Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Gallic Books (2016), 232 pages
Description
Antoine Laurain's new novel combines his trademark charm with a satirical take on modern France. Middle-aged doctor Alain Massoulier has received a life-changing letter--thirty-three years too late. Lost in the Paris postal system for decades, the letter from Polydor, dated 1983, offers a recording contract to The Holograms, in which Alain played lead guitar. Back then The Holograms had believed in their cutting-edge sound. However, the music industry remained indifferent, and eventually the band split up, each going their own way. Alain is overcome by nostalgia, and is tempted to track down the members of the group. But in a world where everything and everyone has changed...where will his quest take him?
User reviews
LibraryThing member MaggieG13
It has been a long while since I laughed out loud so many times while reading a book. French Rhapsody is the title that had my endorphins dancing a jig.
A middle-aged married Parisian doctor who has been disillusioned about his profession and personal life for some time receives a letter that has
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Alain has lost touch with almost everyone but has been haunted for some time by the memory of their sultry vocalist, the sole female member of the group, Berengere. Since Alain has suspected his wife Veronique of cheating on him, the memories of Berengere have been more frequent and lingered longer. After failing to find his own copy of the demonstration tape, he determines to contact the other group members to see if anyone has that tape. So, Alain the electric guitarist starts the search for his former band mates on the internet, of course. Beside songstress Berengere, he starts to track down drummer Stansilas Lepelle, bassist Sebastien Vaugan, keyboardist Frederic Lejeune, and lyricist Pierre Mazart. The demonstration tape had been funded by JBM, Jean-Bernard Mazart, brother of the lyricist Pierre. It is not hard to find JBM, as he is now a much politicized economist and massively successful businessman.
The nostalgia of the piece is particularly poignant at this point in the story, when Alain confronts his memories of the band members when they were 20 years old, still full of life and stuffed to the gills with hope, with the reality of their physical appearance and their present lifestyles. Angel-faced pudgy Sebastien Vaugan is now a hardbody extreme right winger with his own group of followers, the White Western Party, who might run for the presidency, his movement has grown so strong. Stan Lepelle is a famous, moneyed artist who has garnered many prizes and awards including a beautiful young Russian model. Frederick Lejeune has a hotel in Thailand and Pierre Mazart runs an antique shop. Alain cannot locate Berengere.
As Alain connects with each of these former bandmates, his enthusiasm for any possible reunion wavers and his recollection of “the good old days” loses its rosy glow as well. This is all good for the readers, however, because we are treated to the author’s satirical comic genius. Laurain takes on medical care, big business, tourism, politics, music, art, and the antiques business. Laurain tosses in a final jab, um twist, towards the end when Alain is able to meet with the music producer who sent that invitation letter in 1983.
This is not a book for the French – anyone can enjoy Laurain’s nostalgia, and his satirically witty take on modern life. The political views expressed by Sebastien Vaugan and JBM are cross cultural. Very few people will not laugh at how Stan Lepelle’s latest great art piece is undone! Millions can identify with Alain’s attitude, “Is this all there is?”
Laurain has written two prior books that American readers embraced – “The President’s Hat,” and “The Red Notebook.” He is a screenwriter and director of short films, a passionate lover of art who also has some experience in the antiques business. Born in the 1970s, Laurain has just hit his stride and we can expect to hear more from him for some time to come.
If you have a few hours, looking for a relatively quick read, but in the mood for something to keep your mind engaged and entertained as well as your humor meter humming, I think French Rhapsody is just your ticket. You might consider this for your book club’s list. My rating 4.0/5.0. I was given a galley of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review and I thank them. This review will be published in the Coastal Breeze News (Marco Island, FL) 09/16/2016 issue.
A middle-aged married Parisian doctor who has been disillusioned about his profession and personal life for some time receives a letter that has
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been delayed by the postal service for 33 years. The letter was found along with 3 other pieces of mail during remodeling; when shelves were dismantled, four pieces of mail were found to have fallen behind the back of the shelves and the wall. It is an invitation from a music recording company to come for an interview, expressing approval for their demonstration tape. Although intended for the entire band of his youth, the Holograms, it was addressed to Alain Massoulier as his parents had the only stable home among the group. Alain had taken over his father’s medical practice and raised his own family at 38 Rue de Moscou, Paris 8e, and thus was the recipient. He was coincidentally outraged and gratified when the letter arrived. His confrontation with the postal supervision is hilarious. .
