Vie Devant Soi

by Romain Gary, Émile Ajar, Émile Ajar

Book Overview

Momo has been one of the ever-changing ragbag of whores' children at Madame Rosa's boarding house in Paris ever since he can remember. But when the check that pays for his keep no longer arrives and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 2070373622
• ISBN13: 9782070373628
• Release Date: March 1982
• Publisher: Gallimard Education
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A gem of world literature

...This book is one of the most honest, stirring, and alive pieces of world literature. It has followed me around since I was the age of its hero, and it has more to teach me each time I re-read it.In Momo (La vie devant soi in its original French), an Algerian boy tells with matter-of-fact honesty and bitter, fresh humor about life in the Paris district of Belleville. Momo's narrative brings to life hookers, pimps, gangsters, junkies, Arab and African immigrants, and tough kids like himself. He speaks with warm humanity and understanding about the urban outcasts whom we decent white folk prefer to conveniently ignore. Momo also tells with heart-wrenching sincerity of his aching need for family, belonging, and a meaning for his life. His adoration of and loyalty to Madame Rosa who raised him makes Momo a hero.This book is required reading for people willing to shed their prejudice and narrow-minded worldview. The English edition should be re-printed and made available in the United States. I also recommend the film made from the book, titled Madame Rosa in the US, with Simone Signoret in the title role.

Tears & Laughter

This is by far the best book that I have read in a very long time. I wasn't familiar with Romain Gary until I read a little book called "Darkness Visible - A Memoir of Madness" by the great author William Styron. In "Darkness Visible" Styron describes his crippling depression and near suicide and speaks of Camus and Romain Gary with great affection. He knew Gary and his wife Jean Seberg. (Styron almost met Camus - he had a dinner engagement with him when he learned he was killed in an auto accident.) Styron saw Romain Gary in his deepest state of depression only to experience serious depression himself later. Styron was deeply affected when he found out that Jean had committed suicide and later so did Romain Gary. It is disturbing how we often lose so many of our great artists by their own hand. And Romain Gary was certainly one of the greatest. In "The Life Before Us" Romain Gary tells the story of Madame Rosa from the viewpoint of little "Momo". This was the first time I had ever read a novel where I was literally laughing from humour and crying from sadness at the same time. It is amazing how the same exact sentence can inspire both humour and sadness. But Gary accomplished this and much more with this very touching novel. There are many tender Truths in this work. A touching quote: "'Monsieur Hamil, can somebody live without love?''Yes', he said, and bowed his head in shame. I burst into tears." Another is: "'It's where I hide when I'm afraid.' 'Afraid of what, Madame Rosa?' 'You don't need reasons to be afraid, Momo.' I've never forgotten those words, because they were the truest words I've ever heard." This novel is about life and what it means to be human. It is profoundly touching, disturbing, sad, funny, and honest. You will look at the world differently after reading this novel. It is sad that Romain Gary is gone from our world, but my how he enriched it.

Fun and Moving

Every now and the you read a book that is so lovely, that you find yourself talking about it to everyone you meet, lover of literature or not. This one of those books. It has been standing on my bookshelves for 20 years! By coincidence I picked it up, not knowing whether I wanted to read a narrative of a childhood or not (I don't fancy them much). But as soon as I started reading it I was captivated. I read it in Swedish. Had I not known that the translator, Bengt Söderbergh is a fine novelists, who has lived in France for most part of his life, I would have thought book badly translated, until I got into this child way if speaking. It is hilarious, he makes a lot of mistakes resulting in an exciting and lively language. The novel colourfully depicts life among the poor, unemployed, hookers, pimps in Belleville in Paris. The book is full of odd characters, very often a lot of fun and in the end, very sad and moving. I do recommend it!

Emile Ajar- The greatest

This beautiful book is one of the best books I had ever read! Through the eyes of an 8-year-old orphan Arab child, who lives unlegaly in a jewish formel prostitutes house, we learn about life, love and all the other things that realy matter. The decision of Ajar to state such a young child in this harsh life causes enormous emotional conflicts among the reading audience, but with this difficulty comes a great anount of pure innocence. warmly recommended!

Enchanting Children's Tale of Courage

Momo is a tale of a young girl who goes against social norms to make the world a better place. A story children will be inspired by, Momo captures the essence of the importance of life: To stand up for what is right, whether or not it is easy. Beautfully written, this book is a prize!