If you’re a regular follower of Shiny New Books (and I do hope you are – there are some marvellous book reviews there, and it will be very bad for your TBR…); anyway, if you are, you might have seen my Bookbuzz piece back in April which looked at the playful yet serious work of the Oulipo literary group. Their shining star is most probably the great French author, Georges Perec, and so I was very excited to discover recently that Gallic Books were bringing out a new edition of his “I Remember“; a book only translated in 2014, and not published in the UK until now!
Perec was a prolific author, producing all manner of varied works which took in differing formats and constraints; and by the time of this work he’d already dipped into oblique memoir with his book “W, or The Memory of Childhood“. “I Remember” takes a very unusual angle whilst dealing with memory and the past, and is absolutely fascinating; to find out more, you can check out my review here! 😀
heavenali
Jun 23, 2020 @ 18:17:20
Lovely review, and a rather a lovely concept for a book about memory.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 23, 2020 @ 18:28:52
Thanks Ali – it really is an inventive book, and surprisingly moving.
Olga Zilberbourg
Jun 23, 2020 @ 21:25:31
This reminds me of a poem-writing prompt i saw recently. You write ten sentences starting from I remember, then drop the I remember part 🙂 lovely review and concept — thank you!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 23, 2020 @ 21:28:54
Very welcome! It’s such an interesting concept and Perec does it brilliantly!
TravellinPenguin
Jun 24, 2020 @ 02:48:11
I have ordered a few of his books as not read him before and he sounds like an author I’d love. I Remember won’t be released here until later July. I also pre-ordered book about Arranging Books on Bookshelves that won’t be released until Dec 2020 here. But it sounds fascinating. I am starting to get my head around the Oulipo stuff. I recently acquired the Oulipo book you have and am anxious for it to surface to the top of the pile. Perhaps I Remember would be a good journal prompt for daily practice for thkse who keep journals.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 24, 2020 @ 10:56:12
Yes, the bookshelf one sounds fab – I just love his writing! So clever and yet profound. I love the Oulipo stuff generally and will be interested to hear what you think! And yes – what wonderful journal prompts. Maybe I should try to remember at least one thing daily – might improve my brain….. ;D
Georges Perec, I Remember: a personal memory - Tredynas Days
Jun 24, 2020 @ 13:12:06
Tredynas Days
Jun 24, 2020 @ 13:13:08
I just posted a response of my own to Perec’s invitation to add some ‘I remember’ sentences of our own. I linked to your post: thanks for the inspiration!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 24, 2020 @ 13:25:45
Excellent, I shall pop over and look! It’s such a wonderful concept and a really good writing prompt too!
cirtnecce
Jun 24, 2020 @ 13:39:39
Wonderful review! Also thank you for the warning on TBR! I am trying to show restrain!!!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 24, 2020 @ 15:23:03
Thanks! And good luck with the TBR – I have failed on the restraint front…
Annabel (AnnaBookBel)
Jul 14, 2020 @ 10:36:16
It appears Perec’s I remember wasn’t as unique as that – an American called Joe Brainard wrote a memoir I remember three years previously – article about them both in the Paris Review here! (Someone left a comment at Shiny) https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/07/30/i-remember-georges-perec/
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jul 14, 2020 @ 10:43:59
Oh, how interesting Annabel! I’ll pop over and have a look – thanks for the link! 😀