In The Simplicity of Life, Christian-Eric Falardeau deals with some of the existential, relational questions and realities that readers are confronted with every day. What if everyone was ruthlessly honest, dotted with the ability to communicate what one thinks and feels? It is what happens in “A Simple Village,” a society in which people learn to be themselves and to state what they want in an unequivocal manner. The utopia created in “A Simple Village” is exploited by a greedy person who takes advantage of this situation, setting a precedence that will have dire consequences for everyone. In this book, the author creates an honest man and allows him to evolve in the contemporary world. Faced with dishonesty in the world, the only honest friend might be his dog.

Christian-Eric Falardeau is a great entertainer who creates memorable characters and worlds that readers will love to navigate. The dialogues are terrific and while they are well-crafted to deepen characterization, they brim with a quirkiness that is characteristic of his writing.  In the opening pages, readers are greeted with a lively conversation between a farmer and his neighbor: “Hey, farmer Clifford, are you trespassing on my fields?” “I wanted to ask for your permission, but my voice doesn’t carry that far!” “Perhaps I should move my garden closer to your house!” laughed Gregory. “Yes, that would be most convenient! I wouldn’t have to walk so far just to speak with you.” “You were coming to see me? I thought you were going to the village.” The author’s ability to turn captivating and crisp phrases will astonish readers; there is clarity in the writing and quirkiness that lifts the level of entertainment in The Simplicity of Life. Characters like Gregory and James are elaborately developed and written into situations that are convincing and resonant. Expressions like: “I prefer my dog to any human, but even after all these years, the wet mornings are still a nuisance!” are familiar. This book is an immersive read that will have readers thinking about their interactions with people around them. This author plots like a pro and remains at the top of the game. The cinematic writing blends with the robust characters to offer a wonderful reading experience. I couldn’t put this one down.