“You deserve nothing” by Alexander Maksik is about a brilliant professor of literature in the International School of France, Will Silver, whose life drastically changes after he accidentally begins an affair with one of the students, high school senior Marie Le Clere. As the story follows both Will and Marie, it also follows Gilad—a student who struggles with his own attraction to Silver, while trying to fit in and figure out how to go about his own life.I loved Maksik’s spin on the student-teacher love story, his characterization of Professor Silver, and the hard-to-predict plot. But made this book possibly my favorite read of the year was the deep philosophy embedded into the plot. Silver’s class lectures aren’t just discussions of Shakespeare and homework assignments. They are reflections on life. Professor Silver comes across as very human, using “fantasies to avoid the apparent permanence” of his life. How many people in the world are just like him, stranded into a life they hate, constantly thinking of imaginary escapes to make their job bearable? In his classes, he challenges the students to re-think their lives and actions, even as he fails to change his own. The supporting characters of Marie and Gilad face their own struggles, while providing readers with different views of professor silver. The writing is very thought provoking, while the graphic details of Silver’s and Marie’s affair lend a certain rawness to the book. As a bonus, the author’s experience of having lived in both France and the U.S. lends authenticity to the story. Strongly recommended. Published by Europa Editions 336 pages. List price $15.00
