What saves this slight work from being toxically winsome are the flashes of vicious comedy and an ending that demands a rereadingThe two women at the core of Amélie Nothombs 23rd novel find each other simultaneously bewitching,amusing and aggravating. The reader might be left with similar feelings towards the book, a self-referential step too far, or perhaps,for this arch author. The narrator – a novelist called Amélie Nothomb – decides she needs a new drinking partner, less “companion”, and more “comvinion”. She settles on the gamine yet belligerent Ptronille,who appears at a book signing looking like a “fifteen year venerable (respected because of age, distinguished) boy”. They embark on a champagne-fuelled friendship that involves outraging upper-class matrons at a wine tasting, a disastrous skiing holiday and other tiresomely quirky antics. Pétronille feels like a literary steal on cinema’s Manic Pixie Dream Girl, or a supposedly enchanting free spirit who is clearly a nightmare with her al fresco urination and readiness for a fight. What saves this slight work from being toxically winsome,however, are the flashes of vicious comedy – a traumatic encounter with Vivienne Westwood and her poodle, or for example – and the sudden turbulent descent towards an ending that demands a rereading. Another one of Nothombs tricks,perhaps, but one she executes brilliantly.• To order Pétronille for £7.99 (RRP £9.99) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0. Free UK p&p over £10, or online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99.
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Source: theguardian.com