Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
dtv Verlagsgesellschaft (2011), 156 pages
Description
A beautifully tragic and thought-provoking tale that perfectly reflects the elegance and style of Murakami and the skill and plotting of Julian Barnes Bilodo lives a solitary daily life, routinely completing his postal rounds every day and returning to his empty Montreal apartment. But he has found a way to break the cycle—Bilodo has taken to stealing people's mail, steaming open the envelopes, and reading the letters inside. And so it is he comes across Ségolène's letters. She is corresponding with Gaston, a master poet, and their letters are each composed of only three lines. They are writing each other haikus. The simplicity and elegance of their poems move Bilado and he begins to fall in love with her. But one day, out on his round, he witnesses a terrible and tragic accident. Just as Gaston is walking up to the post-box to mail his next haiku to Ségolène, he is hit by a car and dies on the side of the road. And so Bilodo makes an extraordinary decision—he will impersonate Gaston and continue to write to Ségolène under this guise. But how long can the deception continue for? Denis Thériault weaves a passionate and elegant tale, comic and tragic with a love story at its heart.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member culturion
This is a quick and beautiful read. It is a poetic novella that not only features haiku and tanka but also delightfully lyrical prose something difficult to achieve in translation. The subject of the book is unsettling: a postman who is routinely dutiful on the surface but who immerses himself in
Gradually the story loosens its moorings from the practical opening from sceptical realism into a kind of meditative parable on infatuation. As a more allegorical story it transcends the initiating scenario to play delightfully with words and ideas.
It's interesting to read in the interview that Thériault's third novel perhaps continues from this one. A set of such Montreal Tales could become a modern classic.
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the lives of others by reading their mail. This escalates one day when he comes to insert himself into the correspondence and indeed into the life of one of the correspondents. There is not much that is charming about this scenario, even more so having just finished The Standing Pool which features an even more troubling male gaze. The effect of the magical language with such a creepy premise makes the first half disconcerting.Gradually the story loosens its moorings from the practical opening from sceptical realism into a kind of meditative parable on infatuation. As a more allegorical story it transcends the initiating scenario to play delightfully with words and ideas.
It's interesting to read in the interview that Thériault's third novel perhaps continues from this one. A set of such Montreal Tales could become a modern classic.
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LibraryThing member BALE
The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman depicts how loneliness can affect a person and lead to a variety of displaced - peculiar - actions. It is a lovely novella sheathed in a quiet drama of deception, apprehension, love, lust, and pain. Ironically, it renders the reader uncannily on the side of
Incidentally, a sequel to this novella, The Postman’s Fiancee, is due for publication this year. Will it bring a close to Bilodo ‘s besotted journey, or will it add another layer to this curious and comic tale? I eagerly anticipate it's arrival!
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deception, such are the pathos of its protagonist, Bilodo the Postman. Add to that Haikus, philosophy and humor, and you have a delightfully dark and quirky story. Be prepared to devour this lovely, all-consuming tale in one sitting as it is impossible to put down. Incidentally, a sequel to this novella, The Postman’s Fiancee, is due for publication this year. Will it bring a close to Bilodo ‘s besotted journey, or will it add another layer to this curious and comic tale? I eagerly anticipate it's arrival!
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LibraryThing member Cassandra2020
The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Theriault - Good
A sweet little book, if a little strange. (What is it about me and strange books?)
Bilodo is a postman in Toronto. He lives a quiet solitary life apart from odd occasions when a fellow postman drags him out and tries to set him up with
Of course, this being a story, it can't just continue like that. A sudden event disturbs this little pasttime.
The book itself works like a haiku. If I explain that, then I spoil the ending.
A lovely, sweet little book and a nice quick read.
A sweet little book, if a little strange. (What is it about me and strange books?)
Bilodo is a postman in Toronto. He lives a quiet solitary life apart from odd occasions when a fellow postman drags him out and tries to set him up with
Show More
various females. But Bilodo has a secret. He opens peoples' personal letters and read them before he delivers them. In particular he reads those sent to Grandpre by Segolene. They are the letters that have captured his imagination and his heart, for week by week she sends a single haiku and he is fascinated, copying each one to re-read before sending it on to its rightful owner.Of course, this being a story, it can't just continue like that. A sudden event disturbs this little pasttime.
