Episode 34|3 : A Year in the Merde

Dévorer le tabou: la révolution à travers l’acte de manger – Les Bookworms

Dans cet épisode, nous discutons le livre de Lauren Malka – Mangeuses : Histoire de celle qui dévorent, savourent ou se privent a l’excès. Nous explorons les expériences universelles et personnelles lie à l’acte de manger, passant de la honte et de la culpabilité à la célébration et à la joie. Nous examinons les pressions politique et sociétales qui ont contrôle et critique le corps de femmes.  Et surtout, nous célébrons l’acte de rébellion de s’aimer tel que nous sommes et de savourer chaque bouchée de ce confit de canard !

1. Dévorer le tabou: la révolution à travers l’acte de manger 31:23
2. Searching for Justice: Proust and the Dreyfus Affair 40:50
3. Through the Pages of Time 55:01
4. In Search of Lost Podcasts: Les Bookworms Revival 28:08
5. 2 Down 5 to Go: Reflections on Volume II of Proust 30:07

Overview

A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke (2006) was originally published under the pen name Paul West (the protagonist in the book). The book explores Clarke’s own experiences of moving to Paris and figuring out the city, the people and the French culture. Written as a comedic representation, Clarke offers a Anglo-male perspective of an often repeated story of landing in the City of Lights and finding a home.

Country

France

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

This book is based on the stereotypes of France and the French. It isn’t revolutionary or original in its critique of the French culture. It stays pretty much on surface of your basic tropes. In the episode, we discussed how the characters – notably the French women represented in the book- were rather one dimensional and written to be self-serving. While the protagonist is a bit of a misogynistic prick, the book did create a broader conversation on the difference in the French workforce, how people approach moving abroad and of course, the perception of humor being heavily impacted by culture and language.