Bruce Shank

IPA 4
Keneman 223
Monsieur Ibrahim Novel Critique
Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran by ric-Emmanuel
Schmitt is a deep, thought-provoking novel that analyzes religious
perceptions as well as social tensions in Paris, France. The novel is set
in a 1960s lower class Paris district. It follows Mose, a Jewish boy who
begins to identify better as Momo, short for Muhammad. Momos father
is an unsuccessful lawyer who compares him constantly to Popol (his
brother) and his mother abandoned him when he was a baby.
Monsieur Ibrahim begins to help the child and forge a relationship with
him.
The novel begins following Mose as he looks for a prostitute at
the age of eleven. Mose frequently stops at the small store of the
Muslim grocer Monsieur Ibrahim and shoplifts. When he finally finds a
prostitute that will have sex with him, he gives her his teddy bear, the
last connection to his childhood.
Momo and Monsieur Ibrahim slowly but surely develop a
relationship and spend more and more time talking together. Monsieur
Ibrahim teaches Momo how to make the most out of his money and
shows Momo generosity and friendship the young boy needs. He
teaches Momo the power of his smile, which begins to get him out of
trouble. Monsieur Ibrahim is a Sufi Muslim who enjoys the occasional
drink and relies on one text- the Koran, however his wisdom seems
worldlier than confined to religious text.
Momos father eventually runs off and commits suicide. The
police ask Momo to identify the body, yet he is too overcome by grief
to respond to them. Instead, as if sent by an angel, Monsieur Ibrahim
arrives and goes to identify the body, once again strengthening their
relationship.
The two travel to Normandy to see the sea, and Momo claims
that it is too beautiful for a boy like him. Back in Paris, Momos mother
returns looking for Mose. Momo says that Mose is not there and had
left to find his older brother Popol. She is confused by this and explains
she never had a child before Mose. Momo is not affected much by this
visit and instead asks Monsieur Ibrahim to adopt him. Immediately,
Monsieur Ibrahim goes through all the steps to make Momo his child.
Monsieur Ibrahim purchases a car and the two travel to his
native country of Turkey. Here Monsieur Ibrahim gets into an accident
which kills him, and leaves everything, including the small store, to
Momo.

The largest theme in the novel is religion. Religion in the novel is

best explained when Monsieur Ibrahim blindfolds Momo and takes him
to different houses of worship and has him identify them by their smell.
This shows the differences in religion are entirely superficial, and that
hope, faith, and love are more overarching ideas rather than being
confined to singular religions. When it comes to religious backgrounds
and personal identification, Momos father explains that tre juif, ce
simplement avoir de la mmoire. Une mauvaise mmoire. This quote
shows his fathers struggle with identifying as a Jewish man in Europe
in the 1960s (remember this is not long after the tragedies that
happened in the Holocaust). However, the Muslim Monsieur Ibrahims
identification with Islam is best known by Je sais ce quil y a dans mon
Coran. It shows his certainty and faith in his religion.
There are further religious parallels, such as the main character
names Mose (Moses), Momo (Muhammad), and Ibrahim
(Abraham).
Monsieur Ibrahims faith and open-mind gives Momo the support
and faith he needs in his struggling life. The ultimate transition is when
Momo, raised a Jew, becomes lArabe de la rue and takes over
Monsieur Ibrahims grocery store, and faith in the Koran.
I personally loved the work. This novel was intuitive and I felt as
if we could see Momo grow up physically and emotionally before us.
Further I agreed with the religious ideology that Schmitt presentedthat faith and love are the overarching themes. I like to believe that we
are all following the same God (if you choose to follow a God) and the
only difference is how we follow Him. For this reason I found this novel
deeply insightful and moving through the last pages.
Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran is a great novel set in
post-WWII France near the citys red light district. The characters are
believable and troubled, and watching them work through life and
religion is thought provoking and tender.I greatly enjoyed the novel
and plan to read the rest of the Cycle of the Invisible religious series.