Will O' The Wisp

Rochelle's writing style in this novel is very indirect. An abnormal amount of adjectives are used to describe and set the scene. Yet with all of the descriptions, nothing is specifically stated, leaving the reader to try and piece all the clues together. Like most others have posted, I to also thought of Queneau's "We Always Treat Women to Well" in terms of writing style as they both are indirect. They are different in the way they were indirect, but still left the reader trying to put the story together and find out later whether they are right.

In the very beginning I got the idea that Alain would be able to break free from his drug ways. Once I read the "It was true that Alain had not gone back to drugs, but going to the lavatory had always been an alibi to justify his continual absence." (Rochelle, 9) A few pages later when he received the money from Lydia the hope was that he was not completely off of the drugs, but on his way to be clean. Human nature is to see the good in people, and Rochelle uses this well to keep the audience guessing and wanting more as Alain goes through his journey.