Tonino Benacquista Someone Else

Someone Else

Tonino Benacquista

Bitter Lemon, Sep 2005, $14.95

ISBN: 1904738125

The two men in their forties met when neither confident of their sport's ability played tennis against each other at Les Feuillants Tennis Club. Afterward Tierry Blin and Nicolas Gredzinksi went to the bar. Over several drinks they both admit to one anther they are unhappy with their present life and the apparent tedious future. Tierry is a successful picture framer who wants to become a private detective while Nicholas is an executive trying to hang onto the corporate ladder that he detests. Under the influence of imbibing too much alcohol they bet as to who could change his life the most. They agreed to meet in three years right here.

Both are frightened to make the change, but Tierry tries dropping his loyal clientele to become a sleuth while legal circumstances forces Gred to let go of the ladder. As each leaves their safety net behind neither knows what to expect, but the time has come to find out what makes them tick as the capitalist world has sucked away their identity. However, neither is prepared for the danger that comes as each journey into the unknown fostered by the women in their lives.

This is a terrific character study that looks deep into the onset of middle age with mortality around the corner and the need to believe that there is more to life than just making money in a safe environs. The storyline rotates point of view between the two lead protagonists yet though clearly character driven has plenty of action. Fans of something different especially those who have become a bit cynical will appreciate this powerful glimpse at the risk of change to become SOMEONE ELSE.

Harriet Klausner