Episode 27|2 : Ambiguous Adventure

Searching for Justice: Proust and the Dreyfus Affair – Les Bookworms

We're back on the Proust train. This episode covers the first chapter of Volume 3 – The Guermantes Way (Le Côté de Guermantes). We focus on the Dreyfus Affair and its role in French society at the time of Proust and today.

1. Searching for Justice: Proust and the Dreyfus Affair 40:50
2. Through the Pages of Time 55:01
3. In Search of Lost Podcasts: Les Bookworms Revival 28:08
4. 2 Down 5 to Go: Reflections on Volume II of Proust 30:07
5. A mix of gumption and courage: Paris memoirs 26:56

Overview

This short novel is one of two works by Cheikh Hamidou Kane who has since become a legend of African literature. Similarly to other works we’ve seen this season, Kane explores essentialism and existentialism within this novel. He weaves imaginary or allegorical perspectives with real history, social and political matrices, and philosophical questions on what it means to exist within the imperial and republican France as someone who is  non-white and not from the metropole. He does this primarily through presenting the story of Samba Diallo who leaves his home to study in France. The book divides the experience into before, during, and after and explores various intellectual ideas and the interactions between African cultures and French culture. Beyond the representation of Samba’s experience, this book also depicts black cultural nationalism and African-centered notions of modernity and modernization. 

Country

France and Senegal

Overarching Themes

1. Cheikh Hamidou Kane/negritude movement
2. Africa vs the West
3. Philosophy and Religion

How does this book question the idea of the Francophonie? (Does it go against the grain? Does it stay stereotypical?) 

This book definitely expands the Francophonie in two ways: the first being the subject matter presented in the book and second being the author himself and his intentions for the book. He is a legend in African literature and this book explores various themes surrounding the legacy and reality of the Francophonie. It has become a reference in questioning the many African identities, the role Europeans have played historically, and how to embrace both their hybrid and authentic experiences and identities. As we’ve progressed through this season, I continue to think about the idea of the Francophonie and how there needs to be more acknowledgment and repairing of the consequences of colonization. 

Episode 26|2: Cahier d’un retour au pays natal

Searching for Justice: Proust and the Dreyfus Affair – Les Bookworms

We're back on the Proust train. This episode covers the first chapter of Volume 3 – The Guermantes Way (Le Côté de Guermantes). We focus on the Dreyfus Affair and its role in French society at the time of Proust and today.

1. Searching for Justice: Proust and the Dreyfus Affair 40:50
2. Through the Pages of Time 55:01
3. In Search of Lost Podcasts: Les Bookworms Revival 28:08
4. 2 Down 5 to Go: Reflections on Volume II of Proust 30:07
5. A mix of gumption and courage: Paris memoirs 26:56

Aperçu du livre

Pays

la France et La Martinique

Les thèmes déterminants

1. Aime Cesaire
2. La negritude
3. La colère et l’oppression

Comment ce livre raviver, approfondir, ou contester ton idée de la francophonie?

Ce poème et Aimé Césaire lui-même ont contesté l’idée stéréotypée de la francophonie. Il a questionné les principes fondamentaux de la francophonie. Il a exposé les problèmes et ensuite il a travaillé pour améliorer la situation.

Les Impatientes

Author

Djaïli Amadou Amal

Résumé

Les impatientes, publié en Afrique sous le titre « Munyal, les larmes de la patience  » de Djaïli Amadou Amal est un roman poignant et exceptionnel. L’histoire concerne trois femmes qui ont trois histoires uniques mais également liées. Nous suivons les histoires de Ramal, Hindou et Safira. Ramla est mariée à l’époux de Safira tandis que Hindou, sa sœur, est contrainte d’épouser son cousin avec des tendances violentes. Ce roman montre la condition des femmes au Sahel, qui est une région dans le nord du Cameroun. C’est un roman extrêmement émouvant et touchant. Comme l’écrivaine dit elle-même, il est plein d’espoir car c’est une histoire de femmes résilientes qui se battent tous les jours pour elles-mêmes. Par ailleurs,  ce  roman a reçu le 1er prix littéraire des maires francophones, le Prix Goncourt des lycéens 2020, le Prix de la meilleure auteure africaine 2019 et le Prix Orange du livre en Afrique 2019. 

