Originally published in 3000Melbourne magazine.
The complexities of sibling relationships and the bittersweet passage of time are at the heart of this charming little gem of a novella. Short, meandering, and told with Anna Gavalda’s characteristic lightness of touch, Breaking Away has a warmth and hilarity that belies the depth of emotion simmering beneath the surface. This is the latest of Gavalda’s works to be translated into English, and it can be easily devoured in one sitting – from the very first paragraph, the greater challenge would be to put it down.
Most of the story takes place during a car trip. Garance, her sister Lola, their brother Simon and his wife Carine are driving out of Paris to a cousin’s wedding in the country. Garance has the hilariously acerbic wit that makes many of Gavalda’s heroines (particularly those of her short fiction) so memorable, and she delights in winding up the already overwound Carine. But when she’s not busy mocking her sister-in-law, her thoughts meander throughout the past, reminiscing about her siblings, the childhood they shared and the paths their lives have taken.
When they arrive at the dull and stuffy family wedding, the siblings are disappointed to discover that their brother Vincent isn’t coming – so they impulsively decide to sneak out of the wedding and visit him at his nearby chateau instead. Reunited, the four siblings indulge in a night of hilarity and carelessness, granting themselves a brief and precious slice of time unfettered by their grown up lives before they must return to them.
The sheer joy of the unplanned escapade and the easy, adoring way they tease and mock one other reveals the deep love between them all. It’s no wonder Carine feels so threatened by their closeness – the differences between the siblings are striking, but the bond they share is impenetrable. Though we see only a small splinter of their lives, there is a feeling of getting to know these characters quite closely, and slowly being invited into the intimacy of their relationship.
Written with Gavalda’s trademark warmth and brilliance, Breaking Away is an exquisite and delightful novella that pays homage to the complexities of sibling relationships and the highs and lows of family life. It would make a wonderful art-house film, full of long silences, glances between siblings and beautiful shots of the French countryside. Much like the poignant and witty short stories of Gavalda’s debut collection I Wish Someone Were Waiting For Me Somewhere, this is a brilliant sliver of a story that remains in your thoughts long after you turn the final page.