Le Magasin des Suicides (The Suicide Shop) by Jean Teulé

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Has your life been a failure? Let's make your death a success With the twenty-first century just a distant memory and the world in environmental chaos, many people have lost the will to live. And business is brisk at The Suicide Shop. Run by the Tuvache family for generations, the shop offers an amazing variety of ways to end it all, with something to fit every budget. The Tuvaches go mournfully about their business, taking pride in the morbid service they provide. Until the youngest member of the family threatens to destroy their contented misery by confronting them with something they ve never encountered before: a love of life.

My Thoughts

I had read great reviews regarding this book and the fact that it had such an interesting concept really grabbed my attention. A novel about a suicide shop where everyone could - literally - pick their poison (among other means to end their life) written by someone with a real knack for dark humor seemed like a great finding.

I really loved the idea of having a shop where people could find everything they needed to end their life. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in suicide but it was so different and out of the ordinary that it really sparked my interest. Also, this setting, the items sold in this store and its customers provided for a lot of funny moments.

As for the characters, I think it's impossible not to sympathize with the Tuvache's. Yes, they are peculiar and a little eccentric but they end up being funny, despite being always so down and defeated. I loved Alan and the fact that he never stopped trying to change his family and their ways. He was always so optimistic and always tried to see the best in the world and in people. 

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I love dark humor and the fact that it was so well incorporated in this story was, in my opinion, on of its strongest points. However, I have to admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. Even though the characters developed as I expected them to, I was also a bit surprised with the way things ended. It was unexpected and I'm not really sure it was necessary to go that way. In spite of all of that, I really loved this book and I liked how different it was.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.