Book of the day - The List of my Desires

 

    The List of my Desires by Grégoire Delacourt, translated by Anthea Bell, (and out early next month) popped through the letterbox this morning. This "gem of a novel" has been a huge success in France with massive sales and rights sold in 27 countries, and it does sound as though its story may 'chime' with many of us. Here's the blurb:

    "What would it take to change your life?

    Jocelyne is 47. She lives in a small provincial French town, runs her own dressmaking shop, has been married to the same man for what seems like an eternity, has had two children and lives a very ordinary existence. In fact so ordinary that she is beginning to wonder what happened to her, to all those dreams she had when she was seventeen.

    Then comes the chance to change her life completely - but should she? For when Jocelyne begins to look at her life and its small pleasures, her friendships, her weekends away, her knitting and needlecraft blog through which she has gathered a community of like-minded women - she realises that maybe 'ordinary' isn't so bad. Until the decision is taken out of her hands ...

    The List of my Desires is a wonderfully heart-warming novel about what we value in life and the search for happiness."

    Grégoire Delacourt's first novel L'Ecrivain de la Famille (2011) won five literary prizes in his native France.

Comments

[Fifiquilter]

Did you see the article in today's Independent regarding Scarlett Johansson's reaction to Delacourt's most recent novel? "La premiere chose qu'on regarde" contains a plot device that is a tribute to the actress but she doesn't quite see it that way.

[Sue]

A book about a 47 year old blogger you say? Sounds like it was written for me.

[Mary Ronan Drew]

Is it silly to make the decision whether to buy a book or not based on the cover? I'm enchanted with the buttons, which are a wonderful symbol. We are buttoned in safely where we are but we can still unbutton our lives and make changes. This book sounds wonderful.

[Cornflower]

I've just read it! Rather an extreme reaction to something that seems kindly meant:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/scarlett-johansson-sues-author-for-using-name-in-novel-tribute-8650285.html

[Cornflower]

I think a lot of us might be rushing to read this one!

[Cornflower]

I like the buttons very much, too, and your point about their possible symbolism is well made, Mary.

[Fifiquilter]

It is pretty and so is the original French one, with its wrap-around cover of old cotton reels - have a look on either Fnac.com or Amazon.fr

[Cornflower]

Yes, here it is: http://www.amazon.fr/Liste-mes-envies-Gr%C3%A9goire-Delacourt/dp/225316853X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370773258&sr=1-2&keywords=gregoire+delacourt

[Fifiquilter]

It is, isn't it? There must surely be a number of works where character's are compared with well-known people. Just in case anyone is interested, there's a Figaro interview with the author, I hope this link works:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/livres/2013/06/07/03005-20130607ARTFIG00417-gregoire-delacourt-je-suis-stupefait-de-la-reaction-de-scarlett-johansson.php

[Alex]

Anything that Anthea Bell chooses to translate has to be worth reading. This has gone straight onto my wish list. Thank you.

[Cornflower]

Many thanks. I'm not surprised at his reaction!