My Afternoons With Margueritte

This is a story of one of those unlikely encounters that can change the course of somebody’s life: The encounter in a park between Germain, an almost illiterate man in his fifties, and Margueritte, a little old lady who is passionate about reading. There is 40 years and 200 pounds’ difference between them.

One day, Germain happens to sit down beside her and Margueritte reads out loud extracts from her novels and reveals to him the magic of books from which hitherto, Germain has always felt excluded. To those close to him, his friends in the bistro who until now have always thought him an idiot, the shoe is now on the other foot. But Margueritte is losing her eyesight, and through his love for this caring grandma with all her mischievousness and charm, Germain decides to read and to show that he can by reading to her, out loud, when she is no longer able.

“Small but perfectly formed, this unassuming French comedy is smart, emotionally engaging and often very funny.” ~Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall