Book Club Scribbles #15

February book club news and an update on the podcast.

“When women speak truly they speak subversively — they can’t help it: if you’re underneath, if you’re kept down, you break out, you subvert. We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experience as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains. That’s what I want – to hear you erupting. You young Mount St Helenses who don’t know the power in you – I want to hear you.”

This newsletter is not going to be about Ursula K Le Guin but to honour her passing on the 22nd January 2018, I wanted to share this quote. It puts some much-needed fire in my belly and reminds me of the importance of writing, speaking out and protesting.

This newsletter is going to be short and sweet. The intention is to catch you up on February book club news and tell you about the return of The FBC Paris podcast.

BOOK CLUB BITS

Our in-person book club session is scheduled for Sunday the 18th February between 5pm and 7pm. The author of Post-Romantique, Aline Laurent-Mayard will be with us! I’ll get the ball rolling, asking her a few questions about the book and her research. Then, for those of you signed up, you are welcome to ask Aline any questions you may have. Please do not be shy.

I started reading PR last weekend, and as I suspected, it is a great book to get into after BFFs: The radical potential of female friendship by Anahit Behrooz. Aline is opening my eyes to asexuality, something I’ve never had to think about, and helping me to imagine a future that balances my relationship with friends and community. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about Post-Romantique.

February’s online book club is going to be our first ever reading party! The plan is: we join, we say a quick “hello/bonjour” and then we get reading. After 30-45 minutes we can head into breakout rooms and share a bit more about the books, hopefully introducing everyone to new authors and genres. Or perhaps getting the opportunity to rave about our favourite books. Please don’t cancel the day of. Bring snacks, it will be fun.

THE PODCAST

For season 5 (!) of the podcast, I want to mix things up a bit. Episodes will be 20-30 minutes long. I’ll be talking to members of The FBC Paris community and booksellers, as well as authors and translators. I’ll also be getting into French politics a bit more.

The plan is to host additional interviews in this very newsletter, as not everyone is comfortable with the podcast format. So, if there’s something you’d like to chat to me about—either on the pod or via Substack—please send an email to thefbcparis@gmail.com and we can discuss.

I did mention on Instagram Stories recently that this newsletter would be focused on French politics. I’m sorry to go back on my word BUT my timeline changed. Instead, I’ll be speaking to fellow Brit in Paris, Hannah Meltzer, later this month about the current state of France. Her newsletter is one of my favourites on Substack, so I invite you to check it out before her podcast episode arrives.

CURRENTLY…

Watching season 4 of True Detective. Jodie Foster is playing a very unlikeable character. Ennis, Alaska is a very hostile place to live. Is something supernatural going on? Three episodes in and I have many questions. We need justice for Annie K.

Listening to Death of an Artist. Hosted by curator Helen Molesworth, this podcast is, admittedly, not an easy listen. It focuses on the life and death of Cuban artist Ana Mendieta.

In addition to exploring whether it is possible to separate the artist from the art, Helen also reveals the silence surrounding Ana’s death within the art world at large.

My overall feeling is that Helen takes a respectful approach to Ana’s talent and introduces her work to people outside of the art world, like me.

This Vulture piece is a useful introduction to the topic.

Reading Love by Toni Morrison. Centred around the deceased Bill Cosey and the many women who loved, admired or obsessed over him, Love gets straight to the dark side of romance. However, at the heart of this story is a friendship between two girls that was destroyed by a man taking what he wanted. Incredible writing (of course) and an unforgettable cast of characters.

A note on The FBC Paris

If you’re new here, welcome! The FBC Paris is a passion project. Read our mission statement.

Follow us on Instagram: this is the best place to stay up-to-date with book club sessions.

Browse podcast episodes: I chat to authors, translators, friends of the book club, and booksellers.

If you’d like to be in touch, send an email to thefbcparis@gmail.com

Lou xx