Well, my plan was to publish my review of Cara Black’s latest installment of the Aimee Leduc mystery series, Murder in the Latin Quarter
So today I’m publishing an email that author Debra Ollivier (who graciously granted me permission to reprint her letter) sent me following my review of her newest book, What French Women Know: About Love, Sex, and Other Matters of the Heart and Mind
Dear Majorie [sic],
I just read your blog review of my book “What French Women Know” (September 9). I’d like to thank you very much for taking the time to read and review it, and also let you know that I regret that you found my views about American women “condescending” and “downright mean.” I am, in fact, critiquing my American sisters, not condescending to them. I’m American as well, after all, and in my book I poke fun largely at myself. Many (American) readers have taken these criticisms with levity, and a nod of the head.
I’m also well aware that America has made immeasurable cultural contributions on many levels. That is a given, but it’s also a different story — one that does not figure into the nature of my book. Ditto for your suggestion that non-white women live a very different reality in France. They do, indeed, and I treated that in the first (more sociological) draft of my book. But that, too, is a different story, for different books — books that have been written, in fact, by many non-white French women in France.
Warm regards,
Debra Ollivier
Book reviews return next Wednesday!
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{ 4 comments }
Marjorie,
I found your site, via Mirelle Guiliano’s site. I read this post (as well as the previous review on Debra Ollivier’s book). First, let me say that I love to read Francophile books, however I am getting to the point to where I want to borrow them from the library instead of purchasing them outright (and I write this as a woman who has the discretionary funds to be able to purchase!).
Second, I love fashion, feeding my mind, soul and spirit-but I find it a little trying at times to realize that as an American most of these books do “by default” put us down-or just say nothing about us which almost means the same thing (we are the target audience aren’t we?). I realize that authors/publishers want to make a profit, and they are only going to publish what they know will sell. That said, thank you for taking the time to write a review about this gap in the market (as well as about the lack of books that will make even a PASSING comment about non-white women in Europe). Perhaps it will capture someones attention (it surely did mine).
Know any minorities that want to write a book? This minority Francophile I would certainly like to read (and buy) it. No offense meant to any of my white Francophile sisters, my problem is that most of the books targeted to Francophiles are they only tell a portion of the story. France has (had?) a reputation for its liberal attitude towards minorties-so why isn’t that ever reflected any books written about them?
Bonjour, aaonce! Merci mille for your comment and for taking the time to read the reviews! Yes, I’ve mentioned it several times on this blog that there is a serious lack of English-language literature on the minority experience in France. What little I have seen is written from the academic, sociological perspective and isn’t geared towards mainstream America.
I suspect that since “minority books” in general aren’t very well received by mainstream publishing herein America anyway – and when they are, they’re shoved into the “Ethnic/Race” section of almost all bookstores, if they can be found at all – we probably won’t be seeing any books written by (or even for) our Francophile sisters of color anytime soon. I agree completely that the minority experience is quite different than that of our white counterparts, but for many white Francophiles what they’re most interested in is traditional, white French history and culture.
I take what I can from the mainstream and incorporate it into my own life and philosophy. I love the books of Mireille Guiliano and Harriet Rochefort Welty, for example. They especially are quite fair and balanced when it comes to comparing French and American women. Others, however, tend to veer too far off into the side of self-loathing for me to be completely comfortable with their books, but it all still makes for interesting reading. If nothing else, perhaps one of these days I’ll do a more in-depth study of Francophilia in the United States, its causes, inspirations, followers, and detractors. That would make for an interesting project!
If you’re interested in the story of a non-white Francophile, you might want to read the biography of the Japanese artist Fujita. I wrote a review of it a few months ago and found it fascinating. There’s also Trail of Crumbs, a memoir of a Korean-American woman who lived in Paris and ended up having an affair with the founder of L’Occitane. That was definitely a fascinating read!
Salut,
Marjorie
I just discovered your blog (I think it was linked through a book review); bravo for such an intelligent, articulate place, full of good reading and a nice layout.
First of all; I concur 100% with your review of Ollivier’s book. I also agree that the majority of books of this genre seem to echo each other in attitude and experience. (One I especially found puerile and badly in need of a good editor was Turnbull’s “Almost French”.)
But I still read them, as an American who expatriated herself 25 years ago and took up residency in Paris. It’s always compelling to read my peers’ experience in this city (and country) and see what others enjoy (and suffer thru, alas) about life in Paris.
I’ve got a strong interest in the integration and immigration question and like you, have found only academic texts which treat the subject (in English). Once in awhile The New Yorker will do a piece on this (Gopnik writes well about it) and last year Granta had an excellent article about the “cites” in the eastern suburbs. Joan Wallace Scott writes very well about the veil issue but again, from an academic viewpoint. It would be refreshing to read something non-academic which treats the non-Gaulois experience of growing up in France.
Anyway, just wanted to comment and say I get a lot out of your blog!
Dear Emmabovary, thank you so much for your awesome comment! I’m so happy to know that you find this blog useful and interesting and worth reading.
You know, I actually thought about Almost French the other day as I was re-reading my review of Debra Ollivier’s book. I read it years and years ago (I think I may have actually bought it in Australia) and thought it wasn’t as bad as other Francophile books I’ve read. Still, I think one of the finer literary attempts of late was “True Pleasures,” by Lucinda Holdforth. It was less about the writer herself and more about the women she profiles, which I found fascinating. She did, of course, weave her own personal story into her narrative, but otherwise it was a well-done book with little of the self-indulgence I find in others in the genre.
I’ve heard quite a few people comment on this blog about the lack of literature about the immigrant experience in France, or even of the experiences of people of color (not necessarily “immigrants”). I would imagine that there will be quite a few in the future, but for now what’s available in English is either academic or more along the lines of “French Women Don’t Get Fat.” I suspect that Americans have enough trouble wrestling with the immigration issue here within our own borders and don’t have the inclination to view how others experience it. It’s too bad, too, because I think we can all learn from each other, and immigration is only going to continue to explode with our melting borders and globalized economy.
You just reminded me of Gopnik’s pieces at the New Yorker. I really need to re-subscribe!
In any case, merci mille again for your lovely comments about my blog. I hope you visit often! If you haven’t had a chance, you might be interested in a podcast interview I did with Mariane Pearl (who, by the way, recently became an American citizen, although she’ll continue to divide her time between Paris and the U.S.).
Have a great weekend!
Salut,
Marjorie
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