Georges Perec, a successful member of the Oulipo, penned several groundbreaking works including Life: A User's Manual and A Void. A Void is impressive simply for the fact that Perec didn't use the letter 'e', the most commonly used vowel in the French language. In honor of his efforts, the transaltors did the same - the English version contains no 'e's - which makes simple sentences increasingly difficult to write. Each work of Perec's is completely different and highly innovative. But the lesser known works are just as compelling to discover. Frustrated with materialism and keeping up with the Jones'? Try Things: A Story of the Sixties and A Man Asleep and Three by Perec. Things: A Story of the Sixties and A Man Asleep present two novellas that stand on opposite sides of the spectrum of materialism. These two novellas are semi-autobiographical, but interesting in that not much has changed from the sixties. Things is detached yet judgmental:

But they were wrong all the same. They were beginning to lose their way. Already they were starting to feel they were being propelled along a path of which they knew neither the turns or the terminus. They did on occasion feel frightened. Most often, however, all they felt was impatience: they felt ready; they were available; they were waiting to live, they were waiting for money.

Conversely, A Man Asleep focuses on a student who has nothing and wants nothing. This is emphasized by Perec choosing to tell it in the second person. We know it is the author which makes it very immediate, leaving us to feel his apathy tempered with a hopeless desperation. Okay, so these aren't exactly literary uppers, but they make us think about society in general and where we stand amongst its trappings.

Three by Perec contains three original short stories that are diverse and gives us a good taste of Perec's talents. "Which Moped with Chrome-Plated Handlebars at the Back of the Yard?" is a combination of farce, a fantastical mix of witty humor and burlesque. "The Exeter Text" uses all the 'e's from A Void, but no other vowels. Definitely, trying at times for the reader. And lastly, the most mainstream is "A Gallery Portrait", a literary nesting doll of a story. A man admires a painting of himself admiring a painting. A clever perspective that is humorous and fun.

Both of these books are published by the lovely and selective David R. Godine, good friends of Salonica.

Things: A Story of the Sixties & A Man Asleep
By Georges Perec
Translated by Ian Monk
David R. Godine Publishing
Paperback
224 pages
ISBN: 978-1-56792-157-1
$16.95
Three by Perec
By Georges Perec
Translated by David Bellos and Andrew Leak
David R. Godine Publishing
Paperback
208 pages
ISBN: 978-1-56792-254-7
$16.95