Before reading Paris Peasant, I learned that this novel is more of a “novel-that-was-not-a-novel”, which was an idea I found quite interesting as I had never read a novel like this. Therefore, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this novel.
As I read the novel, I felt pretty lost, as what was happening in one paragraph seemed to immediately change in the next. I didn’t really understand what the plot of the story was, or whether there was even a plot. Even though the novel contained many details, I felt that instead of trying to picture the scenes in my head, I was struggling to stay focused as I didn’t understand what was happening in the first place. Many details of the story felt like a blur, but some things that stuck out to me was a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps that was the reason why there were so many vivid details, so the narrator could remember these memories as immensely as possible since all the places he had been familiar with would be gone soon. Just like how the Boulevard Haussmann Building Society closed down due to the passing of the owner. “But it is the real old-timers who are my favorites.” (36), which may further imply that the narrator is a nostalgic person, and he wants to hold onto the familiarity of his surroundings as long as possible before it is replaced. “I feel like a sailor aboard a ruined castle.” (48) was also a line that stuck out to me, as in time, the narrator will be a lost sailor (metaphorically speaking), as he has lost the city he has known, to an unfamiliar one with new places and new buildings. Thus, in a way, his castle (his home) is ruined when it is replaced.
Another part of the story that stood out to me (in a more negative way) was how the narrator mentions that if there were films where women were the ones who approached men first, it “would have no success” (55). It really demonstrates societal expectations from the older times, where men are always expected and encouraged to make the first move, and women would most likely be shamed for doing so. In this century today, while it has significantly improved over the years, it still remains an issue. If a woman pursues a man, she may be labeled as “too forward” or “bold”. But why should they be labeled so negatively for simply being interested in someone? Isn’t it a good thing for people, in general, to know what they want, and to (respectfully) go after what they want?
Hi Tiffany! I like what you have to say on nostalgia, and in fact a few of your peers have also written on this! To echo Jon’s reminder from class last week, I encourage you to use tags on yours posts (“nostalgia” would be a great one here, and perhaps “women,” among others). I am not quite sure I agree that these are memories that the narrator is having (unlike what we saw in Proust with his nostalgic narrator). To me, they more seem to be present day observations, but with the purpose (as you say) of “hold[ing] onto the familiarity of his surroundings as long as possible before it is replaced”! What do you think?
Hi Tiffany!
I understand your confusion to the novel as I was just as confused when reading it. To comment on the negative aspects of the novel, I also found it at times to be objectifying towards women. In addition to the quote you pulled from the text, I also found “delicious girls can be seen serving both cults with provocative movements of the hips…” in my opinion his description of girls as being ‘delicious,’ was distasteful.
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for your observant post! I understand how you were confused because I felt that way at times too. While I enjoyed the way in which it was written in descriptive language that was rich with visual imagery, I felt that it jumped around a lot and I wasn’t sure of any order. I totally agree how this stereotype of men pursuing women has been present in literature, media, etc for many decades. This text reinforces this stereotype even more so because these women are not given a voice in the text.