In Toulouse, Julia Deck throws a stone in the backwater of the celebrity
Julia Deck is coming to present her 5th novel, “National Monument”, a prosperous black comedy, on Wednesday February 9, at the Ombres Blanches bookstore in Toulouse.
The “national monument” of the title is a mythical actor, of the caliber of Alain Delon, whose 70th birthday we are preparing, including the President of the Republic. Except that the beautiful organization is quickly derailed, due to confinement but not only. In the castle where the star and her family reside, the family pseudo-harmony, largely “Instagramed” by Madame, hides disturbances that will lead to the worst… in a great burst of laughter.
With her new novel, Julia Deck continues in a vein where humor has a prominent place, enhancing a color that rarely appears on the palette of French writers. “I certainly owe this taste for irony to my dual Franco-English origins,” explains the author. In France, we are more into the idea that literature is on the side of seriousness and that humor is linked to entertainment. In Great Britain, this divide is less. Shakespeare wrote tragedies and comedies. In France, there is Racine on one side and Molière on the other. However, I am convinced that we can say serious things – on, in particular, the question of social relations, in this book – with a form of distance. »
In “National Monument”, it is one of the two daughters of the sacred monster, who has been adopted, who narrates the madness taking hold of the household. “She was the only one who could tell the story from the inside while being outside of this game of fame that agitates those around her. She sees adults acting in disconcerting ways. His gaze has something new; it expresses a form of wisdom. »
” All fire all flames “
Julia Deck’s novel alternates acerbic criticism of media excesses, scenes of pure burlesque and situation comedy playing on the most extravagant contrasts. It’s satisfying, but the refuted author has indulged in a game of Chabrol-style massacre. “I really like the director but I didn’t think of him, rather of François Ozon from 8 women with this big house, these characters of bosses and servants – all in a register that is all fire, all flame but without judgement. The characters may not be presented in their best light. However, I try to understand their motivations, to study all the nuances. »
In a sarcastic book that we devour with a lot of greed as long as the spicy cuisine of Julia Deck has invigorating virtues.