French Exit

French Exit follows Frances Price - a wealthy Manhattan widow - and her adult son Malcolm as they flee to Paris after losing their fortune. The pair, accompanied by their mysteriously significant cat Small Frank, attempt to start fresh while grappling with their new financial reality. The mother-son relationship sits at the center of this darkly comic novel. Frances and Malcolm share an unusually close bond, shaped by shared tragedy and their isolation from conventional society. Their dynamic is tested as they navigate their changed circumstances in a foreign city. Through encounters with a cast of eccentric characters in Paris, including a medium who claims to communicate with spirits, Frances and Malcolm's insular world begins to expand in unexpected ways. Their adventure forces them to confront questions about their past and future. The novel explores themes of wealth, family bonds, and the weight of inheritance - both financial and emotional. DeWitt crafts a sharp social satire that examines how money shapes identity and human connection.

Readers describe French Exit as a dark comedy with sharp dialogue and eccentric characters. Many note the book reads like a stage play or Wes Anderson film. Readers praise: - The witty, precise writing style and memorable one-liners - Frances Price as a compelling anti-hero - The blend of comedy and melancholy - The surreal elements and dry humor Common criticisms: - Plot meanders in the middle section - Characters feel distant and hard to connect with - The ending leaves too many threads unresolved - Some find the humor too cold or mean-spirited Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (45,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) "Like a French farce but with existential dread" notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another calls it "entertaining but emotionally hollow." Several readers mention struggling to care about the wealthy characters' problems while still enjoying the sharp dialogue.

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🔸 Author Patrick deWitt worked as a bartender and construction worker before his literary breakthrough, writing his first novel during off-hours at the bar where he worked. 🔸 "French Exit" was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2018 and was adapted into a 2020 film starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. 🔸 The term "French Exit" refers to the practice of leaving a party without saying goodbye - a fitting metaphor for the Price family's hasty departure from New York society. 🔸 The book's unique blend of social satire and supernatural elements draws inspiration from both classic Victorian ghost stories and contemporary American humor writing. 🔸 DeWitt's previous novel "The Sisters Brothers" was also adapted into a film (2018) starring Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly, establishing him as a sought-after voice for screen adaptations.