If I ever wrote a book, it would be something like this – quoting the author, “an existence that is singular but also merged with the movements of a generation.” In other words, the emotions evoked by natural human milestones intertwined with the social and political climate of one’s life.

The universal language we all share – the ritual of meals, the forming and breaking of relationships, the pursuit of dreams and aspirations, reflections on growing older and getting old – is what made the novel so relatable, despite the 70-year gap between the author and me. She wrote about none of us specifically yet all of us at once.

The portrayal of technological development and the rise of consumerism made me reflect on how they have transformed throughout my life. However, I occasionally found myself lost in the French social and political context. To fully appreciate the emotions explored, some familiarity with the subject would be helpful.

Meditative, slow-paced, reflective.