Our Thoughts

This book felt like a walk in Paris. I really enjoyed how each arrondissement has its own unique story with flashes of the other characters popping up from time to time. It always made me smile when I made the connection from story to story of main characters becoming side characters in another’s narrative. I can’t choose which is my favorite because each has its own style and flavor to offer (although I do have a least favorite…more on that later). I loved the diversity of the stories in terms of the Parisian story – there was a mix of everything that made this book relatable and truly reflective of the real Paris. Everyone had found their way to this ever changing yet always present city for different reasons and from different backgrounds. It was clear in the historical details, the choice and description of the Paris spots that were highlighted and the genuine admiration of Paris that shines through that this book was written with immense love for a city that has brought so much to so many. I’m not going to lie – it was wild to read about COVID in a fiction. It really struck me as such a marker of time and of this significant event to read about someone thinking about a mask in their handbag or how far someone was standing from them on the metro. Very relatable! Which brings me to the metro and as hinted at my least favorite. However, it isn’t for the reason you may think. I really enjoyed how the Parisian metro weaves its way throughout the entire city and the book in an all too accurate way. I was having such anxiety for the poor chap the entire time!!! It goes to show how much I was living and traveling through this book if I was getting all upset about the metro experience! 

All in all, this was a really cute read. I enjoyed getting to virtually travel to Paris and discover neighborhoods and areas that I didn’t know about. Next time I found myself in Paname I will definitely keep my eye out for a few of the fun tidbits I learned from @jetaimemeneither! “There’s Only One Paris” by April Lily Heist is available in paper book, e-book, and audiobook! 

Genre:

Fiction

Page Count: 240

The Art of Losing

Author

Alice Zeniter

Back Cover

Naïma has always known that her family came from Algeria, but beyond that her family remained relatively silent. Born and raised in France along with her three other sisters, Algeria was a foreign country associated with her grandparents’ tiny apartment and the food prepared by her grandmother. Questions on why and how her family came to France were never fully and openly discussed. The story spans three generations across seventy years and provides the perspective of her grandfather and father as each member of the family copes with the lived reality and traumatic experiences they have lived. The book speaks of the art of losing throughout as each character faces the loss of a country, home, identity, customs and so much more. Discussions on colonization and immigration are the heartbeat of the novel and how everyone’s identity is truly the product of all the things we’ve left behind or artfully lost.

Our Thoughts

The Art of Losing Review | I read this in French, but it is also available in English. While it may seem daunting to take on such a long novel 512 pages for the French edition and 448 pages for the English, I can’t recommend this book enough. I almost felt like I read three stories as the narrative shifted between sections from one generation to the next. I slightly preferred the first section with the grandfather Ali because I learned so much more about the complicated history between France and Algeria. 

The title really encapsulates the core theme of the book with loss and silence being extremely prevalent throughout. I had never read the poem « One Art » by Elizabeth Bishop which inspired the title and appears towards the end of the novel. Wow! An incredibly powerful poem placed extremely well within an equally moving text brought me to a stop. I read the passage in French before searching for the English version and sitting with it for a few minutes. It begins with the line « The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. » Loss can be forgotten or clung on to and appears sometimes in small ways or leaves large gaping holes. This book focuses on the loss of homes, cities, countries, cultures and identities – how they linger in some ways and are completely lost in others. I don’t want to spoil the book in anyway, but Zeniter eloquently shows the art of losing throughout the story. 

I could go on about the incredible detail, the emotions that bubble up, the eloquent side plots and the heartbreaking realization of how hard life can be. This is an incredible piece of literature that is wonderfully written. It’s easily one of my favorites so far this year!

Genre:

Fiction, Inter-generational

Page Count: 506