Gaëlle Obiégly's Novel Explores Lies and Truth Through a Birthday

Gaëlle Obiégly's novel 'Le vingt et un août' (Éd. l'Arpenteur / Gallimard) centers on a narrator who, on her birthday, decides to end a period of lying that began at age fifteen when she left home for boarding school. The book examines the reasons behind her mythomania, suggesting it revives desire and leaves room for confession. The narrator, who has always invented life before it happens, now resolves to speak only of what is present. Her silence and fear of others serve as alternatives to her fantasies. The narrative moves toward an inevitable confession, addressed to her beloved Gamin. Childhood memories, stormy skies, and the heat of August frame the story. Fabienne Jacob reviewed the work for artpress.