The Ogre (Day One / pp. 3 - 93)

Please address two of the following topics in your posting:

1. At the start of the novel, Abel presents himself first as an ogre (which has mythic status) and then as the owner of a Parisian garage. How do you view these self-presentations? How do they correspond to and / or differ from one another?

2. Why is part one written as a diary? Why does he call these his "sinister writings"? What might this imply?

3. On page 5 Abel writes "All is sign." What do you think he means by this based on what you have thus read?

4. Why do you think we need this initial relationship with Rachel? How do you read this relationship within the context of the novel? (Also, think about the name "Rachel" -- this is important.)

5. How do you interpret Abel's "rewriting" of the Adam and Eve myth? How does he transform the myth? Why? What does this say about his character?

6. How do you interpret Abel's relationship with Pelsenaire? It seems that Pelsenaire has enslaved Abel, but we must ask - who is the exploiter and who is exploited here? What does this say about Abel's personality?

7. How do you read Nestor here in this story? As a benevolent or malevolent force? Both?