Behind the Eyes We Meet

This quirky and well-observed novel is the first book from Quebec author Verreault (Les Couleurs Primaires) to be translated into English. The novel is divided into three interlinked sections. A present-day narrative starts off by focusing on Manue, a 20-something woman searching for her pet goldfish. While putting up missing fish posters, she meets Fabio, who recently immigrated to Montreal from Italy. They spend a few glorious days together before Fabio returns to Italy for his grandfather Sergio’s funeral. The next section moves back in time to follow Sergio, recounting his arduous and emotional journey home from three years as a prisoner of war in a Russian camp. After the atrocities he has witnessed, Sergio can never be normal again—yet normal is exactly how he seems to his young grandson, who knows little about his history. The final section frames Fabio as he and Manue become closer. Fabio opens a box of his grandfather’s things and starts to unlock the secrets of his life. The contrast between the POW narrative and the purposelessness and existential crises of the contemporary pair is deliberately jarring and well balanced. Verreault withholds judgment and handles the linking narratives with a light touch. (Nov.)