Teenager Marek has become bitter and withdrawn since an attack by a Rottweiler grossly disfigured his face. Young Berlin writer Alina Bronsky has drawn readers worldwide with her first two books, "Broken Glass Park" and "The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine." "Just Call Me Superhero" is another quick, sweet read with great characters and deep poignancy lurking inside a comic drama. (Europa Editions, 240 pages, $16 paperback.) Seven Letters from Paris, Samantha Verantīy Alina Bronsky translated from the German by Tim Mohr. The drama tends to fade as the happiness increases, but readers probably will not begrudge that in exchange for the chance to travel along and reflect on their own lives' crossroads. Part travelogue, part love story, Vérant's memoir will remind readers of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love." But where Gilbert's quest to reclaim herself eventually led to love, Vérant's is a search to reclaim love that leads to self-discovery. She e-mails him, he e-mails back and - voilà! - the flame is rekindled. Goaded into action by her friend, Samantha digs out the letters, turns to the Internet and tracks down Jean-Luc, now a rocket scientist in Toulouse, with two children and his own failing marriage. It's a memoir, and what follows is a true love story that rivals any rom com. But "Seven Letters From Paris" is not a novel. What she did have was a best friend and seven love letters from a guy she'd had one hot date with. Laid off from her job, miserable in her marriage, deep in debt. Samantha Vérant didn't have much going for her.
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