up again with much time and effort, and also of love, that in the end is the result of all of this, isn't it?
I found it marvellous.
Camille, un'artista che nei suoi disegni cattura l'anima delle persone e delle cose, ma soprattutto una ragazza triste e sola. La vita segnata da delusioni e sofferenza, di quelle che si trovano facilmente e di quelle che non altrettanto facilmente ci si riesce a disfarsene. La sua vita diventa un buco sempre più profondo, niente cibo, tanto lavoro per non pensare e un buco di posto dove vivere, trovato quando era allo stremo delle forze e sul punto di lasciare...
Solitudine, di quella che al di fuori non si vede, ma che ti lacera dentro, che ti ferisce e lascia cicatrici di quelle che al minimo strappo si riaprono più larghe e dolorose che mai.
Una semplice influenza e un “salvatore”, sottoforma di un discendente di nobile famiglia, ormai in rovina, assieme ad una buona dose di fato la strappano da una fine non bella. Philou, il nobile, e Frank, un ragazzo che sta per diventare chef di cucina, burbero e volgare. Frank, che sembra essere uno stronzo, ma che nasconde cicatrici anche lui. Una nonna, che gli ha fatto da madre, sembra non essere più in grado di vivere da sola, e lui, con non poco dolore e tanti sensi di colpa, costretto a girarle le spalle e affidarla ad una casa di riposo.
Tre ragazzi diversi, ma con un comune denominatore: una vita piena di solitudine, che sembra però prendere una strada diversa.
Una casa, temporanea, li porterà a litigi, chiarimenti, aperture e comprensione. E se in quella casa ci fosse posto per una persona in più?
Una storia fatta prima di tutto di amicizia, di fiducia che si ricostruisce con tanto tempo e tanto lavoro... e anche di amore, che alla fine è il risultato di tutto questo, no?
Io l'ho trovata una storia fantastica.

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Katia Guido said on Feb 16, 2008 | Add your feedback

I think that this novel about a group of four unlikely misfits that become friends is both profound and touching. Camille is an anorexic and lonely artist. Philibert her intellectual and aristocratic neighbour is the one who initially rescues Camille from herself. Franck a talented chef is Philibert ... (continue)

I think that this novel about a group of four unlikely misfits that become friends is both profound and touching. Camille is an anorexic and lonely artist. Philibert her intellectual and aristocratic neighbour is the one who initially rescues Camille from herself. Franck a talented chef is Philibert’s lodger. The final member of the quartet is Franck’s aged Grandmother Paulette. The group learn to slowly cope with life together through the redemptive power of their various forms of love for each other. Each one of them discovers that they need something that is missing from their lives, whether it is food, friendship or love.
I liked all four protagonists as thanks to the descriptive writing one felt as though you really knew them and were able to empathise with them over their problems. Anna Gavalda also managed to bring to life for me the Parisian surroundings including the garret flat, the imposing apartment and Paulette’s former home in the countryside.
It is no exaggeration to say that I found it a fabulous portrayal of life and love, certainly one of my favourite reads so far this year.

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Lindyloumac said on Sep 28, 2009 | Add your feedback