Do What They Say or Else

The 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Annie Ernaux for her novel Do What They Say or Else, which tells the story of a fifteen-year-old girl's transition from middle school to high school in Normandy, France. Ernaux captures Anne's adolescent voice in a stream-of-consciousness style, exploring her observations and feelings about her parents, education, and sexual encounters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature, Annie Ernaux's "Do What They Say or Else" is a captivating novel that was first published in 1977. Set in a small town in Normandy, France, the story follows fifteen-year-old Anne as she navigates the transition from middle school to high school. Ernaux's stream-of-consciousness style captures Anne's adolescent voice, revealing her keen observations in a highly colloquial manner. As the novel progresses, Anne's feelings about her parents, education, and sexual encounters evolve, leading her to become a more mature but also more conflicted and unhappy character. She must navigate the often-confusing signals she receives from boys and move further away from her parents as she surpasses their educational level and worldview.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496228000