Who’s Reading Georges Perec?

The blog Cafebook recently discussed Georges Perec (1936-1982), one of the most innovative French writers of recent times. I live much of the year in Nice, so after I read the post, I walked down the street to Fnac and picked up his short novel Les Choses (Things, 1965). As I soon found out, it’s a book best read on a couch when the air is warm and the wind is blowing gently through a window and when there’s nothing better to do than ponder big ideas—in this case, youth and freedom and the curious pull toward security, comfort, and beautiful objects.

Why read this book? It’s intellectual without being pretentious. It talks about serious ideas, though in a simple, fascinating story. It takes place in the 1960s but is concerned with something interesting to think about during today’s global economic downturn—the culture of consumption.

I was grateful to Cafebook, written by Emma Zucchi, for talking about Perec, who died of lung cancer at the age of 45. Les Choses, his first book, was a big success in France and translated into numerous languages.

In the United States Perec has a loyal following, and the translated version, Things, is published by David R. Godine. In this era of best sellers and declining midlists, it’s great to see a foreign writer continue to fascinate Americans. Thanks, Godine, for publishing Things!

Thomas Riggs
Thomas Riggs & Company
Missoula, Montana

From Thomas Riggs & Co. Blog: www.thomasriggs.net/blog

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Thomas Riggs & Company, Missoula, Montana

At Thomas Riggs & Co. we have a blog. But why? In our field, book development and publishing, a blog is neither essential nor common. What’s most important is producing good books. After all, without good products, we could talk all day long, and it wouldn’t matter.

But with the increasing importance of the Internet, times are changing. Publishing companies now have a real opportunity to engage with readers, as well as with other professionals in the field. We can talk about what interests us, what affects our work and future, and even our fears and concerns. By being honest and transparent we give others an easy way to get to know us. Readers can learn about our books and plans; potential employees, contractors, and writers can better judge if we are a good fit; and other publishing companies can see if we would be an appropriate developer of their products.

Our hope, too, is to become more involved in the greater discussion of publishing and literature on the Internet. We have our own niche and set of experiences to talk about. But we also look forward to hearing from others. If Thomas Riggs & Co. is going to be relevant in the coming Internet age, it will be because we embrace new technology and the advantages it offers, especially the interactive, democratic world of the Internet, where readers and publishers can share, as equals, ideas and possibilities for the future.

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