Do What They Say or Else (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781496228000)

Winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature

Originally published in 1977, Do What They Say or Else is the second novel by French author Annie Ernaux. Set in a small town in Normandy, France, the novel tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl named Anne, who lives with her working-class parents. The story, which takes place during the summer and fall of Anne's transition from middle school to high school, is narrated in a stream-of-consciousness style from her point of view. Ernaux captures Anne's adolescent voice, through which she expresses her keen observations in a highly colloquial style.

As the novel progresses and Anne's feelings about her parents, her education, and her sexual encounters evolve, she grows into a more mature but also more conflicted and unhappy character, leaving behind the innocence of her middle school years. Not only must she navigate the often-confusing signals she receives from boys, but she also finds herself moving further and further away from her parents as she surpasses their educational level and worldview.

Author: Annie Ernaux
ISBN-10: 1496228006
ISBN-13: 9781496228000
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Language: English
Published: 10/01/2022
Pages: 120
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.28d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/22/2022