Mémoire de fille - The Library of the Uncommons

mass market paperback, 176 pages

Published March 1, 2018 by GALLIMARD.

ISBN:: 978-2-07-276313-7

(2 reviews)

"J’ai voulu l’oublier cette fille. L’oublier vraiment, c’est-à-dire ne plus avoir envie d’écrire sur elle. Ne plus penser que je dois écrire sur elle, son désir, sa folie, son idiotie et son orgueil, sa faim et son sang tari. Je n’y suis jamais parvenue." Dans Mémoire de fille, Annie Ernaux replonge dans l’été 1958, celui de sa première nuit avec un homme, à la colonie de S. dans l’Orne. Nuit dont l’onde de choc s’est propagée violemment dans son corps et sur son existence durant deux années.S’appuyant sur des images indélébiles de sa mémoire, des photos et des lettres écrites à ses amies, elle interroge cette fille qu’elle a été dans un va-et-vient implacable entre hier et aujourd'hui.

1 edition

Ben Sahlmueller reviewed Mémoire de fille by Annie Ernaux

Masterfully crafted memories of female youth, desire and its boundaries in 20th century France

4 stars

Another great book by Ernaux, "Mémoire de fille (Girl's Memory, Erinnerungen eines Mädchens) focuses on her youth and the weeks and months around her sexual awakening. It is a powerful book, tender, self-conscious (a tricky balance act in which Ernaux proves her prowess), delicate.

I liked once more how Ernaux weaves the personal with the general and the timely. Her story describes a particular experience that is human, at the same time strongly influenced by her time, upbringing, milieu. Understanding these influences, taking a stance towards them, accepting that they can never be fully overcome seems to be a core theme in her work, and they are once more carefully carved out here.

Another core issue are the topics of female sexuality, desire, and shame - as a social expectation and personal possibility. Her book has a strong feminist message without being abstract or normative. This makes it all the …

Another great book by Ernaux, "Mémoire de fille (Girl's Memory, Erinnerungen eines Mädchens) focuses on her youth and the weeks and months around her sexual awakening. It is a powerful book, tender, self-conscious (a tricky balance act in which Ernaux proves her prowess), delicate.

I liked once more how Ernaux weaves the personal with the general and the timely. Her story describes a particular experience that is human, at the same time strongly influenced by her time, upbringing, milieu. Understanding these influences, taking a stance towards them, accepting that they can never be fully overcome seems to be a core theme in her work, and they are once more carefully carved out here.

Another core issue are the topics of female sexuality, desire, and shame - as a social expectation and personal possibility. Her book has a strong feminist message without being abstract or normative. This makes it all the stronger, as her own struggles, wishes, and desires shine through clearly nonetheless and it is hard not to emphasize with a young girl who wanted nothing but to embrace fully the few years of her youth.

In its matter-of-fact approach to female desire, Mémoire de fille reminds me of Lars van Triers Nymphomania, albeit it is much lighter, more measured, less voyeuristic. Yet, the message is a same: why blame a women for something that is taken for granted for men? We are confronted with men infidelity and almost rape, and yet it is young Annie who faced ostracism by the group, who probably spent years of self-work to make sense of her desires, emotions, and acts.

Ernaux' book is a strong testament of our hard way to freedom from one another. Recommended!

Klr reviewed Mémoire de fille by Annie Ernaux

Distance et intimité

4 stars

Très impressionnée par la mémoire et la richesse de détails d'une période charnière vécue par l'écrivaine, celle du passage de l'adolescence à la vie de femme adulte. Sa capacité de distanciation vis à vis d'elle-même et de description de sa vie intérieure dans des moments cruciaux et plus quotidiens, nous fait partager sa manière de se vivre femme, sa manière d'être humaine. Je retiens une approche honnête, lucide et sans concession, qui pourrait encourager aussi toute femme dans un projet d'écriture à se sentir pleinement légitime. J'aimerais relire ce livre en étant la prochaine fois plus attentive à l'usage qu'elle fait de la 3ème et de la 1ère personne en écrivant sur elle pour tenter d'encore mieux comprendre ce rapport à soi dans la distance ou la proximité.