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Jump to navigationJump to searchThe Investigation by Philippe Claudel (view source)
Revision as of 16:16, 1 January 2013
, 16:16, 1 January 2013no edit summary
The good thing is that this is not ''just'' a novel. Coming from the pen of [[:Category:Philippe Claudel|one of the most clever authors writing today]], it once again shows his adaptability. After producing what he called a trilogy and everyone else thought a versatile set of three very different books, he produces what could easily be called the fourth in that trilogy. It touches again on the alienation of the man in the wrong place, in a time he is estranged from, and with an official mind and mindset to get to the bottom of things yet one that is ultimately powerless.
The problem I had with this book is that it is very difficult to summarise. The plot is one that I have to touch on lightly. Similarly I cannot easily jump on anything it is akin to in my description. I think it is safe enough to call it ''The Matrix'' as rewritten by Kafka and [[:Category|:Spike Milligan:|Spike Milligan]]. I think it's fairly clear (and in the blurb, too) that it's a fable, and I'm not giving too much away to say that some of the moral of the piece is perfect to be read, as I did, on New Year's Day.
I certainly laughed at the black humour throughout most of these pages. It's a short book, so could have outstayed its welcome in taking our hero through the hells of Claudel's imagination, but doesn't, and while you can second guess some of the minor elements of the tormenting plot the full answers take you more than the reading time to discover, if at all.