Alain has lost touch with almost everyone but has been haunted for some time by the memory of their sultry vocalist, the sole female member of the group, Berengere. Since Alain has suspected his wife Veronique of cheating on him, the memories of Berengere have been more frequent and lingered longer. After failing to find his own copy of the demonstration tape, he determines to contact the other group members to see if anyone has that tape. So, Alain the electric guitarist starts the search for his former band mates on the internet, of course. Beside songstress Berengere, he starts to track down drummer Stansilas Lepelle, bassist Sebastien Vaugan, keyboardist Frederic Lejeune, and lyricist Pierre Mazart. The demonstration tape had been funded by JBM, Jean-Bernard Mazart, brother of the lyricist Pierre. It is not hard to find JBM, as he is now a much politicized economist and massively successful businessman.
The nostalgia of the piece is particularly poignant at this point in the story, when Alain confronts his memories of the band members when they were 20 years old, still full of life and stuffed to the gills with hope, with the reality of their physical appearance and their present lifestyles. Angel-faced pudgy Sebastien Vaugan is now a hardbody extreme right winger with his own group of followers, the White Western Party, who might run for the presidency, his movement has grown so strong. Stan Lepelle is a famous, moneyed artist who has garnered many prizes and awards including a beautiful young Russian model. Frederick Lejeune has a hotel in Thailand and Pierre Mazart runs an antique shop. Alain cannot locate Berengere.
As Alain connects with each of these former bandmates, his enthusiasm for any possible reunion wavers and his recollection of “the good old days” loses its rosy glow as well. This is all good for the readers, however, because we are treated to the author’s satirical comic genius. Laurain takes on medical care, big business, tourism, politics, music, art, and the antiques business. Laurain tosses in a final jab, um twist, towards the end when Alain is able to meet with the music producer who sent that invitation letter in 1983.
This is not a book for the French – anyone can enjoy Laurain’s nostalgia, and his satirically witty take on modern life. The political views expressed by Sebastien Vaugan and JBM are cross cultural. Very few people will not laugh at how Stan Lepelle’s latest great art piece is undone! Millions can identify with Alain’s attitude, “Is this all there is?”
Laurain has written two prior books that American readers embraced – “The President’s Hat,” and “The Red Notebook.” He is a screenwriter and director of short films, a passionate lover of art who also has some experience in the antiques business. Born in the 1970s, Laurain has just hit his stride and we can expect to hear more from him for some time to come.
If you have a few hours, looking for a relatively quick read, but in the mood for something to keep your mind engaged and entertained as well as your humor meter humming, I think French Rhapsody is just your ticket. You might consider this for your book club’s list. My rating 4.0/5.0. I was given a galley of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review and I thank them. This review will be published in the Coastal Breeze News (Marco Island, FL) 09/16/2016 issue.
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LibraryThing member cburnett5
4.5 stars
Antoine Laurain continues to craft creative, timely stories that will delight his audience while also making his readers think about what is happening in the world around them. While The President’s Hat remains my favorite of his books, French Rhapsody was a fantastic read, and I
Paris physician Alain Massoulier receives what would have been a life changing letter in the mail 33 years after it was sent to him. With a number of other individuals that we slowly get to know, Alain had been in a band called The Holograms in the 1980’s. After receiving little encouragement from the music industry, the group had broken up and gone their separate ways. The delayed letter offered the group a recording contract. This letter sets in motion a chain of events that alters the lives of several of the individuals originally associated with the Holograms. Laurain explores the idea that one event or happenstance can cause a ripple that impacts the lives of many individuals. The plot was not predictable, and several events occurred that I most definitely did not see coming. I always love when an author can surprise me with a plot twist, and there were several in French Rhapsody that really moved the story along. The book was wonderful from start to finish.
Laurain makes some very relevant statements about issues facing a number of countries today such as the refugee crisis and the impact on Europe and the United States. As these countries attempt to integrate refugees into their societies, there has been an increase in extreme xenophobic right wing groups advocating hatred and intolerance. His French Trump-like character is symbolic of individuals trying to gain power in a number of these countries and the length these individuals will go to in order to try and succeed. On a lighter note, Laurain pokes fun at the contemporary art scene and the attitudes of some of these contemporary artists. A particularly hilarious scene results from this storyline – I can’t say more without spoiling the event, but it was fantastic.
While I was intrigued by almost all of the characters, JBM was my favorite character by far. Every country could use a JBM, and I certainly wish the United States had someone like that right now.
