The Life Before Us by Romain Gary
The novel is a poignant exploration of the bond between a young Arab boy, Momo, and an elderly Jewish woman, Madame Rosa, who is a Holocaust survivor and former prostitute. Living in the Belleville neighborhood of Paris, Madame Rosa takes care of the children of other prostitutes, and Momo becomes her protégé and closest companion. Through their relationship, the story delves into themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The narrative, told from Momo's perspective, captures the struggles and the multicultural tapestry of life in a Parisian slum, while also addressing the weight of history and the complexity of identity and belonging.
The 858th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1975
- Nationality
- French
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 200-300
- Words
- Unknown
- Original Language
- French
- Alternate Titles
-
- Madame Rosa
- Momo
- La Vida Ante Sí
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 6 lists:
- 17th on The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers (Le Monde)
- 29th on The 50 best French language books from 1900 to today (Le Temps)
- 84th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 1518th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1671st on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- What are the Goncourt Winners’ Favorite Books? (Télérama)