French Exit by Patrick DeWitt - book review

The precise meaning of French exit is: Ghosting - aka the departure without notice, the French exit, and any other vaguely ethnophobic terms - refers to leaving a social gathering without saying your farewells. One moment you're at the bar, or the Sunday morning wedding brunch, or the house party.

But there is also a book called "French Exit." As you might remember, Patrick DeWitt is a bestselling New York Times author, and he wrote the Sisters Brothers. I already made a review of that novel (read it here). That book is about hitmen Charlie and Eli Sisters.

The plot of the French Exit

French Exit came on me as a sudden surprise. The Universe DeWitt created is somewhat very weird but still attracts attention. French Exit is about a mom Frances Price and her son Malcolm. Frank Price, the father of the family, died 20 years ago, and he was one of the most famous and paid lawyers in the USA. The Prices' money is finishing, and from the first of January, all their properties and cash will be gone. When asked why the funds ended so quickly, 65-year-old Frances replied, "My plan was to die before the money ran out." So the family decides to cut their losses and head for Paris. They take their cat Little Frank with them. They are an exciting and curious trio.

Later in the book, we find out why they are so weird - it is all because of a lack of love and the trauma caused by it. 15-year-old Frances thanked Jesus when she came to the church to the funeral of her mother. All his childhood, Malcolm was neglected by his parents and left for school and tutors. The situation with Malcolm causes his relationship with his devoted fiancee Susan almost impossible.

On a ship trip, he meets a girl Madeleine and has a relationship with her. When Malcolm and Frances arrive in Paris, their cat Little Frank runs away, and Frances suddenly becomes obsessed with the idea that Little Frank was, in fact, Frank, the dead husband. She also thinks the only way to talk to Frank is through Madeleine. Eventually, we can see she is right.

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