Marie Vingtras

One thing new writers hear a lot is “write about what you know.” This probably is because there is nothing more off-putting for readers than superficial treatments of things they know well. French writer, Marie Vingtras, would have done well to have heeded this advice. A sense of her unfamiliarity with Alaska in particular and Americans in general repeatedly pervades her novel, BLIZZARD. Superficial tropes about Americans and Alaska seem to be everywhere. Guns and drugs are prominent, as are sexual predation, abandonment, racism, child abuse, and misogyny. The evils of forever war also have a prominent place in making this story unconvincing. The stunning state of Alaska is portrayed for its foul weather and isolation from civilization. Moreover, this place is filled with misfits on the run from failings they need to keep secret.

Vingtras tells the story with four first-person narrations. We learn backstories in very short chapters filled with flashbacks. Notwithstanding the effective use of short teasing narratives to increase tension and suspense, the shifting perspectives leave one feeling disoriented and frustrated.

The plot is simple: a 10-year-old boy and his nanny are lost in a whiteout blizzard; friends and family go looking for them. Despite this chilling existential situation, Vingtras is really interested in exploring the shortcomings of her four flawed narrators. Bess, the boy’s minder is running away from a dysfunctional family situation in California (of course). Why she is out in a blizzard with her charge is never very clear other than she was “not the sharpest tool in the shed.” Benedict is the boy’s father (or uncle) who spent time in the lower 48 looking for his long-lost brother. Why his brother left, why Benedict went in search of him and later abandoned the search (other than a weird dislike for New York) seems
vague. Cole is a cartoonish “bad guy.” He drinks a lot and, for some mysterious reason, hates women. Freeman is the book’s token African-American. He is a feast of superficial tropes. He is a Vietnam vet whose son also is a war vet (Iraq). He is troubled by quilt feelings. Freeman’s son has PTSD, is violent, and abuses drugs. The use of the family name, Freeman, for this character suggests that he is meant to be a symbol of American racism.

The tone of the novel is Gothic and unrelentingly dark. The characterizations are not very realistic; and the narrative structure prohibits the characters from ever interacting with one another.

The popularity of this novel in France can be understood only if one considers its readership as knowing little about America or its beauty. It’s a little like an American, who may have visited Paris during summer holidays, deciding to write a Gothic mystery set in rural France. It’s hard to see that such a book could be very realistic. However, if one is looking for a quick read filled with suspense and tension, this book could be satisfying, especially if one were willing to overlook a lot of nonsense in the plot and its characters. Yet if this had been a longer book, I likely would have abandoned it.… (meer)

4.5⭐️

Ten-year-old Thomas and Bess, the woman was supposed to be looking after him, disappear during a blizzard in the Interior Alaska region. Benedict, the boy’s only family, his neighbors Cole and Clifford and Vietnam War veteran Freeman who has recently relocated to Alaska, brave the elements as they search for Bess and Thomas all the while aware that chances of survival in this weather are slim. Unbeknownst to them, Bess got separated from Thomas after leaving the house with him and is also searching for him. As the narrative progresses, we get to know more about these characters - their past traumas, secrets, and motivations - and it is gradually revealed that the inclement weather isn't the only threat in their midst.

Blizzard by Marie Vingtras (translated by Jeffrey Zuckerman) is an exceptionally well-written novel that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction. Despite its short length, this is a heavy read that touches upon several sensitive topics, including PTSD, substance abuse and sexual abuse, among others. The narrative is shared in the first-person POV in well-paced (slower in the beginning but quickens as the narrative progresses), short chapters from the perspectives of Bess, Benedict, Freeman and Cole. Initially, you might question how their individual stories connect but despite the short length of the novel, the trajectory of each of these characters (even the utterly despicable ones) is well-developed and the author skillfully integrates each of their backstories into the present-day narrative without missing a beat, bringing all the threads of this story together for a satisfying ending.

With complex characters, a rugged atmospheric setting, tense and gritty with quite a few surprises along the way, this short novel is a gripping immersive read I finished in one sitting.

Many thanks to ABRAMS Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Blizzard was published on January 23, 2024.

Please note that in addition to the sensitive topics touched upon in the narrative, the story also features instances of behavior and dialogue that are blatantly racist and misogynistic.… (meer)