Special Report

Written by Guillaume Musso
Genre: Romance
Published in February 2013
440 pages

Demain (or tomorrow) is the 10th novel written by Guillaume Musso. A central concept is how to send future netizens a message, which was in an article that Musso saw. In the preface where he talks about the book’s topic, he describes when one of the partners in a relationship says one thing and means another, which is usually a lie or betrayal. It’s like looking at one side of a coin but seeing the other. Of course in this story, if you predict the end too hastily, you might be shocked later on. Truth and continuous reversals make this book very interesting.

This story centers on three characters: Matthew, his wife Kate and Emma. Matthew was a philosophy professor at Harvard and he is raising his daughter alone because his wife died. One day, his laptop computer has a problem, so he buys a secondhand laptop.
While checking the laptop, he finds its former owner Emma’s traces. Matthew decides to return her data to her, so he sends her an e-mail. They realize that they have very similar interests. Emma and Matthew connect through their e-mails. The more they talk to each other, the more they fall in love. They think they know each other well enough, so they promise to meet in an Italian restaurant in New York.

They are guided to the same table by the same employee, however they didn’t meet. Their meeting time passes before they finally make contact again by e-mail. They blame each other for breaking their promise.

Unfortunately for them in this story, unrealistic and regretful events occur. Matthew lives in 2011 and Emma lives in 2010. They realize that they can only contact each other with the laptop. They discover that the interval between them is exactly one year and that Emma’s behavior can change his future. Matthew realizes this truth and asks Emma to save the life of his wife Kate. From her position, his request is a little bit embarrassing, but she finally decides to help him.

The characters in this book have their own unpleasant memories. You can see the character’s unpleasant memories and how they finally overcome their trauma. You can also see what their future will be. If you love a person whose past is completely different than your memory, then what would you do? One person will try to give a signal; the other person will pretend not to know.

Also, the characters in the book have slightly twisted love lives. One character avoids meeting new people because he can’t forget one woman, yearning after her departed love. Another character will be committed to somebody who loves her.

The author gives the message that love seems like a good thing, but if it changes to attachment, it will become a horrible thing. Moreover, the author suggests a way to go forward, just a little bit, but doesn’t say exactly what to do. Instead he encourages people to think and find their own possibilities and solutions.

In this book, there is an aphorism: “If philosophy couldn’t kick out the pain of the spirit, it is just a useless thing.” This aphorism has been followed by Matthew like his key philosophy. How can he solve his problem? I hope that this book will be a good chance for you to think about love.