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Today, "I am the executioner's mother" by David Lelait-Helo, published on January 13, 2022 by Éditions Héloise D'ormesson.
Audrey Escoin, contributor to the 20 Minutes
Books reading group
, recommends
I am the executioner
's mother by David Lelait-Helo, published on January 13, 2022 by Éditions Héloise D'ormesson.
His favorite quote:
“I went from god to devil. »
Why this book?
Because there are books capable of slapping you
in the face, from the first words, from the first lines.
I am the executioner's mother
is one of those. The incipit of the novel sets the tone and would almost suffice to summarize the whole: “I went from God to Devil”. This sentence is dropped by Gabrielle de Miremont. She is an elderly woman, severe, very pious and whose pride is in having given a son to God. From the first moments of her third child's life, she knew that he would dedicate himself to God, and that one day she would call him My Father.
Because when a policeman comes to tell her the worst,
she doesn't waver. His son Pierre-Marie was found dead by a faithful. Gabrielle de Miremont acknowledges the shock with dignity and restraint. The author then gives us a look back, a little over a week before the tragedy. Opening her diary, Gabrielle comes across an article that instantly appeals to her, concerning pedophilia in the church. Hastily, she meets Cédric Lautet, the journalist who is investigating this news item. She wants to tell him how much his work is nothing but abomination and lies.
Because when the journalist announces that a major testimony
will appear in an upcoming article. Gabrielle wants to meet this man. She can't help it, it's vital for her. And the fall begins when the victim admits what was expected from the first pages. But how to accept the unspeakable? The chapters give voice to several characters. A betrayed and devastated mother, a broken and soiled man whose sense of shame and guilt is present throughout his story, and a son, a man of God, who has become an executioner and a devil.
Because this dramatic news item plunges us into the heart
of a mother's feelings and we witness the transformation of this loving and proud woman, who loses her footing, who questions everything, who loses confidence in the man, in her son and in God.
It is skillfully told, with great accuracy and restraint.
There is a lot of sensitivity in this text, despite the darkness of the words and the theme.
The novel of a mother, who understands that she has created a monster, that she has carried the devil in her womb.
The essentials in 2 minutes
The plot.
Gabrielle de Miremont seemed unreachable.
Frozen in the austerity of the old Catholic aristocracy of which it is the incarnation.
His motto: “Never show anything, silence your emotions”.
Until that morning, when a policeman comes to tell him of the death of his son.
Characters.
Gabrielle deMiremont.
Cedric Lautet, a journalist.
Pierre-Marie, his son and man of God.
Hadrien, victim of a pedophile act in his childhood.
Sebastian, a policeman.
Places.
A diocese, a house, the Church.
The time.
At present time.
With some painful memories of the past.
The author.
Born in 1971 in Orléans, David Lelait-Helo is the biographer of Dalida, Eva Perón, Maria Callas, Barbara and Romy Schneider.
He is also the author of numerous novels including
Poussière d'homme
.
This book was read with
passion, breath taken, sounded by a sad reality and by revelations that we suspected at the beginning of this story but that we preferred to be false.
An intense and powerful novel about guilt and impossible forgiveness.
A text that cannot leave its reader indifferent.
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