Midnight in France. A blog post on the fly. Travel with intermittent internet this last week, which saw the great, awaited summit: me and Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud in what he calls his “modest teepee” in Palaiseau:
Photos courtesy Christine Bini, whose critical study of Châteaureynaud’s work, Le marbre et la brume [Marble and Mist] came out this spring. More portraits of the author available on the Small Beer Press blog, Not A Journal.
I cannot tell you how much I want to buy Alan Good of Bookslut a calvados for his thunderous praise: “Someone give Edward Gauvin some money. I don’t want to wait fifty years to read Châteaureynaud’s other books.” And for pointing out the critique of capitalism in Châteaureynaud’s fiction. And Jonathan Messinger of Time Out Chicago astutely points out: “Both classic and modern, strange and simple, Châteaureynaud’s stories remind not only of Vonnegut but of Gogol and Kafka.” Let the Kafka comparisons commence! Kafka is one of Châteaureynaud’s favorite writers. In fact the first Amazon review (five stars!), from Ivan Novakov, says “Wonderful story teller–reminiscent of Dino Buzzati, Kafka, Marquez. I am amazed that his books haven’t been published in English until now. ” The latter surely one of the most gratifying sentiments, echoed by a few friends, to result from publication. I feel like a secret I’ve been the unwillingly solitary guardian of for a long time is finally being shared with the world: at last, other people to talk to about Châteaureynaud’s work!
How marvelous for you to meet him at last! I’m so happy for you and hope someone takes up Alan Good’s challenge to fund your future translations. May you have many other good adventures in France.