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The co-op bookstore for avid readers
Life, Only Better
Two lost young Parisians discover new paths for their lives in this charming pair of novellas by the international-bestselling author of Billie.
Twenty-four-year-old Mathilde has abandoned her studies in art history for a job leaving anonymous negative comments on websites. One day she loses her bag in a café--a bag that happens to contain ten thousand Euros. When an unknown man returns it to her a week later, Mathilde becomes obsessed with the mysterious encounterTwenty-six-year-old Yann works as a sales assistant in a home appliances store while he waits for better days to come. He wouldn't say he is unhappy. But sometimes, late at night, when he is crossing a bridge over the River Seine, he imagines jumping. One day he does a favor for one of his neighbors and is asked to stay for dinner as thanks. The following morning Yann throws caution to the wind and decides to change his life entirely.
These two novellas by bestselling author Anna Gavalda are among her most moving and inspiring. Life, Only Better is a touching, cleverly crafted book about choices and their consequences.
Book Details
- Publisher: Europa Editions
- Publish Date: Nov 24th, 2015
- Pages: 210
- Language: English
- Edition: undefined - undefined
- Dimensions: 8.20in - 5.20in - 0.70in - 0.65lb
- EAN: 9781609452940
- Categories: • Literary• City Life• Friendship
About the Author
Anna Gavalda's first published work was the critically acclaimed collection of short stories I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, which sold over half a million copies in her native France and was published in the US by Riverhead in 2003. She is also the author of Someone I Loved, Hunting and Gathering, made into a film starring Audrey Tautou and Daniel Auteuil, French Leave (Europa 2011), and Billie (Europa 2015). Gavalda lives in Paris. Tina Kover's published works include the Modern Library translation of Georges by Alexandre Dumas pére, The Black City by George Sand (Carroll & Graf), and Maurice G. Dantec's Cosmos Incorporated and Grand Junction. In 2009 she received a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for the translation of Manette Salomon by the Goncourt borthers.
Praise for this book
Praise for "Anna Gavalda"
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." - "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
- "Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
- Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." - Bookseller, France"""
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." - "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
- "Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
- Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." - Bookseller, France"""
Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm. "TheNew York Times
" This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story. "New York Journal of Books
"
With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort. "The Cedar Rapids Gazette"
Praise for "Anna Gavalda"
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
"Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." Bookseller, France"""
" This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story. "New York Journal of Books
"
With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort. "The Cedar Rapids Gazette"
Praise for "Anna Gavalda"
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
"Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." Bookseller, France"""
Praise for "Life, Only Better"
Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm. "TheNew York Times
" This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story. "New York Journal of Books
"
With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort. "The Cedar Rapids Gazette"
Praise for "Anna Gavalda"
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
"Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." Bookseller, France"""
Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm. "TheNew York Times
" This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story. "New York Journal of Books
"
With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort. "The Cedar Rapids Gazette"
Praise for "Anna Gavalda"
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy." "Le Figaro"
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
"Marie Claire"(France)""
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story..."Billie "is a revelation!"
Olivia de Lamberterie, "France 2"
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome." Bookseller, France"""
Praise for Life, Only Better
"Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm."
--The New York Times
"This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story."
--New York Journal of Books
"With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort."
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette
"Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm."
--The New York Times
"This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story."
--New York Journal of Books
"With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort."
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Praise for Anna Gavalda
"The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy."
--Le Figaro
"Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
--Marie Claire (France)
"A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story...Billie is a revelation!"
--Olivia de Lamberterie, France 2
"Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome."--Bookseller, France
Praise for Life, Only Better
-Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm.-
--The New York Times
-This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story.-
--New York Journal of Books
-With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort.-
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette
-Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm.-
--The New York Times
-This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story.-
--New York Journal of Books
-With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort.-
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Praise for Anna Gavalda
-The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy.-
--Le Figaro
-Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible.-
--Marie Claire (France)
-A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story...Billie is a revelation!-
--Olivia de Lamberterie, France 2
-Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome.---Bookseller, France
Praise for Life, Only Better "Both stories have a sentimental streak, but Ms. Gavalda, a best-selling author in her native France, puts them across with charm."
--The New York Times "This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story."
--New York Journal of Books
"With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort."
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette Praise for Anna Gavalda "The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy."
--Le Figaro "Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
--Marie Claire (France) "A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story...Billie is a revelation!"
--Olivia de Lamberterie, France 2 "Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome."--Bookseller, France
--The New York Times "This is an effervescent book, comprised of two equally well-rounded stories. Mathilde and Yann feel like old friends by the end of each story."
--New York Journal of Books
"With writing this beautiful and charming, and heartbreakingly sincere, Gavalda makes the journey well worth the effort."
--The Cedar Rapids Gazette Praise for Anna Gavalda "The qualities that make Anna Gavalda unique include precision, tenderness for her characters, a sense of detail, an intoxicating mix of nostalgia, and a capacity for joy."
--Le Figaro "Gavalda's sparkling impertinence and her childlike joie de vivre are irresistible."
--Marie Claire (France) "A sensitive, delicate, funny, immensely readable story...Billie is a revelation!"
--Olivia de Lamberterie, France 2 "Her simplicity, warmth, and desire to share is amazing...Honest and open, alternating swift statements that stick in the mind with secret confessions, generous and radiant, Anna Gavalda is simply awesome."--Bookseller, France