The Chalk Quarry is a novel inspired by real events. As stated on the back cover, the story of Jérôme Janin, the main character, has substance. Although the towns and names have been concealed, the heart of the action traces the life of an executive working for the supermarket “Atoupri,” serving the municipality of Quesnoy, a rural area in the Nord department. The group is managed by his father-in-law, Gustave Vasseur.
In a vicious spiral of negativity, the narrator learns he has been fired without any apparent reason. His catastrophic journey includes severe episodes: the death of his wife, Géraldine, the loss of Claire, their only daughter who no longer maintains any relationship with her distant father. In complete disarray, Jérôme faces the hypocrisy of his colleagues, including Gustave Vasseur. Despite a complaint to headquarters in Paris, the narrator’s voice goes unheard: he must accept the idea that after twenty years of good and faithful service, he will have to rebuild himself. Anxious about this uncertain future, Jérôme mentions a well-known brotherhood, “The Work,” a fundamentalist Catholic congregation intrinsically linked to the Vasseur family’s history, including his own.
As he finds himself at this impasse, Jérôme reflects on his past: the reader learns more about the origins of this everyday anti-hero. In the clan, the bakery is serious business. Unfortunately, the automation of bakeries and pastry shops overcomes the business: the closure of traditional shops disrupted the Janin family, even the grandfather died of heartbreak… It is in the context of retrospection that Jérôme has an idea: at the age of 55, it is inconceivable for him to train for another
profession: repulsed by the attitude of his misogynistic and sexist father-in-law whom he once admired, he decides to convert his cellar, a chalk quarry, into a hideout. He has 3 months to prepare the grounds and live as a hermit.
During his preparations for a reclusive and atypical life, Jérôme takes stock of his existence: his childhood, his family, the deaths, and his sister, Justine. During his work, he will discover troubling elements, especially concerning his wife. From then on, the character seems to realize that his entire journey has been a long lie, tinged with illusions. During these nearly archaeological excavations, a damning truth about his father-in-law, Gustave Vasseur, is revealed. Even the reasons for Géraldine’s death, his wife tragically deceased in a car accident, are called into question. Through some phases of rest, Jérôme projects himself into the past, haunted by memories that pursue him. These regrets push him to write a letter to his former superior and father-in-law: driven by a desire for justice, he feels powerless as events worsen. Health and financial problems threaten him; it seems everything is in place for him to rebuild his life, and perhaps live it fully. Even though his relationship with his sister Justine is not at its best, a meeting at the Blancs’ home disrupts Jérôme’s plans. The one he saw as a success in the eyes of the family is also experiencing a crisis. It is in this climate that a new project opens up for him: reclaiming the Janin family’s former bakery premises and opening a new establishment in this historic location.
Together, the brother and sister face adversity. Despite the stress and painful trials, karma seems to be on their side, but the path to achieving it is fraught with obstacles…
The novel by Jacques Neirynck is a fascinating epic, punctuated with roller-coasters. The beauty and horror of things are found in this realistic and dramatic chronicle. All taboos of French society are highlighted: scandals around religious sects, the untouchable role of the wealthiest and business leaders, incest and sexual violence… Jérôme Janin is not exceptional, but this ordinary aspect serves the purpose of plunging the reader into the harrowing daily life of a man who loses everything and defines himself as an “imposter.” The text denounces the vices of large structures and new technologies that undermine small businesses, including artisans. It is no coincidence that Picardy is presented as one of the most boring and sad areas of France: it is a poor region where industrial giants buy up the small ones.
Beyond the targeted “American model,” the writer offers a poignant lesson in courage in the person of Jérôme, his main character. The Chalk Quarry is a story of family: the one you choose, and the one you wish to preserve or not. During this descent into Hell, Jérôme hits rock bottom and digs deeper. Despite disenchantment and raw disillusionment about all things he was absolutely certain, the tenacity of this ordinary hero commands admiration. His sense of ethics gives the reader the opportunity to feel immediate empathy for this resolutely human character. The novel concludes with a satisfying ending, allowing the reader to envision and imagine the future of Jérôme, who embodies a fighting spirit, dignified in all circumstances.
The Chalk Quarry
Author: Jacques Neirynck
Publisher: Harmattan
Publication date: 09/17/2020
ISBN: 978-2-343-21003-2
Page count: 208 –
€19.50 Paperback €14.99 e-book
Author’s website: www.jacques-neirynck.com
Publisher’s website: www.editions-harmattan.fr
