Sylvie Germain is a highly acclaimed French author of fiction and nonfiction. She earned a PhD in philosophy and studied with the famous French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas. Most of her novels have won multiple prizes. The most famous ones are Le livre des nuits – The Book of Nights, Nuit d’ambre – Night of Amber, Jours de colère – Days of Anger and Magnus.
Here are the first sentences of Magnus:
Prologue
A meteorite explosion may yield a few small secrets about the origin of the universe. From a fragment of bone we can deduce the structure and appearance of a prehistoric animal; from a vegetal fossil, the presence long ago in a now desert region of luxuriant flora. Infinitesimal and enduring a plethora of traces survive time out of mind.
A scrap of papyrus or a shard of pottery can take us back to a civilisation that disappeared thousands of years ago. The root of a word can illuminate for us a constellation of derivations and meanings. Remains, pit-stones always retain an indestructible kernel of vitality.
In every instance, imagination and intuition are needed to help interpret the enigmas.
And some details and the blurb for those who want to join
Magnus by Sylvie Germain, 190 pages, France 2005, WWII
Magnus is a deeply moving and enigmatic novel about the Holocaust and its ramifications. It is Sylvie Germain’s most commercially successful novel in France. It was awarded The Goncourt Lyceen Prize. Magnus’s story emerges in fragments, with the elements of his past appearing in a different light as he grows older. He discovers the voices of the deceased do not fall silent. He learns to listen to them and becomes attuned to the echoes of memory.
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The discussion starts on Tuesday, 28 February 2017.
Further information on the Literature and War Readalong 2017, including all the book blurbs, can be found here.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
This looks like such a worthy book.
The quotations that you posted are impressive.
I am looking forward to your upcoming commentary.
Thanks, Brian. I agree. I’ve got a few of her books but this is the first I’ll be reading.
I can’t join in, but I’m definitely reading this one in the future, Caroline.
I’m curious to see how I will like her.
I know the name from somewhere or another (Sylvie Germain).
She has written many books, mostly translated. She’s very famous in France.
I looked over her bibliography (which is extensive) but I haven’t read any of her books. Must have just seen her name mentioned somewhere recently.
I guess so. I’ve never come across her name on any blog though.
I wrote a billet about L’Inaperçu a while ago.
I must have missed that. I have at least six of her novels but nit that one.
I won’t be joining you since I didn’t connect to L’Inaperçu, the only book by her that I’ve read.
I’ll read your review though. Maybe you’ll make me change my mind about her. 🙂
It might not have been the best starting point. I think her earlier novels must be her best. Let’s hope you will pick her up again as it would mean I loved Magnus. 🙂
Thank you for choosing Magnus. I am gripped by it and am about half way through. I look forward to the discussions at the end of the month
I feel like you. This is such an unusual, powerful book.