Men - Softcover

Darrieussecq, Marie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1925240916 ISBN 13: 9781925240917

Publisher: Text Publishing Company, 2016

Synopsis

'As a chronicle of the humiliations and occasional joys of loving someone whose own feelings are more ambiguous...it feels queasily accurate...A sometimes biting, often sharply observed take on a relationship one would surely rather read about than be part of.' Kirkus

'[Readers will] find themselves enchanted by Darrieussecq’s silken, dreamy prose and this sly exploration of female desire and interracial couplings.' Booklist

'There are few writers who may have changed my perception of the world, but Darrieussecq is one of them.' Times

'Anyone who has experienced heartbreak will relate but should beware because this is a moody, powerful book.' The Age

Solange is thirty-something, a mediocre actress, and not a great mother. In Hollywood she falls for a charismatic actor, Kouhouesso, who wants to direct a movie of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness in Africa.

Solange follows her man to Africa, determined to play a main role in both his film and his affections. But nothing goes to plan in this witty examination of romance, movie-making and clichés about race relations. After all, there's no guarantee you'll be loved by the one you love.

About this title

About the Author

Marie Darrieussecq was born in 1969 in Bayonne, France. Her debut novel, Pig Tales, was published in 34 countries and became the most popular first novel in France since the 1950s. A Brief Stay with the Living and White have also been translated into English.

Review

Marie Darrieussecq brilliantly explores female anxiety about the masculine, and the desire for the masculine always such a mysterious thing for a woman whether he is black or white. This radical otherness takes us to the heart of what it means to be a woman.’ Télérama

From Los Angeles to Cameroon, via Paris, Marie Darrieussecq’s novel is constantly on the edge of the fictional and the documentary. Romantic and creative passions merge with political and ethical visions The character of Solange is the embodiment of a desire to grasp everything, in the intensity of the moment and the same spirit animates Marie Darrieussecq’s writing.’ Le Magazine Littéraire

The issue of otherness is crucial, as is that of the couple. Are the characters a couple, or are they just the sum of one another? This novel and its romance is a surprise from Marie Darrieussecq, but she proves herself to be, as ever, a socially aware writer.’ Paris Match

The film shoot in Cameroon is a piece of bravura writing pages that take your breath away Jungle fever, the attraction between people from different races is the jungle here metaphoric or real?’ Le Nouvel Observateur

Darrieussecq revisits the clash of civilisations, of two worlds, one supposedly civilised, the other immersed in the heart of darkness Without a single cliché or platitude, this novelist chooses to contrast a mythical Africa with that of harsh reality.’ Jeune Afrique

If it weren’t for her prose, which is like a brooding snake sharp, sometimes dissonant, twisting Marie Darrieussecq’s new novel would remind you of one of those slice-of-life films, ultra anti-romantic, no emotional clap-trap And this novel is all about the cinema It’s a novel-film.’ Le Point



‘Marie Darrieussecq brilliantly explores female anxiety about the masculine, and the desire for the masculine―always such a mysterious thing for a woman―whether he is black or white. This radical otherness takes us to the heart of what it means to be a woman.’―Télérama

‘From Los Angeles to Cameroon, via Paris, Marie Darrieussecq’s novel is constantly on the edge of the fictional and the documentary. Romantic and creative passions merge with political and ethical visions...The character of Solange is the embodiment of a desire to grasp everything, in the intensity of the moment―and the same spirit animates Marie Darrieussecq’s writing.’―Le Magazine Littéraire

‘The issue of otherness is crucial, as is that of the couple. Are the characters a couple, or are they just the sum of one another? This novel and its romance is a surprise from Marie Darrieussecq, but she proves herself to be, as ever, a socially aware writer.’―Paris Match

‘The film shoot in Cameroon is a piece of bravura writing...pages that take your breath away...Jungle fever, the attraction between people from different races―is the jungle here metaphoric or real?’―Le Nouvel Observateur

‘Darrieussecq revisits the clash of civilisations, of two worlds, one supposedly civilised, the other immersed in the heart of darkness...Without a single cliché or platitude, this novelist chooses to contrast a mythical Africa with that of harsh reality.’―Jeune Afrique

‘If it weren’t for her prose, which is like a brooding snake―sharp, sometimes dissonant, twisting―Marie Darrieussecq’s new novel would remind you of one of those slice-of-life films, ultra anti-romantic, no emotional clap-trap...And this novel is all about the cinema...It’s a novel-film.’―Le Point

About this edition

• Publisher: Text Publishing Company
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1925240916
• ISBN 13: 9781925240917
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272