THE PIGEON

The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind

‘How quickly the apparently solidly laid foundation of one’s existence could crumble.’

The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind (1988) translated by John E. Woods

The Pigeon, a novella, by the author of well-known the novel Perfume, The Story of a Murder, follows a simple plot but is packed with suspense.

It is the story of a man who has had a disappointing childhood and later a disappointing marriage. Jonathan Noel has spent 20 years contented without connection with people. He is a security guard in a bank in Paris. He lives alone and frugally, enjoys his independence. Having achieved invisibility he loves the daily ‘sameness’ of his life and work. He knows the only person he can depend on is himself.

His home is a one room flat, which he has set up with all the comfort he requires. He has to share a bathroom with other residents but he makes sure he meets no one. He listens by the door and opens a crack and checks no one is about before leaving his home.

‘He could interpret every crack, every click, every soft ripple or rustle, the very silence itself.’

One day disaster strikes, after listening by the door, he opens it just a little and looks out only to be confronted by a ‘beady eyed, diabolical’ pigeon in the hallway, outside his threshold. Jonathan spins out of control. His ordered life descends into anarchy all due to a bird ‘with red taloned feet on oxblood tiles…in sleek, blue-grey plumage’ and the eyes dreadful to behold’.

From then on many emotions come into play. Fear, paranoia, insecurity, anger, envy.
All the events that happen take place in a single day. But the long day eventually ends in a happy transformation.

‘He splashed diligently through the puddles, he splashed right through the middle of them, walked in a zigzag from puddle to puddle, sometimes he even crossed the street because he saw an especially lovely, wide puddle on the far pavement, and stomped through it with flat, splashing soles, sending spray up …it was delightful.’

Suskind weaves a disturbing tale, a tale of depth and tension. He writes sparingly and crisply. The seemingly boring daily details of this reclusive man are complex.

I found this psychological thriller warranted a second reading. I read The Pigeon the first time many years ago and re-read it a couple of weeks ago.

I am certain many of us would love to diligently splash through puddles. Then why don’t we you may ask?

Mmm…we don’t because we can’t find puddles?