GUEST BLOGGER: "I'm Still Here" by Clélie Avit

Note from the Thrifting Ginger: I'm so excited to have my sister, Lena, as our guest book blogger this week.  I often refer to her as "Super Cool Librarian Chick" in my posts because she is a librarian at the Public Library in Billings, MT. She is a regular contributor to their blog and this book was one that really resonated with her and me when she described it.  Many times she has a different taste in books than I do, so be sure to check out her latest post by clicking here.  Enjoy & happy reading, my geeky lovelies! -Raylynn

Most people (myself included) can attest that at least once at some point in their lives,
they’ve fallen in love with someone they couldn’t have. The agony of being so close to them, yet
so far at the same time is excruciating. I hope you’ll pardon my usage of an overworked cliché,
but I have valid reasoning for doing so, I assure you. In Clélie Avit’s debut novel, I’m Still Here,
we see just how unconventional, unexpected, miraculous, and transcendental love can be. More
importantly, we see this cliché questioned and exposed in an innovative light.

Immediately, we are introduced with the first of the novel’s two protagonists, Elsa.
Critically injured in a climbing accident, Elsa has been in a coma for the past five months with a
fragile thread of a chance to wake up. Seeing their daughter/sister so seemingly deteriorated and
vegetated beyond hope, her family is on the verge of giving up and pulling the plug.

Enter Thibault, our second protagonist. He is haunted by the mistakes of his brother and
the memories of his past relationship with his train wreck ex-girlfriend. Every week, he drives
his mother to the hospital to visit his brother. The bitter hatred Thibault harbors towards his
brother and the mistake that put him there prevents him from joining the actual visit. Instead, he
wanders the corridors aimlessly until one day, he happens to wander into Elsa’s room. Grateful
to have a place to be “alone,” he settles in to wait for his mother. Before too long, Thibault
begins to rant and unload his burdens to Elsa, feeling refreshed to be talking to an unbiased
individual, even though she is unable to respond, let alone hear him…or can she…?

Nobody, not even the doctors or their high-tech monitors, knows that Elsa has regained
just enough consciousness to hear the things within her surroundings. As time progresses, she
starts to fall in love with Thibault and looks forward to his weekly visits. Thibault starts to fall in
love with Elsa as he gets to know her through her family and friends, who have come to accept
and appreciate this new presence in Elsa’s, albeit in the most unusual of ways.

One day, Thibault comes to realize that Elsa can, in fact, hear him. Does she share his
affections? He understands the unlikelihood of Elsa’s awakening, but he hopes that with love,
she will harness every ounce of strength she has and defy the narrow odds. Does it work?
Spoilers. You’ll just have to read the book and find out.

This beautiful novel, translated to English from its original French, presents a
contemporary twist on the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. Avit’s flawless prose and dialogue,
as well has her masterful utilization of alternating points-of-view exceeds all of the typical
expectations I would have for a debut novel. It was a riveting read to the very end, pushing all
sorts of boundaries on all sorts of levels. I couldn’t put it down. If you’re a sucker for tender
romance and a connoisseur of all things avant-garde like I am, this book will bolt to the top of
your list of favorites.