Gli Effetti Secondari Dei Sogni (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
No and Lou are vastly different, and not only in societal status. How these two ended up friends is complex and not really explained apart from their natural attraction due to loneliness. That being said, the story felt very raw and real, if only because homelessness was highlighted in such detail. Lou's introspective, serious narration was also punctuated with moments of childishness, which made it seem very natural of a young genius.SPOILERS: those who have read the book, can we discuss the ending? Did No really leave Lou at the station for her own good (to not live like No) or because of her own distress? As her friend Genevieve stated, Laurent hasn't been sending letters to anyone, let alone No who claimed to have a massive storage of his letters tucked away somewhere. Was No always this way before she met Lou, or because of recent events, develop some sort of manic disorder? Just some questions I've been thinking about. It isn’t easy for a highly intelligent 13 year old girl at school, at home in Paris, in her social environment. Somewhat more obvious, it isn’t easy for a homeless teenage girl to live and survive in the streets of Paris. The girls get to know eachother en become friends. There are social similarities in the effects of their family histories, which show in a sort of isolation; both have their own lonelyness, caused by the absence of the mother figure. How to cope, as a rich youngster, with a poor and hard to approach streetwise young woman, in a respectful way? Lou Bertignac – the Me in the book title and the narrator – manages to get through to No by letting No her human dignity, at first for a personal purpose, a school assignment, later on sympathizing with her as a person. Well, No several times hints that nevertheless they belong to different worlds. There might be a certain naivety at Lou’s side, her intentions are pure.The author very well knows how to create a lively atmosphere and a souple forth-going narrative and story development. There are some nice characters: Lucas, friend of both girls, and Mr Marin, Lou’s teacher, Lou’s parents, who support the scene delicately. (3,5 *) JM
What do You think about Gli Effetti Secondari Dei Sogni (2007)?
Encore une lecture très émouvante. J'aime beaucoup mais pas lire que ça car pas très joyeux.
—Patcheez
The ending crushed a little piece of my heart. Though I liked the plot twist.
—soph
I loved this story which takes you on the ups and downs of No's chaotic life
—kikouch
Very fast read but at the end I felt like I didn't even know the characters.
—Edith
A truly captivating story - I was unable to put down.
—Seasea