The book itself works like a haiku. If I explain that, then I spoil the ending.
A lovely, sweet little book and a nice quick read.
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LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Theriault is a highly recommended beautifully written novella.
Bilodo is a lonely postman in Montreal who does his job well and without complaint because he has found a way to make his life meaningful. You see, "Bilodo was an inquisitive postman."
Bilodo find the haiku beautiful and moving. He is obsessed with Ségolène and each of her delicate, lovely haikus. He makes copies of each poem and savors them, in love with the words and also the writer. When Bilodo witnesses an accident and Grandpré death, he tries to take over the man's life and begins to write his own haiku, awkwardly at first, but later with more skill and finesse.
This is a delicate, lovely tale about the nature of loneliness, obsession, and the beauty and order of writing haiku. Since it is a short novella much of the focus is on the haiku rather than detailed character development. The ending was perfect for this elegant story, totally unexpected, and... enlightening.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Hesperus Press for review purposes.
Bilodo is a lonely postman in Montreal who does his job well and without complaint because he has found a way to make his life meaningful. You see, "Bilodo was an inquisitive postman."
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His inquisitive nature leads him to carefully taking home, steaming open, and reading a letter a day from the people on his route. He is a postman who has found meaning to his life through the lives of others. He is especially taken with the correspondence of Ségolènea, a Guadeloupian woman who is sending haikus to a man on his route, Grandpré.Bilodo find the haiku beautiful and moving. He is obsessed with Ségolène and each of her delicate, lovely haikus. He makes copies of each poem and savors them, in love with the words and also the writer. When Bilodo witnesses an accident and Grandpré death, he tries to take over the man's life and begins to write his own haiku, awkwardly at first, but later with more skill and finesse.
This is a delicate, lovely tale about the nature of loneliness, obsession, and the beauty and order of writing haiku. Since it is a short novella much of the focus is on the haiku rather than detailed character development. The ending was perfect for this elegant story, totally unexpected, and... enlightening.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Hesperus Press for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member hubblegal
Bilodo the postman found comfort in his life in a unique way. While it certainly wasn’t an ethical thing to do, Bilodo would sometimes slip a letter into his pocket instead of delivering it and would steam it open in the privacy of his own home that evening. He would read the letter, make a copy
This is truly a lovely little book. The book is only a little over 100 pages and yet the author is able to fully flesh out the characters and make you care about them. I loved reading the many haikus that are scattered throughout the book and never knew how passionate a short haiku could be. There’s a tragic love story at the heart of this book that will remind you of Cyrano de Bergerac. The book is quirky, it’s charming, it’s funny, it’s tragic and it’s quite a feat for the author to gather together such a compelling story with so few words, much like a haiku itself. This book was originally published in France and I’m delighted to read that its sequel, The Postman’s Fiancee, will be published later this year.
This novella is just about as perfect as you can get. Highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Library Thing in return for an honest review.
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to keep and then mail the letter on to its proper recipient. Bilodo lived vicariously through these letters. When he opens up a letter with only a haiku in it, he’s pulled into the world of Segolene and Gaston Grandpre, who write to each other in poetry.This is truly a lovely little book. The book is only a little over 100 pages and yet the author is able to fully flesh out the characters and make you care about them. I loved reading the many haikus that are scattered throughout the book and never knew how passionate a short haiku could be. There’s a tragic love story at the heart of this book that will remind you of Cyrano de Bergerac. The book is quirky, it’s charming, it’s funny, it’s tragic and it’s quite a feat for the author to gather together such a compelling story with so few words, much like a haiku itself. This book was originally published in France and I’m delighted to read that its sequel, The Postman’s Fiancee, will be published later this year.
This novella is just about as perfect as you can get. Highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Library Thing in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member banjo123
This was an Early Reviewer book; it is a novella by a French-Canadian author, with a little romance, a little poetry, and a bit of an eerie world-view. It was a fairly easy read, and I think that people might like it if they liked "The Little Paris Bookshop" or "The Elegance of the Hedgehog". For
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me, I did not like it. It was too creepy to have the postman open other people's letters and try to take on someone else's life. Show Less
LibraryThing member amaryann21
The postman lives vicariously (and illegally) by reading letters before he delivers them. And so he falls in love with Segolene, a woman far away who has been exchanging haikus with a man on the postman's delivery route. When tragedy strikes, the story gets weird...
