French author Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt offers a refreshing perspective on death through the eyes of young Oscar in this novella.

This epistolary novel explores how one deals with the prospect of death through 10-year-old Oscar's series of letters to God.

Oscar, confined to the hospital, feels lonely and estranged from his parents who cannot bear to tell him what he already knows and accepts - that he will die from cancer.

He befriends the only person who is not afraid to tell him the truth - the straight-talking and colourful Granny Rose, one of the regular hospital volunteers clad in a pink uniform.

German philosopher Martin Heidegger's belief that we should live with an acceptance of death echoes throughout this inspiring novella.

Despite at times sounding a little preachy, this is a well-meaning work whose messages to accept death as a natural part of life and to appreciate each and every single day of our lives are certainly worth repeating.

It should be read by anyone, young or old, Christian or not. This is a little book with a big heart and is perfect to be picked up time and again.

Oscar And The Lady In Pink
By Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (translated from French by Adriana Hunter)
Atlantic Books/ Paperback/
88 pages/$18.64 without GST/
Major bookstores/*** 1/2

If you like this, read: The Alchemist, by Paolo Coehlo (US$11.16 or S$16.20, www.amazon.com). It tells the story of Santiago, a boy from Andalusia, who leaves home to follow a dream he had. Along the way he encounters several obstacles but ultimately is able to find his treasure.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Oct 5, 2008.