Lou Bertignac has an IQ of 160 and a good friend in class rebel Lucas. At home her father puts a brave face on things but cries in secret in the bathroom, while her mother rarely speaks and hardly ever leaves the house. To escape this desolate world, Lou goes often to Gare d'Austerlitz to see the big emotions in the smiles and tears of arrival and departure. But there she also sees the homeless, meets a girl called No, only a few years older than herself, and decides to make homelessness the topic of her class presentation. Bit by bit, Lou and No become friends until, the project over, No disappears. Heartbroken, Lou asks her parents the unaskable question and her parents say: Yes, No can come to live with them. So Lou goes down into the underworld of Paris's street people to bring her friend up to the light of a home and family life, she thinks.
No and Me
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Review
`Lou's transparent narrative − at times naïve, at times profound − marks this apart as something special'
--The Sunday Telegraph
`A moving and thought-provoking novel for young adults'
--School Librarian
`A very enjoyable book to read as Delphine de Vigan pulls you into the complex, yet addictive narrative' --The School Librarian
`A fulfilling read that gives a great insight not only into the grimy world of homelessness, but also into a family trying to cope with a death of an infant'
--The School Librarian
--The Sunday Telegraph
`A moving and thought-provoking novel for young adults'
--School Librarian
`A very enjoyable book to read as Delphine de Vigan pulls you into the complex, yet addictive narrative' --The School Librarian
`A fulfilling read that gives a great insight not only into the grimy world of homelessness, but also into a family trying to cope with a death of an infant'
--The School Librarian
About the Author
Delphine de Vigan is the author of several novels, including Jolis Garcons, Soir de decembre and Les heures souterraines. No and Me is her first novel to be published in English; it was a bestseller in France (100,000), where it was awarded the Prix des Libraires (The Booksellers' Prize) in 2008, and also a bestseller in Italy (50,000).George Miller is a regular translator for Le Monde diplomatique's English-language edition. He is also the translator of Conversations with my Gardener by Henri Cueco and Inside Al-Qaeda by Mohammed Sifaoui.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Tasha
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
On the surface No and Me seems like a run of the mill Young Adult novel of a teenage girl dealing with both a family tragedy and growing up. Dig a little deeper though and this book is so much more than that, largely because of two factors. The first being the simple yet emotion filled writing style. The story is told not just from a first person point of view but it really did read as if an intelligent teen was retelling it - including those unique rambley off-topic moments, which all just added to the character and effect of the book. In some ways it reminded me of Catcher in the Rye.
The second aspect of this book which made it unlike so many others was Lou herself. Her character was very much like the protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Mark Haddon) in that she used intellectual means, such as mathematical problems, for coping with the emotions of every day life. I really liked how Lou was extremely intelligent but at the same time had issues functioning with normal life. At one point she states that she has an IQ of 160 but can't tie her own shoe laces. She doesn't socialise well and dreads the presentation she has to do in front of the class. She collects food labels to compare the ingredients and conducts various experiments at home just to satisfy her curiosity.
Through Lou we also get to know No, the homeless girl who eventually comes to live with the family, and Lucas a boy in Lou's class. No clearly has her own issues to deal with - living on the streets and then adapting to family life - as does Lucas. Lou and Lucas are complete opposites in their class at school. Lou is two years ahead and Lucas is two years behind. Lucas is the only one who really pays attention to Lou and it makes a unique friendship. There is also the interesting contrast between the naive Lou and the tough, streetwise No. all three are great characters in their own way.
Personally I really enjoyed No and Me but I can see that it is probably one of those love it or hate it kind of books. I'd definitely recommend it if you liked the above mentioned books or if you're looking for something a little bit different.
The second aspect of this book which made it unlike so many others was Lou herself. Her character was very much like the protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Mark Haddon) in that she used intellectual means, such as mathematical problems, for coping with the emotions of every day life. I really liked how Lou was extremely intelligent but at the same time had issues functioning with normal life. At one point she states that she has an IQ of 160 but can't tie her own shoe laces. She doesn't socialise well and dreads the presentation she has to do in front of the class. She collects food labels to compare the ingredients and conducts various experiments at home just to satisfy her curiosity.
Through Lou we also get to know No, the homeless girl who eventually comes to live with the family, and Lucas a boy in Lou's class. No clearly has her own issues to deal with - living on the streets and then adapting to family life - as does Lucas. Lou and Lucas are complete opposites in their class at school. Lou is two years ahead and Lucas is two years behind. Lucas is the only one who really pays attention to Lou and it makes a unique friendship. There is also the interesting contrast between the naive Lou and the tough, streetwise No. all three are great characters in their own way.
Personally I really enjoyed No and Me but I can see that it is probably one of those love it or hate it kind of books. I'd definitely recommend it if you liked the above mentioned books or if you're looking for something a little bit different.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By C. Langridge
Format:Hardcover
I read this book in a day, it was so quick and easy and light to get through, yet the subject matter is quite dark in places. There is a lot about loss, about silence and about the violent qualities of those things. Charmingly told through the eyes of a child.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By bibliophile
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book,it is short just 246 pages, but I found it quite moving.It tells of a thirteen old girl becoming involved with an eighteen year old girl who is on the streets of Paris. It does stress the dangers of a lack of love can do to the psyche of a young person, and how it can make life so meaniless,and yet all understanding and compassion does not disappear.Other reviewers were critical of the book,but I enjoyed it, and I did not find it far fetched or improbable.
A good read that is short enough not to become a vast waste of time if you do not like it.
A good read that is short enough not to become a vast waste of time if you do not like it.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Out there, she's nothing but prey.
Delphine de Vigan is a French writer from Boulogne-Billancourt, in the Parisian suburbs. "No and Me" is her fourth novel and was first published in France in 2007. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Craobh Rua
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must buy must read
This author is very skilful in the way she has brought some one living on the streets in to this book. Delphine is cleaver in the way she has crammed so much engaging pages. Read more
Published 1 month ago by bookmoviefanatic
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
Read this in one night, which is a tribute to how gripping it was. It was a simple read, easy to follow, but you get drawn up in the characters and where they are heading, and all... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bel L.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read.
I have read the book for my bookclub. I enjoyed it although several of my friends are not so keen. Suitable for a teenager.
Published 2 months ago by jackie lane
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
My first book finished on my kindle and I must say that it had to going all the way through. Definitely worth a read !
Published 2 months ago by Lucy Whitten
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Beautifully written and a Wonderful story. Very hard to put the book down. Recommend reading underground time too. Equally good.
Published 2 months ago by Nicolah
4.0 out of 5 stars
:)
As a translation from French, it is not bad, and is certainly useful as an aid to understanding the plot of the original French version.
Published 3 months ago by Em
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed this book which was easy to read
I really enjoyed this book. It is very easy to read and is a subject that not many people talk about. It's not indepth but does make you think about what it's like to be homeless. Read more
Published 3 months ago by 2dogs
4.0 out of 5 stars
No & Me
No and Me is the story of Lou Bertignac, a talented girl with a particularly high IQ of 160. This is why she is studying in a class full of students who are two years older than... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Iffath
5.0 out of 5 stars
Touches the Heart
This book really touched me deeply. It's easy to read and follow and good for those who struggle to read big books. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Cas Allas Mazda
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