Reviews
Moment d’un couple
Nelly Alard was awarded THE INTERALLIÉ PRIZE 2013 for her novel "Moment d’un couple".
Florian Zeller, Oscar-winning writer/director and member of the jury, about Moment d’un couple : "An intense, brilliant book from a narrative point of view"
« An autopsy of a fatal liaison and an exploration of imprisonment, this book is also a vivid depiction of our times (...) Sharp and perceptive, this satire reads like an excellent thriller.” »
Sébastien Le Foll, France Culture
« It’s fascinating, it’s funny, it’s frightful. »
Bernard Pivot, Le Journal du Dimanche
« With humor and absolutely surgical precision, Nelly Alard paints the portrait of a couple on the brink of collapse...Our favorite of the season.” »
Madame Figaro
« Immersed in a story of adultery transformed into a roman noir. An unexpected success. »
Nelly Kaprièlian, Les Inrocks
« Nelly Alard avoids clichés and pens a novel of high tension. »
Olivia de Lamberterie, Elle
« One of the most brilliant novels of the season, and a real romantic thriller. Throw yourself into this book. »
Gilles Martin-Chauffier, Paris-Match
« Nelly Alard confirms her inimitable style (...), bestowing unexpected density and mystery upon the banality of our existence. »
Patrick Williams , Marianne
« Frightening and disturbing »
Jérôme Garcin, Le Nouvel Observateur
« The novelist artfully weaves her web, playing with cold and heat. With rare relevance, Moment d’un couple confirms its author’s powerful talent for analysis and narration.”
Alexandre Fillon, Lire
« Desire, torture, and vengeance, too—living as a couple means taking a risk. A second novel for Nelly Alard, winner of the 2010 prix Nimier, and a confirmation of her incisive talent and scalpel-sharp writing.”. »
Stéphanie des Horts, Stiletto
« With intelligence and elegance, the writer reminds us how intolerable it is to love, to no longer love, to doubt one’s feelings, to suffer, and to cause suffering. »
Dominique Guiou, Le Figaro Littéraire
« The storyline is simple, the book is impossible to put down. »
Mohammed Aissaoui, Atlantico
« Is the story too commonplace ? Certainly not. We bounce from one surprise to another, gripped by the shifting feelings of love. Masterful writing with a touch of humor that is indispensable to the subject. What a wonderful surprise ! »
S.M., Marie-France
« An eloquent tragicomedy, brisk and cruel. »
Jérôme Béglé, Le Point.fr
" A disturbing and intelligent reflection on love today. One of the best novels of the season."
Le Journal du Dimanche
"Captivating."
Nathalie Rheims, Le Point.fr
« A powerful second novel. Nelly Alard confirms her talent as a novelist. »
Myriam Chaplain - Riou, AFP
"There is nothing sappy about Moment d’un couple : it is a tragic story imbued with undeniable resonance by Nelly Alard’s powerful and masterful language. France may very well fall in love with Juliette : find out August 29th when the book appears in stores.” "
A-LIRE.info
« An actress and screenwriter, Nelly Alard made a strong impression with her first novel, Le crieur de nuit (Gallimard 2010, also in Folio). Now she has returned with a book more ambitious and accomplished still, Moment d’un couple, (...) With rare precision and masterful technique, Moment d’un couple is one of the high points of the French literary season.” »
Alexandre Fillon, Livres Hebdo
Nelly Alard’s second novel, Moment d’un couple , winner of the Interallié Prize 2013, has been translated and released in the United States by Other Press under the title Couple Mechanics .
"An elegant and gripping tale about a marriage on the rocks." —The Economist
"An intimate...compulsive read." —Library Journal
"This novel packs a surprising emotional wallop, raising questions about the natures of passion and marriage within the context of early-21st-century French politics." - Kirkus Reviews
