Ben Sahlmueller reviewed Memoire 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!