I was so glad that Rhonda, a wire-haired Jack Russell who Ron adopted as a stray, shortly after meeting Michael in the previous book Reflections On The Boulevard, is still with us. Considerably older now, she is blind in one eye and is mostly taken out in a baby buggy because she is afraid of burning her paws on the cigarette butts on the street. Past trauma I believe. We always had to carry our beloved Jack Russell, Pancake, across bridges if they were made of something you could see through. Dogs always remember the past trauma. In Pancake’s case, it may well have been in a previous life.
Ron is now living in Paris, with Rhonda of course, and working in a bookstore. It’s not like any other bookstore. Customers who have nowhere to live – Tumbleweeds as they are referred to – can stay for a few nights. They drift in and out.
Then one day, Ron chases and catches a young man who has stolen a book from the shop. The man explains that he isn’t really a thief. His name is Louie and he tells Ron about his reasons for taking the book. He has a girlfriend called Lily, who happens to be a friend of Ron’s girlfriend Julia. And so the friendship between Ron and Louie develops.
Ron has now taken Michael’s place as ‘mentor’ – he is the one mentoring Louie. He talks about love and friendship, not just of another person, but also the love of a dog like Rhonda. Incidentally, I am fascinated by Rhonda’s choice of food – she seems to live on ham and cheese sandwiches. I’m sure it’s not good for her.
While Ron really just minds his own business running the bookstore, Louie is very involved in the political scene under Macron. At one point, he and Lily are caught up in a demonstration against raising the pension age from 62 to 64. Ha! Here in the UK we are just about to move from 66 to 67. Everyone objected when it first went up about 10 years ago, but we didn’t riot like they did in Paris.
Once again it is an emotional read. I don’t want to go into why, as that would involve spoilers. Suffice to say there are some sad events, as there have been in all three books, and it is now time to say goodbye once and for all to Michael, Ron, Louie and of course my beloved Rhonda. I’ll miss them all.
The novel, the last installment in this engrossing trilogy, takes readers to the heart of Paris, where the protagonist Ron, at his friend Michael's suggestion, sets out on a journey of self-exile. Ron's story develops with depth and resonance against the backdrop of the city's lively culture and passionate protests, providing a complex examination of identity, friendship, and the search for purpose.
Much like its predecessors, this novel makes me feel a variety of things, including laughter, anxiety, excitement, wonder, and loss. Ambrosio's skill in incorporating these emotions into the story is what gives the trilogy its unique quality. While there is room for improvement in the book, overall the story is heartwarming and well worth reading.
Ambrosio shows a wonderful capacity to add levels of intellectual insight and emotional depth to her storytelling throughout the story. Every page exudes a feeling of urgency and poignancy that drive readers to reflect on life's most important issues in tandem with the characters.
Excerpt Julia went to the kitchen and put the food they bought on the counter and grabbed a glass of white wine.“I am so happy we moved in together. I would have had to worry about getting rid of your apartment,” said Ron. “And now off to New York and Mount Sinai for your internship.”“I sort of liked living with you," Julia said with a slight smile.“How are you getting to the airport?” asked Ron. “Lily and her boyfriend will drive us; she has a big car and we all can fit in it, even Rhonda. I want her to come in the car to say goodbye to me.” Julia pauses for a moment and looks at Ron. “You know, you were sent a package by Michael’s son, Joshua.”Ron looked at Julia. “What? I did?”
“Do you want to open it now?”Buy the book at Amazon.
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