Reading group “La Petite Bonne” by Bérénice Pichat

Once a month, the reading group meets up to discuss a couple of books selected in advance (from classical to contemporary French literature) and discovers other members’ views on them. Meetings take place at the Institut français d’Écosse, usually on the last Tuesday of the month.

About the book:

A maid in the service of the bourgeoisie, she is hardworking, courageous, and devoted. But that weekend, she dreads going to the Daniels’ house. Exceptionally, Madame has agreed to go to the countryside for some fresh air. So the young maid will have to stay alone with Monsieur, a former pianist burdened with bitterness, a disfigured veteran of the Battle of the Somme. They will have to live together, bathe him, feed him. But Monsieur has another plan in mind. An irrevocable, astonishing plan. What if she agreed? What if she defied him? What if they surprised each other?