Forgotten on Sunday, by Valérie Perrin - Freya
Forgotten On Sunday centres around Justine, a 21 year old nursing assistant at a retirement home in a rural French village. She has lived most of her life with her grandparents, having been orphaned at a young age. She’s always gotten along better with older people over others her age, and in particular forms a strong bond with one of the care home residents, Hélène. At 100 years old, Hélène has lived a deeply tragic and sorrowful life, stories of which she shares with Justine from her bed at the retirement home.
Equal parts tender, amusing, and harrowing, this novel covers themes of love, loss, war, grief, and the beauty of life. Lean chapters flit between Justine’s perspective, the events surrounding the loss of her parents, and her retelling of Hélène’s life story - her painful childhood, her first love, her personal sacrifice during and after the war. As someone who loves time-spanning narratives, this book absolutely captivated me. Each thread crosses and intertwines beautifully, answering questions while posing new ones. A profoundly touching story and a gripping read from start to finish.
Beautifully translated from its native French by Hildegarde Serle, Forgotten on Sunday is a fascinating, humorous and melancholic read.
Freya
