Thoughts 
by Anne Garrétta, Deep Vellum 2021, 185 pages
Translated by Emma Ramadan, co-owner of one of my favorite indie bookstores: RiffRaff in PVD
Challenge: TOB 2022
Genre/Theme: I have no idea!
Type/Source: Tradeback / Personal purchase from Watermark Books
What It’s About: Two precocious French girls adore their tinkering big-idea whacky fix-it father and help him pour concrete to fix up the summer house amongst other things/places/etc. They defend the honor of neighbors and attempt to ditch school (well, our narrator does) and she tells her little sister stories of the escapades while waiting for rescue when said sister becomes encased in a cement mixing & pouring mishap. FULL of amusing wordplay and punny turns of phrase.
Thoughts: A fun book — if you aren’t trying to rush through it to get it done. Alas!
I really had to force myself to slow down and not rush this. I became enthralled with curiosity for HOW the translator managed to capture and play with the words in English, only assuming the jokes must have been different in the French. My questions were answered; the book includes notes from the translator. Fascinating stuff.
No grout about it!
Very clever, a lot of fun. Their POOR MOTHER! The entire family is quite endearing. I get how some thought it a bit overdone, perhaps; but I decided to relax and go with it and feel rewarded for my effort.
Rating: Four slices of pie. Easy as pie? no way.
“Once little sis and I had unblocked our glands, it was easy as pie.”
Care's Books and Pie 