"Still alive" and on the run on the roads of France

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• Today, "Always alive" by Nicolas Leclerc was published on April 1, 2022 by Éditions du Seuil.

Franck "LeLectorSuricate", blogger and new member of the

Books reading group, recommends

by Nicolas Leclerc, published on April 1, 2022 by Éditions du Seuil.

His favorite quote:

Why this book?

• Because it looks like a road trip but it's much more than that.

  Under cover of a run through France, Nicolas Leclerc slips into it a quest for self, freedom and a microcosm of characters, some of whom will have to get to know each other to survive.

• Because the camera held in the car

  only occupies half of the novel, the other half being devoted to the treatment of social subjects (such as the theme of migrants for example) with an intensity that takes your guts and stirs you in all directions.

  All perfectly dosed, without going into voyeurism.

• Because it's as if Nicolas Leclerc had assimilated the best

  of what I like in the French-speaking thriller world.

  The realism of a novel by Olivier Norek that propels you into its story, a situation that could happen to anyone with human characters as Barbara Abel knows how to do and a striking emotion that only Karine Giébel makes me feel, not to be angry to be only a spectator.

• Because the ending still haunts me and if

  The Snowcoat

  had left me a mixed opinion,

  Still Alive

  put me in apnea.

  I almost can't believe it's the same man who is behind both stories as his style and pace just hit this one.

  Always alive

  is the definition of a thoughtful, successful and more than just entertaining page-turner for a good reading moment.

The essentials in 2 minutes

The plot.

Aïssatou and Sékou, two young Guinean migrants are on their way to England.

Following a robbery that goes wrong, they embark on a run through France, taking hostage François and Hélène, a couple from Nice.

Characters.

Aïssatou and Sékou, two migrants whose only goal is to arrive in England.

François and Hélène, a couple from Nice with a perfect appearance, but who hide gray areas.

Places.

A car, place of a real showdown between four characters ready to do anything to survive.

Africa, and wherever the wind takes Aïssatou and Sékou.

France, where every road can mean the end of the journey.

The time.

A story that takes place today, with some flashbacks to understand how we got to this situation.

The author.

Nicolas Leclerc, Jura native who studied cinema.

Author of three novels at present (The snow coat, The caged beast and Always alive).

Currently working for television.

This book was read with

awe.

The impression that everything can very quickly go into a spin.

An anger that growls in the face of being only a spectator.

A good dose of shock once the last page is turned.

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• Book sheet 20 Minutes

• Books

• Novel

• Thriller

• Hostage

• Migrants

• Robbery