The Counted Years

A very beautiful, deeply tender book from Quebec. Guy Verville has been acclaimed by critics there. And it is true that this story—that of Rémi, who drifts along in an ordinary relationship and wanders through saunas and online in search of something to spice up his daily life—touches you.

It is a little bittersweet, but then again, that is life, isn’t it?

Guy Verville’s latest novel, _Les Années-rebours_, published by Éditions Varia, could easily have fallen into the trap of cliché, since every preconceived notion about gay men is present: visits to saunas, anonymous sex, erotic online chats, infidelity and so on. Yet the author has such command of his craft that his account of Rémi—a man whose relationship is barely surviving the wear of passing days—cannot help but astonish us with its realism and candour. Drawing extensively on the Internet, the author has richly informed his text and offers us a fairly faithful portrait of gay life.

Here is a novel animated by the breath of genius! Rémi’s story is likely to unsettle many readers, for through his talent as a writer Verville has distilled the essence of human feeling. Through one of his characters, he subtly tells us, as if to shake us free of our insecurities and worries: “Come on, wake up!” Rémi has lived with Victor for many years, but the passion is gone. He tries to satisfy his unmet desires—emotional and sexual—through encounters in saunas and Internet chat rooms. He meets Stéphane, who stirs his heart. Then there is Luc, the husband of a friend, with whom he has had affairs. He thinks he loves him. He thinks he still loves Victor too. You get the picture? Rémi is all around us, but he is also within us.

I loved this novel because it provokes and challenges us with a simple question: why make life so complicated with our love stories? Especially since Victor, for his part, could see that their relationship was failing but never said a word to Rémi. A man who does not talk—does that sound unfamiliar? I also loved Lucienne, the warm and charming country woman who does not hesitate to give Rémi a good shaking. And then there is his neighbour Irène, capable of unimaginable feats despite her illness and, in her own way, overturning Rémi’s opinions and assumptions.

Verville’s text is filled with reflections on relationships, love and friendship. This remarkable reading experience is not to be missed. Sublime!

Rémi, a baker by trade, shares with Victor a love that has sunk into routine. Until now, this has not prevented him from fooling around with nearly every man around him, but he suddenly feels a certain weariness settling in.

Does he deserve more than Victor, or is he simply unable to recognize the happiness he already has? Should he resist the advances of Luc, the husband of a lifelong friend? And what of Stéphane, an escort for women whom he meets in a sauna and who unsettles him in an unexpected way? This is a novel of complex and tormented characters that never lapses into pathos. Author Guy Verville also knows how to sprinkle his story with humour, even if he occasionally slips into showmanship. Most readers will undoubtedly recognize themselves in Rémi’s journey, and one can only applaud a mastery of writing that brings us closer to the characters and their winding inner lives through small touches while preserving their share of mystery. The whole might have benefited from somewhat tighter treatment, but all in all, this is an excellent novel that will move many readers. An author to watch closely!