Avalon-based writer Sarah Turnbull won my heart with her first book Almost French, published in 2002, and read by me many times. I’ve bought and given away dozens of copies of this book. Recently, I realised that I no longer had a copy. Manly’s Desire Books fixed that and when I re-read it for the umpteenth time, I was reminded of just how much I adore this book.
Shortly after it was published, I went to Paris with my husband and two small’ish children, and we retraced many of Sarah’s footsteps. It was glorious. If you haven’t read this book, or haven’t read it for a long time, seek it out. There are timeless insights into what it’s like being an outsider, being French and trying to bridge that gap.
You can’t think of Paris and not think about eating. Paris is a city with more than 44,000 restaurants. It’s a tough restaurant scene. If you want to get a sense of how tough, then A Waiter in Paris is the book for you. Englishman, Edward Chisholm, recounts working his way into the elite, yet lowly world of Paris waiters. Not easy when you’re English and speak almost no French.
It’s like being a fly on the wall (quelle horreur) of an upmarket bistrot and seeing the inner workings, power struggles, abuse and fear. As the story unfolds, the anecdotes become more personal and vivid. The backstabbing tensions feel real and dangerous given there’s so many knives within reach.
I do love this quote: “A waiter’s job is to deceive you. They want you to believe in a luxurious calm because on the other side of that door is hell.” The book is said to be a contemporary of Orwell’s “Down and Out in Paris and London” with all the associated bleakness. I’m not sure that’s true. It’s certainly a revelation into what goes on behind the scenes in Parisian restaurant-land. Will it stop me wanting to visit Paris and eat in its restaurants? Not on your nelly.
Where to buy
Best to search online for these livres parisiens.
Mazel tov Tony Bernard
August 2022’s Tawny reviewed Manly resident and emergency doctor Tony Bernard’s The Ghost Tattoo. Writing the story consumed Tony’s life for 16 years, so it’s thrilling to announce The Ghost Tattoo won the award for Holocaust Memoir in the US at the National Jewish Book Awards for 2024 – the longest running organisation devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature.
All Tony wanted to do in writing the book was honour his father. Job done well before winning this award, but my heart swells with emotion to see Tony’s devotion and honour formally recognised.
Included in the award Judge’s comments was this: “This rarely explored aspect of the Holocaust and its aftermath offers readers a glimpse into the psyche of a Jew forced into the role of subjugating his own neighbours. The author also explores the ramifications of such dilemmas and their painful, life¬long effects on both survivor and family.”
The book would make a superb film or Netflix series to rival Schindler’s List.
Visit tonybernard.com.au for more insights into The Ghost Tattoo, which is available from all good bookshops.