I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere [Paperback]

Anna Gavalda (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 2, 2003

Hailed by Voici as "a distant descendant of Dorothy Parker," prize-winning Anna Gavalda has caused an international sensation with this dazzling collection of short stories selling over 700,000 copies in her native France. With arresting naturalism, a lively variety of perspectives, Gavalda writes simply--and beautifully--of human beings longing to connect. Gavalda has a knack for capturing our inner as well as our outer dialogues with perfect pitch, provoking reflection, pain, and laughter in equal measure. The stories in I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere are as wicked as they are insightful, as stylish as they are sparse, as fiercely unsentimental as they are emotionally wrought.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Reading Anna Gavalda's story collection, I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, is a bit like choosing the mini-éclair over its full-size counterpart--while the smaller size makes each morsel that much more satisfying, you can't help but wish for just one more bite. Still, in many cases, Gavalda does a better job of capturing the essence of human emotion in each five-to-ten page story than many writers manage to do in epic novels.

Gavalda sets up every story such that each character's fate can be decided in a single moment. Whether the protagonist's pivotal moment is decided by fate or free will is what keeps these 12 stories fresh and unique. In "Lead Story," traveling salesman Jean-Pierre does not learn the true horrific consequences of an almost-missed exit on the highway until opening Le Figaro the next morning. The veterinarian in Catgut decides her fate in the instant after a brutal crime leaves her feeling physically and emotionally victimized. And when the mysterious stranger answers his cell phone on a first date in Courting Rituals of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés, our heroine decides she has heard enough to cut short what could have been a passionate love affair. ("I come to my senses all at once. Traitor. Ingrate.") It is in these crucial instants, where fate plays a hand, that Gavalda truly shows off her ability to convey love, longing, loneliness, and satisfaction. And perhaps the clarity of these moments is worth more than any full-size French pastry. --Gisele Toueg

From Publishers Weekly

Unabashed materialism is tempered by dry wit in this collection of 12 jaunty short stories about heartache and love by a young prize-winning French writer. The first-person narrators speak directly to the reader: "So anyway, as I was saying," "I'm not saying that to be a smartass" and even "Hmpphh, whatever." This playfulness often masks hurt: protagonists range from a female veterinarian who is gang-raped by drunken farmers to a pop singer isolated by fame and drugs, to a traveling salesman who plays a role in a terrible traffic accident. The collection's shorter stories are slight; nothing much happens, or problems raised are shrugged off without any attempt at resolution. The book's gems, on the other hand, delight by adding action to the mix. In "Junior," two boys borrow dad's Jaguar, with disastrous results; in "Clic-Clac" two sisters help their brother jump-start a love affair with a delectable colleague. If love is one recurring theme, another is class, particularly the distinction between middle and upper classes in French society. In "This Man and This Woman," a couple's loveless marriage is equated with their predictable taste in clothing and furnishings: "It's all kind of nouveau riche, but fortunately they don't realize it." Deftly translated by Marker, this uneven but entertaining collection displays a deliciously Gallic insouciance.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade; 1 edition (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573223557
• ISBN-13: 978-1573223553
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A witty, unusual collection of short stories. December 27, 2003

By L. Quido VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I understand that Anna Gavalda is French, and the evidence is her wry, Gallic humor and tendency to understate the obvious in her stories. Ostensibly a collection of love stories, Gavalda's collection really runs the gamut of many emotions.

Some leave you rueful, others make you wish she had stretched them out and made even more of the story. Some shock--"Catgut" is an example of an emotionally charged story of horror and revenge. "Junior" is a sad story of a young man's folly -- and not a misstep with love. My favorites of the collection are "For Years", as a man meets his lost love, and learns she is dying, "Pregnant", a tale of shock and sadness that many of us have had to face, and the lead tale, "Courting Rituals of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres", in which a young woman surfaces her doubts about love at first sight by finding a cellular pretense to leave a man she is attracted to.

Gavalda has an interesting, rich voice, slants her stories from several perspectives, keeps you refreshed and reading. When you are finished, disappointment that there is no more lets you know that you are truly in the presence of a great young writer.

Exciting, bold, makes you want to read more by Gavalda!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Liquid Inspiration November 19, 2004

By L. L. Nawrocki

Format:Paperback

I was in need of a book and I didn't know where to begin...so I began shopping for titles. This captivates you right off. The novel is simply a defining moment in writing. I think it is one of the best pieces of literature I have ever read, in that it stays with you. Another unique ability this author has is she masters the ability to change "voice" of her characters from story to story. I have lent this book out numerous times and never without fail- everyone adores it. I would say the only possiblity that you might not be captivated by it is if you don't take the time to let it dissolve in your mind. Truly a fine fine book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars These wonderful stories are both entertaining and touching April 3, 2004

By Bookreporter

Format:Paperback

"I wish someone were waiting for me somewhere" --- this echoes what we all feel in our hearts. For some it may be a feeling they harbor secretly, while for others it's a well advertised fact told to all they know, and for those few who always seem in control of their lives this feeling hides in the shadows of their heart but is always there --- for everyone, everywhere wishes for that special someone.

Anna Gavalda has captured these unusual yet down-to-earth stories with so much charisma. From the aging singer who is tired of life but who finds love unexpectedly, to the man in the "lead story" who faces a dire dilemma, these are all stories with an essence of truth in them. They deal with broken hearts, lost loves, happiness and sadness. And at times, these stories may lead you to think more deeply about your own past, your secrets and fears.

I must admit that at first I found the book daunting to read, as Anna Gavalda writes in a very straightforward manner. For someone like me who enjoys reading crime novels, thrillers and lighthearted fare, the writing was quite different. But I eventually warmed to the book, and was both entertained and touched by its many wonderful stories. Whether they mean anything to you or not, these stories will open your eyes to situations you may never have imagined.

To sit down and read a book based purely on life takes maturity and an understanding beyond all that you know and believe. Perhaps it is time for many of you readers out there --- secrets, fears and all --- to delve deep into your soul and look beyond your circle of life to learn about the reality of those around you.

--- Reviewed by Vin Patel