The Ashtray. In Life, Everything Can Be Explained! (Le cendrier. Dans la vie, tout s'explique !) by Mélodie MARINE

“One Sunday morning, following a long, dark winter night, an inert body rose to the surface. The enveloping mattress upon which this corporeal mass lay — tangled in sheets and warm, silky blankets — made the task of extrication all the more difficult. The person’s face was buried in the softness of a pillow. The linens were white, embroidered with colorful flowers along the edges, while the woolen fabrics were cream-toned. The skin of the lifeless human was deathly pale — almost milky. Long, naturally blonde hair shimmered delicately. A certain harmony of tones, offering a sense of reassurance, prevailed. Yet, a sudden, thunderous crash — ‘BANG!’ — caused the body to turn.” 


Must every mystery — whether historical, criminal, or mechanical — be solved? Is the truth always within reach? Jade believes that everything in life can be explained — until the day that…


The novel’s heroine, Jade, lived a serene life in Paris, sustained by her passion. Her work took her to various cities, and her profession, personality, and pursuits seemed defined entirely by joy and discovery. No one suspected that adversity was looming over her. And yet, some of her neighbors saw nothing in her but idleness and daydreaming. Until the day that…
In this district, with its bucolic charm, how could the local residents possibly account for such goings-on? 


During this particular period, Jade crossed paths with some radiant individuals. There was Pierre, a professor with a deep fascination for old buildings; Mathilde — a mother and a dynamic professional — who became a friend; and Charles, a man of quiet, generous character, who presented her with a new project. During a train journey, Jade struck up a conversation with Jacques, a curious and protective magistrate. And her encounters didn’t stop there! Théo, Camille, George, Gilles, Louise, and others all crossed her path. 


In this tumultuous life, Jade faced many unexpected turns — a cascade of unusual and amusing anecdotes for the reader to enjoy. 


Firmly rooted in its time, this novel explores the relationship between the justice system and a victim following a physical assault, all set against the backdrop of a creative and lighthearted existence. Love is examined in various forms: motherhood, married life, chance encounters, and friendship. 


With precision and vivid color, the author paints a portrait of our contemporary society — a world defined by stark contrasts: beauty and horror, commitment and freedom, friendship and hostility, love and the loss of a loved one, the longing for a child and the experience of motherhood, among many others.