Je Suis Né Laid by Isabelle Minière (review)

Thematically and delicately recounted, this novel is a touching account of the effects of ugliness not only unto others but on the self as well. The couple, Lili and Loulou, await impatiently the arrival of their angelic first born, only to come to grips with the tormenting reality of the baby's repulsive physical appearance. After three days they name him Arthur. For the most part the voice is Arthur's first-person narrative starting from birth, taking the reader through childhood, adolescence, and early manhood. Initially, Lili becomes distant but Loulou, the father, realizes that "Cette chose disgracieuse, c'est un euphémisme, avait quand même besoin de soins" (12). Everyone gets repulsed by Arthur's appearance, even the pediatrician, and all shy away quickly. Arthur's early recount also informs the reader about his father's success as an artist; quitting his job to become a stay-at-home dad, Loulou finds fame as a sculptor designing beautifully the ugliness of Arthur in various settings. Arthur progresses through elementary school and high school where he finds academic success but utter social failure since all schoolmates insistently shun him. He finds some solace at the university, but mostly at work. For some time the only world in which he experiences love and comfort is at home, surrounded by his parents and Kouki, an extremely important family friend who had aided Loulou in his artistic endeavor and career. She was also a sort of third parent to the troubled Arthur. After passing the baccalaureate he is strongly urged to pursue a career requiring no social contact, but Arthur perseveres in different ways. His narrative takes us through sensitive and often painful moments in his attempt to find his place in his social hell. Arthur's attempts to find friendship, love, and professional attachments are explored delicately, as are his hopes, disappointments, obsessions, and personal intimacies. A possible operation is considered by a surgeon ironically named Docteur Beau. An interesting choice the author has made for her fourth novel is to recount Arthur's narrative in relatively short chapters (there are 48 of them), allowing the reader to follow quickly the rhythm of Arthur's ever-changing moods in his search for self-understanding and acceptance from others. This is truly a lovely and touching story about growing up with ugliness told not only with self-derision but empathy as well, and as such the literary work becomes a work of beauty.