Books You Can't Stop Reading (was Crush es...)

[pengolodh_sc at yahoo.no]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter, Meredith Wilson wrote:
> Fun stuff!
> 
> Let's see... books from my childhood.
> 
> Anything Roald Dahl, especially the Wonka books.

Personally, I think I favour "The Witches", and maybe BFG.

> Anything about orphans, especially Frances Hodgson Burnett books.

This brought a book to mind:  _Nobody's Boy_, also called _No 
Relations_, by Hector Malot.  Sadly, it seems to be out of print for 
the time being, but a book that seems to eb an accompanying volume 
(_Nobody's girl_) was republished in 1999, so there may be hope.  Go 
badger your publishers!  There were some 1975-editions apparently, 
but they seem out of print, and Amazon cannot promise anything.  
Those of you who are Francophone can find it under its original title 
_Sans Famille_.  In German I believe it is called _Heimatlos_.  In 
Vietnam it is still in print, though, under the titles _Khong Gia 
Dinh_ or _Vo Gia Dinh_.  The book was one of the more memorable ones 
from my adolescence, and it was also made into a very good French TV-
series (I still remember when they were trapped in the collapsed coal-
mine) and a Norwegian radioplay.

Plot synopsis:

The waif Remi has been raised by his kind foster-mother, but eight 
years old he is sold to old Vitalis, because his foster-father will 
not feed him anymore.  Remi must travel around with Vitalis and his 
animals and earns his keep by performing for people.  He suffers may 
hardships, but eventually, Vitalis becomes his guide to life, and a 
father-figure.  Remi has to learn to play music, and perform in the 
streets with three trained dogs and a monkey, to earn his keep.  Remi 
however also carries a deep secret, and there are people in search of 
him.  Is it Remi's parents?  Or are they people with darker motives, 
who are after his life?

In all, it is an excellent book, slightly sore and melancholy in 
theme perhaps.

Best regards
Christian Stubø