The narrator stands accused of murder. Through his rantings, to the court, to his counsel, to the prison psychiatrist, his history is gradually revealed. Raised by an abusive rather and a timorous mother, his ability to form relationships has clearly been harmed. He does not seem to be able to see past his own concerns, or to see how his behavior affects others. In both his marriage and his employment, his self-absorption and his way of interpreting events in an egocentric way not only prevent him from forming close ties, but in fact damage those connections he has already made, leading to violence.

A tour guide at the Musée Pascal, he reads one of the Pensées, and feels himself more knowledgeable than anyone on the subject. His obsession with Pascal is central to the book, and it strikes me that a familiarity with the French philosopher and mathematician would give one a greater insight into the novel's nuances.

Salvayre slowly unfolds her protagonist's story. Bit by bit, she leads us to an unexpected climax. Her method of telling the story is, at first, difficult to follow, but soon we are enthralled, trying to guess the outcome.

This interesting little book was a quick read. The author uses so much of what Blaise Pascal has written that even the title is from a beginning of one of his Pensees. The entire book is written as a soliloquy of a museum tour guide who is awaiting his trial for murder. We learn about his life and what brought him to his current circumstances by listening to him narrate his manias to a cast of listeners besides us, the reader. He shares his story with the judge, a prison guard, his lawyer and a psychiatrist. His obsession with the French philosopher Blaise Pascal is only equal to that of his obsession with his parents.

The glimpse of a life of desperation is well done in this book. You will continue to read the book as the museums guide soliloquy leads us more in depth into his life and motives. You must read on if you wish too learn who the victim of his alleged crime is. This book has actually made me decide to pull my copy of Blaise Pascal's Pensee off the shelf and re-read it. I also recommend that you read the book before discussing it with anyone or reading a review that would give away the end. I found that the entire story of the books main characters life is summed up in the Pensee that it is titled after. If you like post-modern work or enjoy reading philosophy you may like this book. ( )

Comment une enfance malheureuse, une vie médiocre (ou ordinaire ?) et la lecture des Pensées de Pascal peuvent mener au crime un individu plutôt lucide par ailleurs, un sujet qui n'est pas anecdotique quand on y pense. La forme du récit, entre le monologue et le dialogue, est intéressante. ( )