Safe Return Doubtful

translated from the French by Aneesa Abbas Higgins

Nathalie, a twenty two year old French graduate in fashion design has landed a short-term contract to design costumes for an upcoming and new Russian high bar trapeze act who are training and planning to premiere at a circus festival competition in Ulan-Ude. As preparation they perform at the Vladivostock Circus, and as Nathalie arrives, the circus is in its last few days of the season. She, the trio, and Leon, their manager and general circus handyman, then stay on at the circus compound by themselves as the new number is being prepared.

There is a plot to the novel’s three parts, which is compelling in itself, with a tense finale at the competition in Ulan-Ude, but it is the day-to-day, and the personal relationships that Dusapin is primarily concerned with. Presenting her characters at a particular stage in their lives is one of the strengths of Dusapin’s writing, and that is certainly the case here. This is a brief episode in Nathalie’s life only, which she is looking back at, as it was clearly significant in the person she was to become. It is evident that her intimate and lasting personal connections are now elsewhere, and with others.

It’s a quiet and medatative story of shared endeavour, and one which to me has particular significance, having taken several such roles around the world at various times of my life. The relationships formed during those periods of just a few months were strong ones, but terminated once the post was finished. One leaves intending to stay in touch, write a few mails for a while, then never hear from each other again. Its not a grievance, its just how life is. We move on. But it doesn’t mean that that period in one’s life was any less significant.

And then there’s the location.. well, I guess I am fortunate to have undertaken roles in the places I have done in the world, but Vladivostock, and East Siberia, of that I am envious..

My GoodReads score 5 / 5