What I Know About You
Original title: Ce que je sais de toi
Synopsis
Let’s face it: Éric Chacour’s first publication, Ce que je sais de toi (Alto), is one of the best novels of recent years. – Samuel Larochelle, Fugues
A debut novel that takes our five senses on a journey between Cairo and Montreal, but that above all tells about human nature. – Léa Harvey, Le Soleil
And the echo is so powerful, its construction so original, that one pinches oneself to notice that this is Chacour’s first novel. It only adds to the spell. – Josée Boileau, Journal de Montréal
In Cairo in the eighties, a young doctor follows the path set out for him. Between the clinic he runs and the prestigious practice he inherited from his father, Tarek leads a life that leaves little room for asking himself questions. But a chance encounter with a person very different from him will jeopardize his marriage, his career, and even his heart and force him into exile.
Between Egypt’s Levantine community and Montreal’s harsh winters, from the reign of Nasser to the dawn of a new century, Tarek flees, wanders, and reminisces. But does he realize that thousands of miles away, someone is compiling the chapters of his story and discovering the twists and turns of his life?
A poignant look at absence and reconciliation, Ce que je sais de toi paints a subtle, witty, and tender portrait of a family being torn apart and a society undergoing dramatic change. Éric Chacour’s debut novel reveals the luminous mind and breathtaking humanity of an author who writes in sumptuous, well-crafted prose. A book rich in garlic, anise, and family secrets.
Marketing Information
- Coup de coeur Renaud-Bray, Sélection Archambault, Les libraires conseillent : sélection de février 2023, Sélection Les meilleurs livres à lire en février 2023 – L’actualité, Recommandations — janvier 2023 – Nouveau Projet.
- Included in the 10 Favorite Books Chosen by Independent Booksellers list for 2023’s rentrée littéraire