Annie Ernaux kept a diary between 1985 and 1992 of what she observed around her in Cergy, the new town outside Paris where she lived. She records people on the RER commuter train, in the supermarket, in the metro and in shopping centres, noting their words, gestures and silences, and what they reveal about class and loneliness. The entries are brief, without commentary, and treat strangers with attention.
It is for readers who like Ernaux's precise style, and for anyone interested in observation as a literary method. You gain a picture of everyday life in late-twentieth-century France.
Deep and inward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2006
- Publisher
- Folio
- ISBN
- 9782070392827
- Language
- FR
