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sujuv's review
4.0
I learned about the artist, Sophie Calle, while reading a book called "Flaneuse" about - you guessed it - women walking cities. One of the women the author profiled was Calle, who has created art out of walking and following people and documenting it in writing and photography (she followed one man from France to Italy!). This book isn't as much about the "flaneusing" but tells the story of Calle finding an address book. She mailed it back to the owner but before she did she photocopied the contents. She then made it her mission to call up and meet up with people in the book to get a sense of the man himself without ever meeting him. It's pretty damn fascinating. Worth checking out.
sloatsj's review
4.0
Sophie Calle finds an address book and decides to photocopy it before returning it to its owner in order to contact the owner's contact and form a picture of him.
Some people knew him well.
"He is a cloud in trousers."
Some friends talked maybe a little too much.
"He invites you to dinner at his place, serves you a sumptuous meal, good wine, then suddenly at the end takes a dish off the table as if he were thinking, 'I'm going to get conned.'"
Some refused to talk.
"I'll have no part in this! It's an outrage!"
We learn Pierre's birthday and his style of dress, the color of his hair, his age, his family details, profession and interests.
"He loves minor literature, B movies, serialized 19th century novels . . . and also opera."
I loved the concept and execution, the short texts interspersed with images. I understand the subject of the investigation, Pierre D., was offended. I understand that.
Some people knew him well.
"He is a cloud in trousers."
Some friends talked maybe a little too much.
"He invites you to dinner at his place, serves you a sumptuous meal, good wine, then suddenly at the end takes a dish off the table as if he were thinking, 'I'm going to get conned.'"
Some refused to talk.
"I'll have no part in this! It's an outrage!"
We learn Pierre's birthday and his style of dress, the color of his hair, his age, his family details, profession and interests.
"He loves minor literature, B movies, serialized 19th century novels . . . and also opera."
I loved the concept and execution, the short texts interspersed with images. I understand the subject of the investigation, Pierre D., was offended. I understand that.
indecisivespice's review
4.0
I enjoyed it. Although, I think I enjoyed the concept/sentiment of it moreso than the outcome.
thecoltrane's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
mrsthrift's review
1.0
Sophie Calle found an address book on the street in Paris. She returned the book to its owner, but not before copying the contents. She proceeds to call through the address book and ask each person to meet with her, explaining the address book but refusing to reveal the owner's identity unless they meet with her in person. She is, essentially, creating a portrait in negative space of the man based on the impressions of his friends and acquaintances. And it's creepy. Like, really creepy. Especially all the times she visits his apartment, knowing he is out of town.
I picked this up because it's described as a read-alike for Miranda July's [b:It Chooses You|11266880|It Chooses You|Miranda July|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328693226s/11266880.jpg|16193779]. But where Miranda July seeks connections with strangers to bring meaning to life, and say what you will about Miranda July's methods, Sophie Calle stalks this random dude, who, it turns out, becomes angry when he discovers these impressions published in the daily paper. There a context for this that I don't have - Calle's art career, Pierre D's anger, the decades that readers waited for Pierre to die so this could be published - so maybe it would be more meaningful and awesome to you if you know about those things. So I read this without context, as a stand-alone book. And I thought it was creepy.
I picked this up because it's described as a read-alike for Miranda July's [b:It Chooses You|11266880|It Chooses You|Miranda July|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328693226s/11266880.jpg|16193779]. But where Miranda July seeks connections with strangers to bring meaning to life, and say what you will about Miranda July's methods, Sophie Calle stalks this random dude, who, it turns out, becomes angry when he discovers these impressions published in the daily paper. There a context for this that I don't have - Calle's art career, Pierre D's anger, the decades that readers waited for Pierre to die so this could be published - so maybe it would be more meaningful and awesome to you if you know about those things. So I read this without context, as a stand-alone book. And I thought it was creepy.