Reading Group on Truismes by Marie Darrieussecq

This reading group is dedicated to Truismes by Marie Darrieussecq, one of the leading voices of contemporary French literature. Please note that the author won’t be present in person.

Truismes (Pig Tales) is a brilliant satirical novel about a stunning young woman working in a beauty ‘massage’ parlour. She enjoys extraordinary success at bringing home the bacon until she slowly metamorphoses – into a pig. Rejected by her boyfriend, left to wander the sewers and forage for food in public parks, she takes up with a werewolf with insatiable appetites. They share everything (pizza is a particular favourite; she gets the pizza, he gets the delivery boy) until someone alerts the authorities and tragedy strikes…

Gender, politics and social hypocrisy all come under scrutiny in this entertaining and enlightening novel. Truismes is a Metamorphosis for the present day, a dark fable of political and sexual corruption, and a grim warning of what can happen in a society without a soul.

You can find  information on the book in English on the British publisher’s website.