One of the good sides of wet and cold winter weather is that it’s just perfect for cosying up inside! You can cuddle up in your favourite armchair with a blanket, a nice cup of tea and a good book. I have been a bookworm since I was a child, and up until today, reading has remained a big part of my life (also thanks to my job). So, writing about books on the blog from time to time is just a logical thing to do, don’t you think? The “book corner” articles will be about titles that are currently on my reading list, or that have remained on my mind for some reason. And there will be sewing books, too, of course!
But today I want to start out with a novel: “The List of my Desires” by Grégoire Delacourt. (The photo shows my German copy of the book.) I purchased the book last year, and I have to admit that the only reason I bought it in the first place was the cover photo. I mean, come on, there’s a button on it, and thread and sequins – there’s no way I could resist that! (And the cover of the English version is even more tempting! Yes, temptation waits around every corner for a button addict…) Fortunately, judging the book by its cover was not a bad idea in this case, because there is a really beautiful story inside: A melancholic and profound tale about small blessings and the kind of happiness that money cannot buy.
The novel is set in northern France and tells the story of Jocelyne, who runs a small haberdashery and writes a sewing blog. She loves her husband, even though there have been ups and downs in their marriage, and she loves her ordinary life. One day, she lets her friends talk her into buying a lottery ticket for the first time in her life, and promptly wins the jackpot. Chaos and confusion ensue and her life is turned completely upside down. That’s all I am going to tell you about the story, though, you really need to read the rest for yourselves!
I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but sometimes, when I read a phrase or a section in a book, it simply “clicks” with something inside of me. And even if I forget about the rest of the book after some time, this phrase or section stays with me, even if it has nothing to do with the main plot itself. This also happened with a short paragraph in “The List of my Desires”.
Jocelyne just collected her lottery price in Paris and with the cheque in her purse, she goes straightaway to the Chanel boutique. However, she is so overwhelmed by all of the luxury suddenly affordable to her, that she flees the store. After a break, she goes to the Marché Saint-Pierre instead – a huge fabric shop that she calls her “treasure cove”. (And after looking at their website this shop is definitely at the top of my must-see list if I ever come to Paris. Who needs that Eiffel Tower, anyways?) In the novel, Jocelyne’s visit to the store is described like this:
(Note: I do not have an English version of the book, so the quote below is my own translation of the German text. The official English translation might be a little different.)
My hands glide over fabrics, my fingers tremble at the touch of organdy, fine wool felt, jute and patchwork. Here, I can feel the same rush that the woman must have felt in the wonderful commercial where she is locked into the Sephora store all night. All the gold in the world could not buy this kind of rapture. Every woman is beautiful here. Their eyes are shining. When they see a piece of fabric, they already imagine a dress, a pillow, a doll. They create dreams; they hold the beauty of the world in their hands. Before I leave, I buy a piece of Bemberg, polypropylene straps, cotton rickrack and pearl tassels. Happiness costs not even forty euro.
Isn’t this beautiful? I think everybody who is into crafts or sewing knows this feeling when buying supplies. But I never read such a wonderful description of it. For me, just this paragraph was worth buying the book.
Some words of warning at the end, though: The book is no “feel good chick lit” and I guess the end is not really a “happy ending”. So, I you’re currently suffering from winter blues, you might want to wait for the summer before reading this book. Also, men are not displayed in the most favourable light by the author, so if you are newly in love or just broke up with someone, this might not be the best read for you right now. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this book, because there are so many big and little truths in it that will make you think about your own life, and because the writing is simply beautiful. (Again, I only read the German version, but I am sure that the English translator has done an equally superb job!)
Enjoy reading and see you soon!
Kati