A Girl's Memory
About This Novel
In her new book, "Memories of a Girl," Anne Ernault relives her experience as a camp counselor in Normandy during the summer of 1958 and recounts her first night with a man. When he fell in love with someone else, she realized that she had given her will to him, like a conquered person without a master. Today, 60 years later, the author finds that she can erase the intervening years and recollect the young girl she once wanted to completely forget. Bringing the indelible memory of that summer into reality, Erno discovers that the crucial and painful origins of her writing career were built on a foundation of shame, violence, and betrayal.
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Official(2)Scraped 4d ago
Question: How should we behave? Answer: Be a free subject.
We are all a subject, not anyone's appendage. We must seize the initiative.
"Some people are addicted to other people's worlds and live in the shadows of others. They are led by the desires and wills of others, lose themselves, and see themselves being dominated and dragged into an unknown process." This was the author's experience in 1958. She was ignorant of men and sex, and she was trapped in the values of patriarchal society: a woman's value lies in men's desire and need for her. She succumbed to her and submitted to the "male barbaric law", and therefore was classified by men as a "slut" in the dichotomy of "saint and slut". After reading "The Second Sex", she felt ashamed of herself, and she gradually understood: How should we behave? The answer is: to be a free subject. She meticulously recorded the moments when she "voluntarily" became a sexual object and a second sex, without hiding her shame about this memory. !! The meaning of this book lies precisely in this: to remind all women that in any relationship, you cannot lose yourself or your position as a "subject" and become the second sex. The latter cannot be loved by others, nor can they love themselves. The book also tells about the friendship between the author and her only youth friend R in the UK. "We were separated from reality, in an intoxicating French bubble, in an unrestrained society. There was no flirting, no love in our lives. There were no men, and we entertained ourselves. We put aside the pure constraints and ridiculous fantasies of love and passion, but our relationship became closer." In a patriarchal society, establishing a sexual relationship with a man is often the most powerful way to divide women and girls. And when we put aside sexual relationships and establish strong friendships with female friends, we are happy, self-sufficient, and free. The power that women give to each other is endless, which makes us more capable of loving the world, ourselves, and others. !! All girls, cherish the R around you. I hope we can all become eternal friends with R instead of temporary friends.
Rating
Community(0)
Official(2)Scraped 4d ago
Question: How should we behave? Answer: Be a free subject.
We are all a subject, not anyone's appendage. We must seize the initiative.
"Some people are addicted to other people's worlds and live in the shadows of others. They are led by the desires and wills of others, lose themselves, and see themselves being dominated and dragged into an unknown process." This was the author's experience in 1958. She was ignorant of men and sex, and she was trapped in the values of patriarchal society: a woman's value lies in men's desire and need for her. She succumbed to her and submitted to the "male barbaric law", and therefore was classified by men as a "slut" in the dichotomy of "saint and slut". After reading "The Second Sex", she felt ashamed of herself, and she gradually understood: How should we behave? The answer is: to be a free subject. She meticulously recorded the moments when she "voluntarily" became a sexual object and a second sex, without hiding her shame about this memory. !! The meaning of this book lies precisely in this: to remind all women that in any relationship, you cannot lose yourself or your position as a "subject" and become the second sex. The latter cannot be loved by others, nor can they love themselves. The book also tells about the friendship between the author and her only youth friend R in the UK. "We were separated from reality, in an intoxicating French bubble, in an unrestrained society. There was no flirting, no love in our lives. There were no men, and we entertained ourselves. We put aside the pure constraints and ridiculous fantasies of love and passion, but our relationship became closer." In a patriarchal society, establishing a sexual relationship with a man is often the most powerful way to divide women and girls. And when we put aside sexual relationships and establish strong friendships with female friends, we are happy, self-sufficient, and free. The power that women give to each other is endless, which makes us more capable of loving the world, ourselves, and others. !! All girls, cherish the R around you. I hope we can all become eternal friends with R instead of temporary friends.
