Trois études sur le roman de l'extrême contemporain: Marie NDiaye, Sylvie Germain, Michel Chaillou (review)

The studies in this volume were originally presented in a seminar series held at the Universities of Genoa and Cagliari. The primary purpose of all the essays is therefore to provide students with a basic introduction to three contemporary authors. This aim is fulfilled: the studies are clear and there is a decent bibliography for each novelist, although the first two essays in particular would have benefitted from more careful proofreading. Rosa Galli Pellegrini begins with a discussion of four novels by Marie NDiaye: La Femme changée en bûche (1989), En famille (1990), La Sorcière (1996) and Rosie Carpe (2001). For each novel, Pellegrini provides a plot summary and a brief analysis of narrative structure. She then explores some of NDiaye's principal themes, most of which are seen to revolve around problematic family relationships. Pellegrini argues that, while families (and associated substitute figures) repeatedly fail to support NDiaye's heroines, the latter generally fail to liberate themselves from negative situations. The author's open endings are seen as proof of her refusal to judge her characters, and humour is viewed as a means of attenuating what might otherwise seem a rather bleak novelistic vision. The second, and longest, essay is devoted to Sylvie Germain. Elisa Bricco provides a useful overview of nearly all Germain's fiction from Le Livre des Nuits (1985) to Chanson des Mal-aimants (2002), including a plot summary and brief introductory analysis for each title. In her general comments, Bricco identifies the problem of evil as the 'idée force' of all Germain's novels. The critic is also attentive to formal elements, making some perceptive comments on the influence of cinema and the visual arts on Germain's narrative style and analysing the role of the novels' 'péritextes' (which have become a less visible feature of her more recent work). Finally, Chiara Rolla examines three texts by Michel Chaillou: Jonathamour (1968), Le Sentiment géographique (1976) and La France fugitive (1998). Her essay is the least schematic/didactic of the three. Rather than offering a panorama of Chaillou's œuvre, Rolla focuses on the key theme of travel (literary, metaphorical and real). She suggestively traces the connections between writing, travelling and reading in the three texts and makes good use of Eco's concept of a model reader. This essay appears to be the first step in what promises to be an interesting full-length treatment of Chaillou's works. Although there is no conclusion in which the editor attempts to bring the three essays together or to situate the novelists within a broader literary context, all three critics devote at least some time to considering the opening pages of their chosen texts and these are reproduced at the end of each study. Although not altogether convincing if intended as a means of enhancing the volume's coherence, this strategy does at least provide unfamiliar readers with a taste of three contemporary writers whose work will no doubt continue to attract attention.