English Book Club - Raymond Queneau

The French Library's English Book Club is for reading and discussing Francophone works in translation from our new English language collection to help English speakers discover the world of Francophone literature.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 21st, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.

We will be discussing "Zazie in the Metro" by Raymond Queneau, a mid-20th century cult classic novel that follows young and impish Zazie as she arrives in Paris from the country and finds herself caught up in a comic adventure that becomes wilder and more manic by the minute. The book was an immediate sensation, and a beloved film adaptation was made a year later as part of the Nouvelle Vague. Born in 1903, Raymond Queneau was a novelist and poet deeply embedded in the Parisian literary scene, working at Gallimard for many years. He was associated with the Surrealists and Pataphysics and was a founding member of Oulipo.

Please read the book in its entirety and come ready to discuss with an open heart! The book club is a space for readers of all backgrounds. Previous familiarity with French literature or French language is not required. The discussion will be in English.

Options for purchasing the book: Penguin Random House | Brookline Booksmith (call or email for availability) | Harvard Book Store (call or email for availability)