In a new interview, the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, shared her impressions of a book that recently deeply moved her. It is the novel "All Life Ahead" by French writer Romain Gary.
"It's just great. I was so pleased with it. It's so well written. I really liked it. I'll research this author now. I'm surprised he passed me by," Zelenska admitted.
The book "All Life Ahead" (French: La vie devant soi ) is a sensual and profound story of a ten-year-old boy named Momo, who lives in a shelter in a Parisian immigrant neighborhood. He is raised by Madame Rosa, a former prostitute and Jewish survivor of Auschwitz. She looks after the children of other sex workers whose mothers are unable to support them on their own.
The main character, Momo, despite his age, is forced to grow up early. He helps Rosa, who is gradually weakening, and learns to understand the complexity of the world around her. This is a story about love, loss, loyalty, loneliness and the struggle for human dignity in the most hopeless circumstances.
The novel was awarded the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1975. Its author, Romain Gary, published the work under the pseudonym Emile Azhar, and only later admitted authorship.
Olena Zelenska noted that she plans to continue her acquaintance with Gary's work. Her sincere emotions may become an incentive for many Ukrainian readers to pay attention to this touching story, which does not lose its relevance today.
