Mygale (City Lights Noir) [Paperback]

Thierry Jonquet (Author), Donald Nicholson-Smith (Translator)

Book Description

Series: City Lights Noir | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Mygale [MIG-uh-lee] n.: a genus of large tropical spiders. . . .

Richard Lafargue, a well-known plastic surgeon, pursues and captures Vincent Moreau, who raped Lafargue’s daughter and left her hopelessly mad in an asylum. Lafargue is determined to exact an atrocious vengeance, and an ambiguous, even sadomasochistic relationship develops between self-appointed executioner and victim.

"Great art in nightmarish darkness."—Michel Lebrun

Thierry Jonquet (b. 1954, Paris) is an exponent of the hardboiled style of French noir that is inflected by post–May 1968 politics and social critique. His crime novels and children’s books have garnered many literary prizes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" 'Ingenious,' 'elegant,' 'sinister' -- these are also adjectives that approximate, but fall short of, the narrative power of 'Mygale.' -- The Washington Post Book World, January 19, 2003

"...Jonquet's prose is rough hewn, the panache is all in 'Mygale's' bizarre setup, gruesome scenarios and gender bending ending." -- St. Petersberg Times, Jan 12, 2003

Watch your skin crawl with this slim French tickler... -- –East Bay Express, July 30, 2003

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087286409X
• ISBN-13: 978-0872864092
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strange, weird, great, March 10, 2003

By 

"phantomas" (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mygale (City Lights Noir) (Paperback)

Jonquet is a French author of children's books, which I am somewhat familiar with. They are good, enjoyable books. I had never read any of his other works, although I did know he had published some mysteries and essays. This novel is one of those, and it is quite a discovery if you ask me. Jonquet depicts a relationship between a man and a woman that is so strange and twisted as to be called surreal. Are they husband and wife? Father and daughter? Lovers? Associates? Acquaintances? Brother and sister? The answer could be any or every one of those. And who is the wounded man? Where do they come together? This book would be great inspiration for a David Lynch or Stanley Kubrick film. This is a world where the crime is accepted and exalted, by its very victim. The story grips the reader tightly, and doesn't let go until the very end. Good thing this is a short book, because I couldn't stop reading.

I gave it four stars, because I began to glimpse the answer to the mystery about halfway through the book. But the story is fascinating in its weirdness, the characters are twisted but somehow likable enough, and the story presents an idea so bold and original as to be shocking by the time it is revealed. Even if you somehow saw it coming.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revenge. Sweet Revenge., January 6, 2008

By 

Dash Manchette - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Mygale (City Lights Noir) (Paperback)

Near the beginning of MYGALE, we realize that Richard Lafargue, a prominent plastic surgeon, although he treats his woman Eve pleasantly in the presence of others, indeed hates her guts with a searing intensity. As for Eve, although she is locked up at night in her bedroom, we cannot help but wonder why she does not run away or tell someone of her confinement and brutalization when she is around others. After all, it is not like Lafargue is hiding her. He takes her to local parties and such. And, a couple of times a month, he takes her to a Paris apartment where she is used sexually by paying customers, while Lafargue watches with pleasure through a one-way mirror and laughs at Eve's humiliation.

The mystery slowly unfolds in this intriguing tale of revenge. Lafargue has shackled Eve on to him in a rather unique manner. Although the plot device starts to become apparent about halfway through the book, the originality of it nonetheless allows MYGALE to maintain the steam through to the end. Despite her hatred of Lafargue and her humiliation at his hands, Eve cannot go back to the life she once knew.

Along the way we meet Alex, a thug on the run after killing a cop. His story becomes interwoven with that of Eve, Lafargue, and Lafargue's daughter, who is confined to a mental institution. The loose ends come together tightly as we learn the full truth of what has happened.

I picked up MYGALE as it is published by the same noir division of City Lights Books that published a couple of excellent thrillers by Jean-Patrick Manchette. MYGALE lacks the action of Manchette's books and is more subtle and psychological in nature. But the books share the same terse prose and, although it takes a different approach to noir, MYGALE is, like Manchette's books, worth the time.

Also read:
The Prone Gunman (City Lights Noir), Jean-Patrick Manchette
Three To Kill, Jean-Patrick Manchette

5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner for sure!, December 31, 2011

By 

Megadalena Nguyen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mygale (City Lights Noir) (Paperback)

So twisted and psychologically thrilling! Loved it!
I found out about this book after I had seen the movie 'The Skin I live In'( the novel it was based on ).
The themes that struck a chord with me the most was that of Identity and Sexuality.
This is a must read!