Emmanuel Bove is certainly one of the most underrated French authors of the 20st century. This one is one of his last books, published after his death. Then nobody cared about this bleak tale of a Kafkaesque non-hero. Bove makes us feel the grey and oppressive atmosphere of the German occupation in France. The not-French readers will appreciate his asthenic style, the little realistic details, the absurd, pre-existentialist plot. The French title is "Le Piège", but "Quicksand" tells it all. Read it, and read also his other books translated in English.

This is a very nice book! It is almost a five (but I have reserved five for books like "Crime and punishment", "Third policeman", "Master and margarita", "The overcoat" and so on).
The book is about loneliness. It is written with a lot of humor and melancholy.
The main character is walking the streets alone searching for friends. It is so desperate that it becomes ironic. You get the feeling he likes to be alone feeling sorry for himself....
I don't want to say more than that about the story. I guess that's about what the cover lets you know. I would say it is in Beckett style but I don't know if an expert would agree...
If you are a person inclined to feel you are all alone in this world. This book will definately cheer you up....making you feel you are not the only one!