Readers of Europe 2023 - Luxembourg recommendation

 

Recommendation by the Permanent Representation of the Luxembourg to the EU

‘Subridere. Un aller simple’ by Nathalie Ronvaux

Most people like routines. They like having order to their lives, having a structure around which they can plan their days and organise their tasks.

But routine life can get a little mundane. Inertia creeps in and time passes, and everything starts feeling the same. Feelings of anxiousness flourish. Breaking out of this takes a lot of effort, and can sometimes cause unexpected reactions, as is the case in Nathalie Ronvaux’s award-winning novel, ‘Subridere. Un aller simple’.

Claire is young, beautiful, rich, and successful. Already a high-ranking lawyer in a prestigious law firm, on paper the world is at her feet. And yet, something is amiss.

One morning, in the midst of a partners’ meeting, she gets up, puts on her coat and leaves. For no reason, and acting out of character, she goes to the train station and spontaneously gets a one-way ticket from Luxembourg to Paris.

This is no mere train ride. Deep in her thoughts, away from her everyday surroundings and plush possessions, she also embarks upon an inner journey. Here is a chance to examine her actions and her fate, and explore the concepts of free will and predetermined destiny.

Ronvaux’s writing is fluid and lyrical. Though the text is short, every word is considered, adding to the story and moving it forward along the tracks.

A beautiful, poetic novel, it is a perfect companion on train trips of your own.

Nathalie Ronvaux (1977) experiments with a variety of literary genres, including poetry, drama and prose. Involved in numerous literary and cultural events and performances, she has received several awards for her work. In 2017, she was one of 10 writers selected for the New Voices from Europe project, and the following year, her poetic novel ‘Subridere. Un aller simple’ won the Coup de cœur du jury du Prix du livre luxembourgeois.

If you’re looking to unearth other literary gems from Luxembourg, discover more via Eureka, the online catalogue of the Council libraries.

• Luxembourg literature in Eureka

What is Readers of Europe?

The Council Library and the permanent representations to the EU have once again combined forces to feed your literary habit, with the fourth instalment of our annual Readers of Europe initiative.

The permanent representations to the EU have been invited to recommend a book from their country to read over the summer.

The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘female authors’, the idea being that every permanent representation selects a book by a female author from their country. The genre is up to the permanent representation - it could be a work by an up-and-coming author or a quintessential graphic novel, a collection from a renowned poet or an under-appreciated fantasy.

Join us as we dive into a genre-spanning list. From Hungarian poetry to Lithuanian historical fiction, Croatian family sagas to Czech mystery, there is something for everyone.

This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.

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