On this the penultimate day of the Salon du Livre, I have translated for your reading pleasure this excerpt from Christophe Claro's sketch of the book fair, collected in Le Clavier Cannibale (Ed. Inculte, 2009), which I hope he won't mind my citing here:
Why should a book not lead one to commit a crime, when it has so often led its author to the gallows? How can a book be innocent? Who hasn't dreamt of a book who would change his life? Why must it be changed for the better? [...] Let's rename the Salon du Livre the Salon of Anything is Possible. Let us stroll down the aisles while saying to ourselves that on each square inch of table sleeps a work which could drive us to rape, kill, fall in love, eat oranges, churn up the foundations, or become president. Let us lift up the veil (it's outlawed anyway now) and concede the power of the book. Let us bow down before the magnificent or dreadful consequences of reading. Think of Sade, think of Villepin, think of Cadiot, think of Asimov or Adorée Floupette... doesn't matter which flask as long as you get drunk. To each book its own crime or virtue.
This is why books are beautiful. Full of complex possibilities.. ;0
Posted by: medieval dress | March 30, 2010 at 05:53 PM
Thank you for citing this - wonderfully put. Great blog, by the way. Paris and literature - hard to find two more swoon-worthy subjects in one place. Cheers, E
Posted by: Erin | March 31, 2010 at 07:15 PM
I love it. Do you mind if I repost on my blog? I could just link, if you prefer, but I know my readers, and they suck at clicking links without a good teaser.
Posted by: amy | March 31, 2010 at 09:45 PM
I agree; in the world of books anything is possible.
Posted by: Diane Dehler | April 20, 2010 at 02:02 AM
Damn#@$%!
I wish I hadn't had to leave before Salon du Livre - one of the best Paris events IMHO
Right up there with Salon du Chocolat!
xxcarolg
Posted by: parisbreakfast | May 02, 2010 at 01:28 PM