IIn a near-future-apocalyptic city, every single individual is walking around fantasying about taking their lives. Once they come to terms with the fact that suicide will put them out of their misery, they use the services of a shop called suicide shop run by the Tuvache family “Has not your life been successful, make your death a success”. The depressing shop’s atmosphere remains intact until, Alan, the third child is born. Baby Alan is different, he does something unusual; he smiles and he even laughs. Over the years, despite his parents ‘despair over his happiness, Alan always looks on the bright side, no matter if everything around him tells him that life is hopeless.
I found this book hilarious. I laughed many times to tears. The meaning behind the lines is interesting though. This humoristic book raises questions about depression and existential in a satirical way. How somewhat society with the help of the news/media teaches us to become depressed. The media may certainly have a responsibility over the phenomenon of depression by constantly bombarding us with news related to disease, injustice, war, poverty etc. but we, in turn,  crave for drama to happen. Alan’s character symbolises hope. He is different, happy, therefore he is abnormal and he does not fit in, but the fact that he does not want to is what makes him powerful. He sees life in a positive way.
The writing style has a double meaning. I guess the author wanted to use humour noir to highlight the serious topic of suicide.
I had the feeling that Jean Teule rushed the last third of the book. The plot took a turn that I did not like at all. The characters fall into ridiculous situations and caricatures. The development of the plot could have been more elaborated had he taken more time to finish it cleverly. Despite the last part, overall I liked it.
The book cover is striking. I bought it because of it. I did not even know what it was about.
Translated by Sue Dyer

Get your copy save it for later here