Book Title:  Bonbons Assortis/Assorted Candies

Author:  Michel Tremblay (Translated by Linda Gaboriau)

Publishing Company:  Talonbooks (www.talonbooks.com)

Year:  2006

# of Pages: 155

ISBN #:  10: 0-88922-541-9

ISBN #:  13:  978-0-88922-541-1

$17.95 Canada

$17.95 USA 

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner 

3 ˝  stars 

Forrest Gump's mother said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.”  This sentiment is further revealed with Michel's Tremblay fourth book of autobiographical narratives, Bonbons Assortis/Assorted Candies.  This collection of eight stories from the author's childhood provides a perfect summer read. 

As a boy in Montreal, Michel lives with his extended family where each relative demonstrates being a character seems to be a genetic predisposition.  Brothers, cousins, aunts, parents, great-uncles all share in the everyday adventures of life that, when retold, become the family tales that live in legend. 

The drama of finding a perfect wedding gift for a bride of a well-to-do family (when there is no money in the house for such a gift), the agony of new shoes for Confirmation, proof of the existence of Santa Claus, and the joys of a new phonograph in a home with only one record are related with the appropriate, realistic touches of humor and pathos. 

The reader will quickly become a part of the author's family and likely recognize some relatives in these stories.  Like every box of candies, there are some that are a little nutty, but all offer sweetness and comfort.