Christophe Duchatelet's 'Pelles & rateaux': A Sitcom-Style Novel of Urban Malaise

Éditions Calmann-Lévy has published Christophe Duchatelet's novel 'Pelles & rateaux', a comedic yet poignant chronicle of a single, urban Parisian man in his forties. The protagonist, a depressive yet fundamentally joyful individual, navigates a series of clichéd situations—romantic failures, crude humor, and existential mishaps—that mimic a television sitcom. The narrative, while occasionally bogged down by political digressions, is redeemed by its sharp self-deprecation and finely drawn portraits of characters searching for meaning. A mysterious man in a fuchsia tie appears throughout, attempting to befriend the hero, only to die crushed by a train at Gare du Nord, his identity unknown. The writing is described as polished and rhythmic, anchored by the protagonist's relationship with his daughter, the sole stabilizing force in his life. Critic Éric Mangion reviews the work in artpress.