Teaser Tuesday: 1914

I am at a good moment in my reading.  While I may not be finishing things (and that goes for other things in my life right now--books, needlework, letter writing, emails . . .) as quickly as I like, I am very much happy at 'being in the moment' when it comes to the stories that I am spending time with.  I knew I wanted to do a teaser today, but the problem is--which book do I pick when there are several close at hand that I am enjoying so much and would sharing something of the story from them with you.

So I've decided on one that I am finding surprisingly enjoyable, 1914: A Novel by Jean Echenoz.  Echenoz is an award winning French author who has a list of books to his name, a half dozen of which have been translated into English.  Until I started reading 1914 I wasn't at all familiar with Echenoz except knowing that I had wanted to read this novel when it first came out.  I never did manage it as I think with the anniversary of the start of WWI a couple of years ago I became a little 'war weary'.  I am very much drawn to reading about this era and normally I do not shy away from war books, but I do think it's possible to overdo a particular type of story.  I've barely started reading so maybe there will still be harrowing battlefield scenes, but so far I feel as though the author is easing me into it.  I think I won't even mind so much as am I finding the writing style and characterization so well done.  And at just over 100 pages surely I can manage anything Echenoz sends my way.  I was a little trepidatious when I started reading, thinking I might have to force myself to pick it up and read a bit each day in order to finish by the end of the month (this is the second book for Caroline's Literature and War readalong), but I started and found I didn't want to put it down--always a good sign.

My first impression just a few chapters in is the attention to detail.  There really is a precision to the way the story is being told, there is an economy of style.  Even as there is a lushness to the writing, it feels like not a word is being wasted.  And there is a weight to the choices, too.  The book has a half dozen or so pages of notes made by the translator, Linda Coverdale.  While I think it is entirely possible to read the story without flipping to the back and filling in the details, I do go back every so often and read the notes, which are very helpful in fleshing out the meaning. 

The story begins on a radiant August day.  The weather is so inviting that Anthime, one of the young men who this story is about, is taking a big book out on his bicycle to find a "rewarding" view in which to settle down and read his book.  He does not get that far, however, as the village's bells ring out announcing that war is on the horizon and the men must mobilize.  It's almost just a precaution as this is a war that will be over quickly.  Anthime returns to the village and in the square he crosses paths with another young man named Charles.  Two very different men who both will go to war and they leave behind one young woman, Blanche.

The next day, Sunday, Blanche is getting dressed and preparing to go out, and it is the description of her desk that I want to share as a teaser.  Not exactly anything really having to do with a war, but then again, maybe having quite a lot to do with the war, or rather the men fighting in it.

"As she left her bedroom she passed the writing desk, which had played no part in this morning's activity, the desk is used to this, serving simply as a repository for the letters Charles and Anthime each regularly sends separately to Blanche and which lie bound by ribbons of contrasting colors in two different drawers."

I'm not sure why, but so many things in this story are striking me and I make a little pencil mark next to the details.  In the description of the story on the jacket Echenoz is called a "miniaturist" and I like that.  He seems such an interesting author and from what little I have read about him I think he must be highly regarded in France and have a very particular style, so I shall see how this goes and then perhaps move on to some of his other books. 

I've read a really paltry number of books translated from other languages so far this year.  Only three and two of them were originally published in French.  Now I have two books on the go also translated from French, so maybe this will be my year of French/French-Canadian literature.  I'm also reading Patrick Modiano and on the merits of the first fifty or so pages I have ordered another of his books (another must read all his works authors, I think) and plan on picking up more.  (And an aside, April's NYRB subscription book is by another French author!).  I'd call that a sign, wouldn't you?!

Comments

[Lark]

I read this book two years ago and was really impressed by the writing...and I didn't mind that it wasn't super long either. :) Happy reading!

[LizF]

I have read quite a lot of books in translation in the past year or so - often because my daughter who is coming to the end of her modern languages degree, has recommended them, although she has read them in the original language of course!

I think that there are very definitely national styles of writing - I have enjoyed the majority of the French and Italian books but struggled a bit with some books translated from Spanish for some reason.

[cath]

I finished '1914' last month and really liked it.

[Stefanie]

A year of French in translation! ;) Sounds like you found a good book and short too. Definitely one to finish!

[Danielle]

A war book you are unsure of whether it will be really explicit or not in terms of battlefield scenes is definitely more approachable when it is short! I am very much enjoying the writing, too.

[Danielle]

You'll have to tell me if you have read any particularly good ones. In the past I usually do really well with reading books in translation, so I am not sure what is going on this year. I need to make more of an effort. And I am envious of people who can read books in other languages--just think of all the reading possibilities that opens up! So little really is even translated into English! I think you are right that there are similarities with writing in different countries--I'm not sure I could ever tell you what they are, but I recognize it, too. And you are not the first person to mention that Spanish literature can be a struggle. I have not read enough of it in any case, though I have read a few really good books and know I would like to try more.

[Danielle]

I wondered if you might have read it. I am glad to hear you enjoyed it and I hope to finish this weekend. I am just reading a bit each day--so easy to get through a war story that way (than trying to take it all in at one sitting). I have a feeling it is not going to be/turn out in the way I expect.

[Danielle]

I wonder why I seem to be reaching for French literature more than other languages. It was Hebrew lit for a while, but I have not read a single thing in months. I like having shorter books interspersed with longer ones--I feel like I am actually making progress on my reading.

[Caroline]

I'm glad you like it too. The writing is great. I'm afraid there might still be a few difficult chapters. There's one about anima is. I'm dreading that.

[LizF]

Antoine Laurain has written two lovely books - The President's Hat and The Red Notebook. Quite slim and stylish but wonderfully enjoyable.
My daughter has just recommended Chez Moi by Agnes Desarthe too. I have only read a page or two so far but I think that I am going to love it as it has that Chocolat vibe (and Chocolat is one of my all time favourite books!)
The only Italian translations I have read recently are some rather hard-boiled crime novels by Massimo Carlotto and of course I am attempting Elena Ferrante although you might like Maurizio de Giovanni's rather quirky crime series set in 1930's Naples. His detective has a very unusual talent to say the least.

[Danielle]

I know there are going to be warfare scenes--I will try and finish tomorrow, or will split what is left over the next couple of days. It is especially hard to read about horrible things happening to animals--thanks for the warning. I know you had some hesitations about the translation, but I am finding it well done--at least nothing has struck me as odd sounding, though, I too wonder why they changed the title. I am sure it is a marketing thing. I think over here anyway, more people are apt to know just what 1914 means and maybe just having '14 would not make people thing first of WWI--at least generally speaking. The edition I have has a number of really useful notes in the back of the book.

[Danielle]

I think I might have one or two books by Lourain now that you mention titles--or at least they are books I have jotted down to look for. Oh, how sad is this--I think I read Chez Moi--as a matter of fact I am almost sure as the cover illustration looks so very familiar. I love Chocolat, too, and I think that is the one book I have reread most often. I even love the movie adaptation (even with the changes) as much as the book, which rarely happens. I have the first few books by de Giovanni and the first one is even in the little bookcase next to my bed! I am intrigued by your quirky description. I have those one of the Carlotto books and three by Lucarelli.... There is lots of good Italian crime fiction, isn't there?

And I have looked--I did read Chez Moi--how sad that my reads fade away after a while, but after reading my post now I remember the story:

http://danitorres.typepad.com/workinprogress/2008/07/chez-moi.html