Summary

Chapter Seven is a letter directed toward the terrorists that killed Hélene. The author originally posted it on Facebook. Leiris states that he will not give her killers the satisfaction of hating them or being mad at them. Doing so, he argues, would mean that he is no different from them. Although he admits to extreme grief, the author claims that it will be short-lived and that Hélène will continue to be with he and Melvil. He concludes that short letter by stating that he has very little time to devote to the terrorists and that he must attend to his son. Melvil will grow up happy and the terrorists “will not have his hate either” (54).

Analysis

The unique structure of this chapter demonstrates Leiris’s intention to shift his focus away from the terrorists...