I highly recommend this novel and his previous two books also. Laurain has a lot to say, and it is worth listening to him. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallic Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Antoine Laurain continues to craft creative, timely stories that will delight his audience while also making his readers think about what is happening in the world around them. While The President’s Hat remains my favorite of his books, French Rhapsody was a fantastic read, and I
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thoroughly enjoyed it. Paris physician Alain Massoulier receives what would have been a life changing letter in the mail 33 years after it was sent to him. With a number of other individuals that we slowly get to know, Alain had been in a band called The Holograms in the 1980’s. After receiving little encouragement from the music industry, the group had broken up and gone their separate ways. The delayed letter offered the group a recording contract. This letter sets in motion a chain of events that alters the lives of several of the individuals originally associated with the Holograms. Laurain explores the idea that one event or happenstance can cause a ripple that impacts the lives of many individuals. The plot was not predictable, and several events occurred that I most definitely did not see coming. I always love when an author can surprise me with a plot twist, and there were several in French Rhapsody that really moved the story along. The book was wonderful from start to finish.
Laurain makes some very relevant statements about issues facing a number of countries today such as the refugee crisis and the impact on Europe and the United States. As these countries attempt to integrate refugees into their societies, there has been an increase in extreme xenophobic right wing groups advocating hatred and intolerance. His French Trump-like character is symbolic of individuals trying to gain power in a number of these countries and the length these individuals will go to in order to try and succeed. On a lighter note, Laurain pokes fun at the contemporary art scene and the attitudes of some of these contemporary artists. A particularly hilarious scene results from this storyline – I can’t say more without spoiling the event, but it was fantastic.
While I was intrigued by almost all of the characters, JBM was my favorite character by far. Every country could use a JBM, and I certainly wish the United States had someone like that right now.
I highly recommend this novel and his previous two books also. Laurain has a lot to say, and it is worth listening to him. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallic Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Alain Massoulier is a middle-aged doctor who played lead guitar in a band called The Holograms in the 1980s. The band split when they didn't get anywhere. Now, 33 years later, he receives a letter from a recording studio dated 12 September 1983 with an offer to meet with the band to discuss their
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future. The Paris postal system lost the letter behind some shelves which were only recently dismantled. Alain determines to track down the old members of the group, at the very least to try and locate a copy of their old demo tape with at least one song that he was sure would be successful. The task is harder than he thinks, and each band member has a story. An interesting plot line, but not as good as his other titles unfortunately. Show Less
LibraryThing member FerneMysteryReader
I don't remember how I first became aware of the writing of Antoine Laurain but was delighted to receive "The Red Notebook" on Christmas 2017 as one of that year's requested holiday gifts. I was enraptured with the story and as I closed the book I knew I wanted to read other stories written by this
The story setting is in the country of France but the theme is universal and an interesting story to ponder --- Remembering dreams once held high but lost along life's way. It's fairly easy to imagine a lost letter in the mail but lost for 33 years? WoW! In this scenario, one of the band members of the Holograms receives a short letter from a record labeling company about a demo tape received and that they're most interested in the song, "Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of" and would like to schedule a meeting with the group. The band member that receives the letter discovers that he no longer has a tape of the song and begins to contact other band members to see if they still have a tape of the song not yet certain whether he'll also share the news about the long lost letter.
A story of reflection not only for the band members but I almost couldn't help myself as I closed the book to have a few moments of reflection myself...
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author. I chose "French Rhapsody" as my next selection and received it this past Christmas 2019. I was also excited to discover the author worked with the same translators, Jane Aitken and Emily Boyce.The story setting is in the country of France but the theme is universal and an interesting story to ponder --- Remembering dreams once held high but lost along life's way. It's fairly easy to imagine a lost letter in the mail but lost for 33 years? WoW! In this scenario, one of the band members of the Holograms receives a short letter from a record labeling company about a demo tape received and that they're most interested in the song, "Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of" and would like to schedule a meeting with the group. The band member that receives the letter discovers that he no longer has a tape of the song and begins to contact other band members to see if they still have a tape of the song not yet certain whether he'll also share the news about the long lost letter.
A story of reflection not only for the band members but I almost couldn't help myself as I closed the book to have a few moments of reflection myself...
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LibraryThing member secondhandrose
Contemporary, surprising, brilliant. The best book I have read in the last 12 months. Loved it!
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
232 p.; 5 inches
ISBN
9781910477304
Local notes
Middle-aged doctor Alain Massoulier has received a life-changing letter thirty-three years too late. Lost in the Paris postal system for decades, the letter from Polydor, dated 1983, offers a recording contract to The Holograms, in which Alain played lead guitar. Back then The Holograms had believed in their cutting-edge sound. However, the music industry remained indifferent, and eventually the band split up, each going their own way. Alain is overcome by nostalgia, and is tempted to track down the members of the group.