I don't know if this book has been translated into English, but others by this author certainly have been. The novel deals with a French woman, Catherine, who is dissatisfied with her monotonous life, and who takes a trip to Brazil to see a friend. She is curious about the local people and their lives, and before long meets a charming young man, Gil, who becomes her lover. She loses contact with her French friend and cuts herself off from her old life. Starting by paying for drinks and giving presents, she finds herself eventually giving all she has away and abasing herself more and more. And once she crosses a certain line, taking her out of the elegant beach resort and into the backstreets behind, Gil's behaviour begins to change. This shocking little story tells of Catherine's need to have someone to love, and of how little this has to do with needing to be loved in return. It also deals with the culture clash between her former home and the favelas of Brazil.

http://bibliotheca.skynetblogs.be/post/3715714/la-salamandre--jeanchristophe-ruf... ( )

lu mai 2006