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  • Today, "The Last of His" by Sibylle Grimbert published on August 26, 2022 by Éditions Annie Carrière.

Christian Dorsan, author, blogger and contributor to the 20 Minutes Books reading group, recommends

The Last of His

by Sibylle Grimbert, published on August 26, 2022 by Éditions Anne Carrière.

His favorite quote:

During the first times of this existence, it happened to Gus to wonder which of him or of Prosp was the human being or the penguin, he wanted to say: it was as if, by dint of being alone and to have common habits, they had created a kind of hybrid, a chimera of seabird and man.

Why this book?

  • Because this book is not only naturalistic or exotic,

    it speaks of an undivided, almost exclusive friendship between a human and a penguin.

    We can smile at this original idea, but it is a story of deep humanity and a solid reflection on our relationship between individuals.

  • Because Gus, the French scientist, will

    first study this penguin, baptized Prosp, then, over time, this relationship evolves.

    We can compare this story with our friendly lives in which sometimes the stage of a simple social relationship becomes an intimate relationship.

    It is also a story of loneliness: Prosp is the last representative of his species and lives outside his species, Gus will isolate himself in order to be able to "free" his companion, each becoming dependent on the other.

  • Because this book won the 30 Million Friends award,

    beyond the narration, it is our responsibility towards the living world that is at stake in this friendship.

    At the dawn of what is called the sixth extinction, this reading is essential.

The essentials in 2 minutes

The plot.

Gus, a young French scientist sent on a mission to Scotland, is going to save a giant penguin from a murderous hunt.

A friendship and complicity will be born and mature between these two beings which will upset their lives in depth.

Characters.

Gus, French scientist, and Prosp, the last giant penguin.

Among the “close friends”: his wife Elinborg and his two children Augustine and Ottar, Buchanan the Scottish friend.

Places.

Islands in the North Atlantic: Eldey Island, the Hebrides and Faroe Islands, Denmark and Iceland.

The time.

From 1835 to 1846.

The author.

Sibylle Grimbert is a publisher and novelist.

Author of a dozen novels, including the highly acclaimed

The Center of Gravity

, in 2022 she received the Goncourt des Animaux, the 30 Million Friends Prize for

The Last of His Own

.

This book was read with

curiosity and then mesmerized by this surprising story that takes us to the islands of the North Atlantic with a captivating story of friendship between a penguin and a man.

This powerful novel questions us about our responsibility for the animal species and the living world.

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