The writing is evocative and
The writing is evocative and
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full of beautiful prose. It's an engaging tale of obsession and fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member KatyBee
Stories of lovers
poetic novella for
lovers of stories
This is a charming, little fable of a postman who falls into an epistolary romance with a woman who loves haiku. Although the postman is morally suspect, guilty of both postal crimes and false pretenses, it becomes easy to have sympathy for this
poetic novella for
lovers of stories
This is a charming, little fable of a postman who falls into an epistolary romance with a woman who loves haiku. Although the postman is morally suspect, guilty of both postal crimes and false pretenses, it becomes easy to have sympathy for this
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desperately lonely person who finds meaning and passion in his life. Much of the charm of this novella comes from the poetry and gentle humor of the narration and the beautiful paperback edition published by Oneworld Publications of London. Show Less
LibraryThing member andiee
Disappointing. The plot had so much potential but I had trouble connecting to the writing style.
LibraryThing member Sean191
The Peculiar Life
of the Lonely Postman is
A pretty good read
Yeah...there's haiku throughout. It's a love story...but a weird one, that should be creepy, but it's not. I suppose it's a ghost story of sorts and something else altogether, but I still liked the character of the titular postman. It's a
of the Lonely Postman is
A pretty good read
Yeah...there's haiku throughout. It's a love story...but a weird one, that should be creepy, but it's not. I suppose it's a ghost story of sorts and something else altogether, but I still liked the character of the titular postman. It's a
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very quick read and while the ending wasn't what I wanted, it was still interesting. I'm interested to pick up the sequel. Show Less
LibraryThing member ninarucker
This is a charming, lyrical tale of Bilodo's strange (and kind of creepy) journey as he delivers the mail and lives vicariously through the mail of one man on his route. A very odd story, with interesting characters and a trajectory you wouldn't expect.
LibraryThing member Maydacat
Bilodo is a lonely person, living a solitary life. His work seems to be his only outlet, and as a postman, he is, in a sense, connected to others through the mail they receive. This offers him the opportunity to avail himself to their lives, through the letters he purloins, copies and reads, and
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then delivers. It is when he happens across some poems written to another that he falls in love with the writer. And when the person she is corresponding with dies, Bilodo, with alacrity, assumes his identity to keep up the correspondence with the woman he has come to love. But contriving to control such a situation is not easy, as Bilodo eventually comes to realize when his lady love wants to visit him. This tale is an unusual love story, peopled with equally unusual characters, and not likely to give you a warm, happy feeling. Show Less
LibraryThing member blakefraina
Based on the advance reviews, which described this book, variously, as beguiling (The Independent), quirky and charming (Guardian), delightful (Times Literary Supplement) and enchanting (John Burnside), I was expecting something akin to the adorable French comedy, Amelie. What I got was something
It’s the story of Bilodo, an introverted young postman who “borrows” personal correspondence from people on his route to steam open, read and deliver the following day. As a result of this questionable practice, he becomes obsessed with a young lady in Guadeloupe who exchanges haiku with an eccentric middle-aged professor. When the professor meets with a sudden and tragic end, Bilodo studies the art of haiku and, masquerading as her pen-pal, begins to correspond with her in his place. This all makes the character sound pretty creepy, but he’s presented in a very sympathetic light and my reaction to his pursuit seemed to swing between pity and inspiration. Most of the time, I found myself rooting for him.
Immediately after finishing this, I read the sequel, The Postman’s Fiancee (which by the end of the first part, seemed a frankly doubtful prospect), which I highly recommend. The sequel fills in some blanks about Bilodo’s life and, ultimately, brings his saga full circle, so to speak.
This is a short but dense novel filled with humor, pathos and lots of [Asian] philosophical musing. It can be enjoyed for its odd story alone or, if one chooses to dig a bit deeper, for what it has to say about personal connection and the human condition.
