David Foenkinos' Debut Novel 'Inversion de l'idiotie' Reviewed

David Foenkinos' first novel, 'Inversion de l'idiotie, De l'influence de deux Polonais,' published by Éditions Gallimard, is a farcical and ironic work that plays with literary memory. The story follows Conrad, a Czech character who receives a wooden horse from his uncle Milan Kundera on his fourth birthday. Conrad later moves from Prague to Paris, working as a stock clerk at the Gallimard bookstore and living in an attic room. The narrative is marked by humorous twists and a rapid dissolution of the bildungsroman, beginning with a romantic breakup. As love fades, character identities shift, and misunderstandings escalate. Characters include Edgar Janssen, a Czech, and two Poles, set against a backdrop of cinema and rock 'n' roll. The author's style is playful, with language games and whimsical phrases. The review by Patrick Amine highlights the novel's fresh and lively perception of literature.