Reviewed by: Taxi-Thérapie par Philippe Brenot Khadija Khalifé and Walter S. Temple Brenot, Philippe. Taxi-Thérapie. Serge Safran, 2022. ISBN 979-10-90175-96-9. Pp. 222. This poignant, refreshing, and relatable text reveals itself through its title, which sets the tone for a series of adventures that underscore both the fragility and resilience of the modern-day commuter. The text's main character, César, functions as both a chauffeur as well as a mobile counselor-psychologist who lends his voice to the troubles of his riders who find refuge on his reimagined backseat divan. The various drames unravel over the period of one week in a way that reminds us of the constant shift that qualifies the human experience, "Alors les confessions vont bon train, de simples propos de circonstance à l'effusion de larmes" (9). Referring to his clients as les états d'âme, César thus opens up a world of unknown possibilities and experiences as readers effortlessly imagine themselves as one of his passengers. Further contributing to the relatable dimension of the narration are the location markers throughout (Bastille, Grand Palais, Concorde), which provide a background that compels audiences who are familiar with the chaos of Paris to likewise seek refuge in the quiet and comfortable space that is the backseat of César's red Mercedes. But let us not be deceived by the apparent psychanalyse de passage that is César's craft as Brenot places his singular character in the shadows of numerous psychoanalysts including Freud and Lacan, referencing their work in salient and unassuming ways. As the reader becomes further ensconced in the trials and tribulations of the various character-passagers, the writer further humanizes what could be described as the rather mundane task of driving clients around a bustling city, "Attendez, je suis dans une situation très délicate. Il me faut de l'attention, prétendait-il en parlant de la circulation" (151). While attending to his tasks as a driver, he must also contemplate the secondary dialogue that resonates from the back of his car, "À l'arrière, le délire continuait" (151). One of the novel's more intimate subtexts occurs between César and Aymé who are linked by their mutual status as orphans. Aymé, who resurfaces through various entanglements with other passengers, becomes an important figure in the economy of the text's alterity. One particular encounter draws attention to César's prowess as an omnipresent counselor and driver, "Comme chaque année, Aymé ressentit un immense désarroi le jour anniversaire de la mort de sa mère" (143). The intimacy and apparent adoration that qualifies such interactions between a taxi driver and his client underscore the raw nature of both characters' former scars, yielding a complicated portrait of two relatable humans who seek healing. Readers familiar with French culture may find the novel's storyline slightly [End Page 224] foreign as engaging on a personal level with taxi drivers in most urban milieu in France is uncommon. However, this only contributes to the text's refreshing originality. The convincing tonality of the prose gives way to a story that is punctuated by raw and emotional encounters. The writer is to be commended for his ability to transform the mundane into a poetic and sobering interpretation of the everyday lived experience. [End Page 225] Walter S. Temple Utah Valley University Copyright © 2023 American Association of Teachers of French