Certainly one of the more eccentric titles on the bookshelves at the moment is this novel by Romain Puertolas. The novel was a big hit in French speaking markets last year and follows the success of recently translated thriller The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker.
This is a picaresque caper that sees our unwitting hero, the eponymous Fakir, traversing Europe from France to the UK, Italy and Libya following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a bed of nails from the Roissy branch of IKEA outside Paris.
The first couple of chapters are good fun, once you accept the idea that IKEA would actually sell a bed of nails. The idea of a story being told within the fake theatrical habitat of an IKEA showroom is a great premise - could we see a season of pop up performances in IKEA Milton Keynes soon?
More likely is that in this novel we have a screen-play just waiting to be committed to celluloid. Given the novels direct casting of Sophie Marceau (disguised as Morceau) in a leading role I suspect the film version is currently in pre-production with Canal+.
Following well worn European people trafficking routes this tale offers up a refreshing take on the typical narrative around immigrants trapped in shipping containers and aeroplane holds but the trouble with the novel is that the fast pace and episodic adventure actually conceals a very light story that fails to fully reward the reader in the end. Yes there's victory over adversity but this is little more than a (partly) humorous romp with a quirky title.
Sometimes novels can be just too quick and easy to read.
Discovered in Daunt Books, Marylebone
Read, in part, in Curators Coffee Gallery and the 09:53 from Haddenham and Thame Parkway to London Marylebone.
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