Family Record

September 23, 2019
Originally published in France in 1977 and now translated by Polizzotti, this satisfying blend of memoir and novelization from Nobel laureate Modiano nimbly leaps through its discursive narrative. Divided into short, nonlinear vignettes capturing scenes from Modiano’s life from childhood into fatherhood, there is a fascinating exploration of memory and culpability in these pages. A singular focus of Modiano’s work is the decisions made by individuals during WWII and the ramifications of those decisions years later. There is the mysterious Henri Marignan, whose work in China predates his political work for the French government, leading to his eventual “official” disappearance, and his yearning to return. Modiano also includes immersive scenes of his parents—there is his mother, an actress whose budding career is disrupted by the invasion of Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg, and his father, whom he accompanies on a weekend trip that has ulterior motives. Modiano meanders through his life, picking scenes that illustrate how he grapples with present-day concerns sparked by complicated memories about his family, his beliefs, and his identity. This slim, dynamic, but scattered novel should please his fans and provide a pleasant introduction for new readers.