Not Everybody Lives the Same Way

For reasons that will eventually become clear, Paul Hansen is in prison. He's been in prison for a couple of years now, sharing his cell with a fearsome Hells Angel murderer, who often reminds Paul that he could kill him at any moment.

But life wasn't always like this for Paul Hansen. Before prison, there were his parents: Danish pastor Johannes and free-spirited Anna, the proprietor of a controversial art house cinema. There were his friends in L'Excelsior, the block of luxury flats where Paul worked officially as a caretaker, and unofficially as a restorer of souls and comforter of the afflicted. And above all, there was his partner, Winona, the daring seaplane pilot, and their beloved dog Nouk.

Many of them are dead now: his parents, friends, Winona and Nouk. Paul can still talk to them though; they appear in his dreams, as ghosts in his cell, breaking up the monotony and fear of his life behind bars. But Paul knows he cannot be released until he shows remorse for the crime that led to his imprisonment. And, even with his freedom at stake, for some things, true remorse is too high a price to pay.

Translated from the French by David Homel

“Dubois has humanity rooted in his heart, but is under no illusions about anything . . . This cocktail of humour, intelligence and sentiment, freshly served with a deceptively casual elegance, is once again so successful - BibliobsA melancholy, luminous novel - FigaroAn affecting and nostalgic novel of lost happiness - Agence France-PressBasically perfect - L'ObsA masterpiece . . . Full of humanity, melancholy, irony”

A masterpiece . . . Full of humanity, melancholy, irony -- Philippe Claudel
Richly engaging . . . Skilfully translated by David Homel -- Michael Arditti Spectator
A touching tale of a beleaguered dreamer . . . Lightness balanced by glints of harsh realism, a combination captured perfectly in David Homel's translation -- Christian House Financial Times
Dubois has humanity rooted in his heart, but is under no illusions about anything . . . This cocktail of humour, intelligence and sentiment, freshly served with a deceptively casual elegance, is once again so successful Bibliobs
A melancholy, luminous novel Figaro
An affecting and nostalgic novel of lost happiness Agence France-Press
Basically perfect L'Obs

Jean-Paul Dubois was born in 1950 in Toulouse and is a journalist and author. He won the Prix Femina for his novel Une Vie Fran aise, and Not Everybody Lives the Same Way was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 2019. He is the author of many critically acclaimed novels and travel pieces, but has stated that he reserves all his writing for the month of March only.

For reasons that will eventually become clear, Paul Hansen is in prison. He's been in prison for a couple of years now, sharing his cell with a fearsome Hells Angel murderer, who often reminds Paul that he could kill him at any moment.But life wasn't always like this for Paul Hansen. Before prison, there were his parents: Danish pastor Johannes and free-spirited Anna, the proprietor of a controversial art house cinema. There were his friends in L'Excelsior, the block of luxury flats where Paul worked officially as a caretaker, and unofficially as a restorer of souls and comforter of the afflicted. And above all, there was his partner, Winona, the daring seaplane pilot, and their beloved dog Nouk.Many of them are dead now: his parents, friends, Winona and Nouk. Paul can still talk to them though; they appear in his dreams, as ghosts in his cell, breaking up the monotony and fear of his life behind bars. But Paul knows he cannot be released until he shows remorse for the crime that led to his imprisonment. And, even with his freedom at stake, for some things, true remorse is too high a price to pay. Translated from the French by David Homel

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