Xavier Bosch
Every story needs a little bit of mystery to keep our interest. In May, I typically review something from the mystery genre. This month, the novel I selected is classified as historical fiction and romance, but the author weaves in a compelling mystery that keeps you invested even after the last page.
I read What the Light Touches by Xavier Bosch. Bosch is a Catalan-Spanish writer and journalist born in Barcelona.
He has written nine novels and two short-story collections. Five of his books have earned the bestselling book of the year distinction in Spain.
Bosch’s novel alternates between two timelines, Modern day France and World War II during the German occupation of Paris.
Barbara sells the international rights to novels for selected authors represented by a French publishing company. She works from her home, a fifth-floor walk-up she shared with her beloved grandmother until Mamie-Margaux decided to move to a retirement community.
Barbara grew up there with Mamie-Margaux after her parents were killed in an accident. She moved back after a difficult divorce. Without Mamie- Margaux, Barbara defrays expenses by renting out a room to Marcel, a Spanish attorney working in Paris.
When Marcel is away, he offers the room to his younger brother Roger, a photographer struggling to regain his passion for his art.
Unfortunately, Marcel forgets to tell Barbara about Roger. He also forgets to tell Roger that Barbara is the owner and not a tenant. After a few misunderstandings and miscommunications, Roger and Barbara settle into an uneasy routine.
They maintain their distance until an unusual discovery brings them together.
Roger finds an old box under the bed that he assumes belongs to Marcel. In it are old newspaper clippings and photographs. A photo of a beautiful young woman on a bike intrigues him. Realizing these items couldn’t be his brother’s, Roger carefully puts them back. He forgets about them until he attends a photo exhibition featuring propaganda photos taken during the German occupation of France in World War II. He sees the photo of the woman on the bike, and becomes curious.
When he takes Barbara to the exhibit, she recognizes her grandmother as the woman in the photo. Mamie-Margaux has steadfastly refused to have her photo taken or display photos in her home as long as Barbara has known her. What is the mystery of the photo?
Bosch unravels the mystery for his readers by using flashbacks of Margaux’s life and revelations she makes to her granddaughter and Roger. He offers us an intimate look at the German occupation of France that includes German soldiers, Nazis, the French underground resistance, collaborators, Jews, Gays, and dissidents who mysteriously disappear, food scarcity and rationing coupons, and the people of Paris simply trying to survive.
We get to see Margaux fall in love, first with music then with the man who teaches her how to play the oboe. We learn how a single photo taken on a happy day can be twisted into something that almost ruins a family.
Margaux’s story unlocks a whirlwind of emotions and memories. As her story unfolds, so do Barbara’s and Roger’s.
As I mentioned before, this story and these characters will stay with you.
Other Works by Xavier Bosch:
Diagonal Manhattan
32 de març (March 23)
La Dona de La Seva Vida (The Woman of His Life)
Paraules que tu enetendràs (Words You Will Understand)
Nosaltres dos (The Two of Us)
Algú com tu (Someone Like You)
Dani Santana. La trilogia (Dani Santana. The Trilogy)
Eufòria (Euphoria)
Homes d’honor (Men of Honor)
Se sabra tot (All Things Will be Known)
Catalunya (Catalonia)
La màgia dels reis (The Magical Three Wise Men)
Vicis domestics (Bad Household Habits)
Jo, el simolses (Me, the Joker)
Visit his website at www.xavierbosch.cat
Photo Credit:
By Amadalvarez - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39750580
Book Jacket from my personal Library – used with no intention of copyright infringement