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far more poignant, philosophical, dark and complex. It’s the story of Bilodo, an introverted young postman who “borrows” personal correspondence from people on his route to steam open, read and deliver the following day. As a result of this questionable practice, he becomes obsessed with a young lady in Guadeloupe who exchanges haiku with an eccentric middle-aged professor. When the professor meets with a sudden and tragic end, Bilodo studies the art of haiku and, masquerading as her pen-pal, begins to correspond with her in his place. This all makes the character sound pretty creepy, but he’s presented in a very sympathetic light and my reaction to his pursuit seemed to swing between pity and inspiration. Most of the time, I found myself rooting for him.
Immediately after finishing this, I read the sequel, The Postman’s Fiancee (which by the end of the first part, seemed a frankly doubtful prospect), which I highly recommend. The sequel fills in some blanks about Bilodo’s life and, ultimately, brings his saga full circle, so to speak.
This is a short but dense novel filled with humor, pathos and lots of [Asian] philosophical musing. It can be enjoyed for its odd story alone or, if one chooses to dig a bit deeper, for what it has to say about personal connection and the human condition.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SiriJR
This novella is a quick and sweet read. The characters are not deeply developed which lends an almost fairy-tale quality to the story, while Bilodo's journey through Grandpré's life is rendered more appealing through the use of Japanese literary tropes. At times it felt a little like a thesis
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working to make a fiction novel incorporating Japanese lit but on the whole it's a delightful bite. Show Less
LibraryThing member missizicks
The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman is a strange tale, but compelling in its strangeness. Author Denis Thériault's background in screenwriting enhances the imagery conjured by his words, and each place in the story is like a film set, each character like an actor viewed by an audience.
As I
There's also a quiet, mildly nightmarish menace to the story. There's a quote from a review on the back that likens it to Kafka, but it reminded me more of Paul Auster.
Bilodo is the twenty-seven year old titular postman. His life is a ritual of sorting and delivering letters. He has never received a personal letter, and develops an extra ritual that involves secretly taking such letters home with him, steaming them open to read them, before resealing them for delivery the next day. Bilodo falls in love with one of the correspondents whose letters he intercepts, and the novel explores obsession, infatuation, the circularity of life, using haiku and tanka as both medium and message.
As I
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started to read, I was initially plunged into a world that seemed to date from the first half of the 20th century. The narrative style had a similar clipped feeling to novels of the jazz age. And then Call of Duty and Halo were mentioned. Suddenly the book took on a new shape for me. It became the literary equivalent of Jeunet and Caro films. There is a sepia tint around its edges, an old fashioned cut to its cloth.There's also a quiet, mildly nightmarish menace to the story. There's a quote from a review on the back that likens it to Kafka, but it reminded me more of Paul Auster.
Bilodo is the twenty-seven year old titular postman. His life is a ritual of sorting and delivering letters. He has never received a personal letter, and develops an extra ritual that involves secretly taking such letters home with him, steaming them open to read them, before resealing them for delivery the next day. Bilodo falls in love with one of the correspondents whose letters he intercepts, and the novel explores obsession, infatuation, the circularity of life, using haiku and tanka as both medium and message.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Absolutely wonderful! Part Sisyphus, part "Groundhog Day", and very mystical! Intrigued? A lonely postman lives vicariously through the mail of others. Think that's quirky? Just the beginning! This novella was a quick and totally engrossing read. All teasing aside, life, love, loneliness,
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mysticism, are all addressed in a beautifully poetic manner, using the vehicle of the Japanese poetry forms, haiku and tanka. I know this may all sound disjointed, but the book is so poignant that it hurt. Please treat yourself to this read. I am moving on to its sequel immediately! Show Less
LibraryThing member steller0707
A very lyrical tale about a lonely postman who lives vicariously through the lives of two letter correspondents. Lovers of haiku will be especially enchanted with this tale.
LibraryThing member ShannonRose4
My January 2015 Staff pick at Literati Bookstore. Good Reads says it best.
A new favorite author!
A new favorite author!
Awards
Governor General's Literary Award (Finalist — 2008)
Canada-Japan Book Award (2006)
Language
Original language
French
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
156 p.; 4.72 inches
ISBN
3423140542 / 9783423140546