Annie Ernaux keeps a diary of the places she visited over a year in the hypermarket in Cergy, a new town northwest of Paris, where she lived. She writes about the shop's customers, the shelves, the cashiers, the mix of classes and the way the supermarket serves as a public place. The entries are short and observational, and they reflect on what shopping says about society. Ernaux does not interview or mock her subjects, and she records details of behavior and language.
Readers who like Ernaux's detached, sociological style will find a quiet study of everyday life. Those curious about how a writer can find material in an ordinary location will find an example.
Inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2014
- Publisher
- Seuil
- ISBN
- 9782370210371
- Language
- FR
