Safe Return Doubtful

translated from the French (Switzerland) by Jordan Stump

Evermore conscious that she should be making her own way in the world, an unnamed young woman, along with her younger brother, finds themselves moving to a small town on the Brittany coast to care for her uncle. Uncle is an obese and disabled war veteran with unpleasant habits, not least his excessive drinking and eating. When the world starts to shut down, Uncle and his niece become closer than ever.

Before they can make any decision, the pandemic hits, and any liberation is impossible. Gisler’s prose is dry and witty, not shying away from the worst of Uncle’s lavatorial lack of etiquette. Its strength is that it is also disturbing, affecting and a very human depiction of family obligations.

My GoodReads score 4 / 5