A review by thebobsphere
Exteriors by Annie Ernaux

4.0

 

Whether we are on a commute or having a coffee or even a small rest outside, I think it is inevitable that we start people watching. In my case, although I bring a novel everywhere I go, I will put the book down and observe, never judge but observe.

This makes me wonder why we do it? are we hoping that said person will indulge in a peculiar habit? maybe we want to talk to them or too shy. If one commutes, one sees the same people from inside the vehicle and outside. When there’s a shared route one does notice that tiny little details of said people start to emerge.

Annie Ernaux’s Exteriors is precisely a 70 page people watching exercise. From her train commute Ernaux notes the people she sees; their eccentricities, strange happenings. These observations range from mildly humorous to tragic.

In lesser hands this would be a boring exercise but the outcome is rather interesting, mainly it’s because Annie Ernaux usually writes about herself and this is the first time I’ve read a book by her where she is positioning herself as an observer. This time the narrative is not personal and yet Ernaux notices that all these people, be it a homeless man or little girl are still participating in her life. However, Ernaux is a bystander.

To date, all the Annie Ernaux books I have read are like a puzzle as they focus on different aspects of her life. Exteriors is a bit different for the reasons explained above. However, it’s also the first time Ernaux is on the side of a reader. Reading itself is a voyeuristic act and with Exteriors Annie Ernaux is playing the role of a ogler, just like us. This reader alliance displays another side of Annie Ernaux and, although Exteriors is brief, it is a snapshot as her versatility as a writer.