This is a very slim volume containing two short novellas, Le Bal and Snow in Autumn by Irene Nemirovsky.
Le Bal is set in early 1930s Paris where the Kampfs have at last made it in society as far as they are concerned. When Mr Kampf married his wife he promised her that she would live in luxury before long but it was a painful twelve years before he became successful in business.
Unfortunately the relationship between Mrs Kampf and her teenage daughter Antoinette is fraught, mainly because the mother is one of those silly women who can’t cope with their daughter growing up and is determined to keep the youngster firmly in the background, just in case she steals the limelight from her. Antoinette exacts her revenge.
This was an enjoyable story with believable if uncomfortable characters. I ended up feeling sorry for all concerned.
Snow in Autumn was originally published in 1931 and the story begins in Russia not long before the Russian Revolution. It’s about a White Russian family and their servants, and how the Revolution affects them all.
I really like Nemirovsky’s writing and when I saw this book in the library I didn’t think twice about borrowing it, but I still haven’t got around to reading Suite Francaise, despite actually owning a copy of it. That’s typical of me, concentrating on library books whilst ignoring my own. Maybe I should stick a post- it note with an expiry date on it on my own books, then I can pretend that I’m going to be fined if I don’t get it read by that date!
Speaking of library fines – the libraries which I worked in in the past did not have fines for overdue books. If a reminder notice had to be sent out then a charge was made for the postage stamp but that was all. The other day I was in a local library in Fife and I was stunned to hear a member of staff telling a reader that he had £12 to pay in overdue fines. At that rate I’m surprised that people choose to take overdue books back at all. I think it costs 40p per day per book, and I suppose that mounts up fairly quickly. I’m dead against fines, I think they’re counter-productive. What do you think, and does your local library use a fine system?
First, I’ve loved everything I read so far by Irene Nemirovsky. I started with Dimanche and Other Stories, which I only read because there’s a Persephone edition (my library has a Vintage paperback). Then I read Suite Francais and LOVED IT, probably my favorite read so far this year.
And I’m with you about ignoring my own books and reading library books instead — I still have about 175 unread books on my shelves, and I keep finding more. It’s going to take YEARS for me to get it down to a manageable level.
Finally — library fines. I work at the public library and yes, we do charge fines — most children’s items are 15 cents a day, 35 cents a day for adults’s items, with the exception of movies which are — wait for it — TWO DOLLARS A DAY if they are late. Maximum fine for any item is $10. It’s the DVD fines that’ll get them every time. I warn every single person who checks out a DVD from me, or gets a new library card, and people still pitch a fit. We limit patrons to 5 movie checkouts per card at one time, but they still get angry.
I do realize if we didn’t charge fines, nobody would bring anything back, but I’m pretty sure the city is counting on the revenue. We do have free movies for streaming which have no fines, but the selection is tiny compared to the DVDs.
Karen K,
At least you have a maximum fine. I’ve never borrowed a DVD so I have no idea how much the fines are for those. Fife must be making quit e alot of money from their fines.
I daren’t count my unread books, it is probably a lot more than 175, and then there are books which Jack has bought and read and recommended to me. I should do that Mount TBR challenge! I definitely must read Suite Francais soon, that was one which Jack really liked.
I borrow from two counties – in one in England the fines are 6p a day (concessions fee) and there’s no charge to reserve a book! In Scotland it’s 8p a day – also the concessions fee, with a reservation fee of 30p. I don’t think that’s bad and as you can do renewals on line, I rarely keep books out overdue.
Margaret,
I also renew online but I suppose some people don’t ever use computers. They are obviosuly being harsh in Fife – charging 40p per day.
I’m shocked that you have to pay to reserve books, we don’t unless it’s an inter library loan from a different county. Then it’s so expensive that you might as well just buy the book!
I don’t know what our fines are up to now. I know it use to be a nickel a day for books. I am never late so I have no idea. Being able to renew online makes it really nice if you can’t get there on time. I realize they have to do something as people can be very inconsiderate, but if the fine is too high they won’t bring it back. It’s a no win situation I guess.
Peggy,
That is why we didn’t have any fines in the west of Scotland, they would just have hung on to the books and not ever come back to the library. I think if they must have fines then there should be a cap at a fairly low sum. Renewing online is very handy.