Célia Houdart's Notre-Dame-des-Anges, published by P.O.L, is a 240-page novel priced at 20.50 €. It is part of a recent trend in literature that focuses on family themes, often centering the narrative around the personal and emotional lives within a family unit. Set in 1938, a time when Europe was on the brink of war, the novel follows Henri, a man trying to recover from the economic collapse of Duo-Arts pianolas, a company that produced player pianos. His wife, Rachel, is slowly dying from multiple sclerosis in a clinic in Liège, a city in Belgium known as Notre-Dame-des-Anges in the book's title. Henri maintains a limited but meaningful relationship with Marcelle, a singer he met in 1935 during the recording of a piano cylinder, a type of early sound recording. Their correspondence, presented in the book with mechanical typography, is sparse and laconic, contrasting with the more poetic and reflective voice of the narrator. The novel is noted for its striking brevity in introducing characters and situations, yet it delves deeply into sensory details and emotional nuances. The story revolves around Henri's affair with Marcelle while his wife is dying, capturing the emotional and moral tensions of the time. The narrative spans from the end of the 1930s to the middle of the 1940s, tracing the lives of the characters as they move between Belgium and Paris. The book is praised for its use of litotes, a literary device that conveys meaning through understatement, allowing the reader to infer more than what is explicitly stated. This technique helps the novel disengage from ordinary language, offering a more profound understanding of its themes and characters. Notre-Dame-des-Anges is considered a significant contribution to contemporary literature, offering a unique perspective on family dynamics and personal relationships during a period of historical tension. The novel's blend of historical context, emotional depth, and literary innovation has drawn attention from critics and readers alike, highlighting its relevance in modern literary discourse.