The Extraordinary Journey of a Fakir who got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I quite enjoyed this book. Clearly fantastical, it still manages to ring true as far as thoughts and reactions.

Long title...

So... The title kind of gives away the main idea of the book. Aja, a fakir (magician type), comes from India to Paris in order to go to Ikea. He's a total con man, meaning to use a fake 100 Euro note to buy a new bed of nails, and fly home in 24 hours. His plans, well, as you can guess from the title of the book, go awry.

It's been a good twenty years since I read Candide, but that was certainly the book that came to mind as I started to get into this story. Aja is both clever and a fool, but charming. You can't help but root for him through his crazy journey. I enjoyed the way the stories of some of the minor characters intertwined.

Once I got into the book (It took a couple of false starts) I finished it in one eager sitting. The language is certainly approachable without feeling simple.

The moral of the story isn't pounded over the reader's head, and the social issues won't be as familiar to some Americans, I'm sure (though immigration is again hitting the limelight here.) The moments of humor are amusing (at least to my taste.) I will be recommending this book to my friends.