Oscar is ten, in hospital and the last operation hasn’t worked. He needs a friend and Granny Rose, the visitor who says she is a retired wrestler (and she has thrilling accounts of past triumphs to demonstrate her veracity) suggests God. Oscar is dubious, but decides to write a letter to God each day, in case God might be real.

Granny Rose boldly follows that with: grow up a decade each day and tell God how it goes. Such fast living sort of works. Oscar finds love, makes peace with his parents, who haven’t been able to tell him the truth he already has divined, and discovers old age. Granny Rose wrestles with loss and wins, bless her.

There’s a French sensibility in Eric-Emannuel Schmitt’s writing that gives savour to what is, of course, a universal theme. Sally Nicholls in Ways to Live Forever tackles it too; they make an interesting pairing.