Village Voices and Voter Voices

It was an almost 12-hour flight to Los Angeles, then an almost 6-hour flight the next day to arrive just in time for the big presidential elections. That isn’t the reason I’ve come this far, but it’s a poignant moment nonetheless.

I flew French Bee from Orly Terminal 4 for the first time. And while French Bee wasn’t as terrible as I thought it might be, and wasn’t nearly as comfortable as Air France, Orly Airport was my worst nightmare. Can someone explain to me why we must circle like rats in a maze miles and miles (literally) along make-shift lanes when there are not enough people to warrant such torture? I apologize for not having taken photos as proof of the insanity. I was too busy cursing under my breath to think of it, although at one stage I did blurt out “THIS IS CRAZY!” to one of the attendants just watching us all schlep our bags up one aisle, down another, up again, down again, up again and down again, etc., etc., etc. I’m tempted to file a legal complaint!

Inside a French Bee aircraft

VILLAGE VOICES

For those of you who have had a relationship with Paris for a long time, you might recall an English-language bookstore that once was a center of literary activity of which we all enjoyed and felt very much at home…Odile Hellier’s Village Voice Bookshop on rue Princesse in the 6th. Odile has just published a memoir titled Village Voices, A Memoir of the Village Voice Bookshop, Paris 1982-2012, by Seven Stories Press, first presented at Festival America 2024, this past September 29, 2024, in Vincennes.

Odile Hellier

I was one of those regulars at “The Voice” to hear various authors speak, poets read their work and even a few open discussions with such literary luminaries as David Sedaris, Allen Ginsberg, Raymond Carver, Susan Sontag, Jake Lamar and Nancy Huston; poets Ellen Hinsey, Denis Hirson and Cecilia Woloch. Even newscaster Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes graced us with his wisdom as we stood (or sat if lucky enough to get a seat), even watching from the staircase or the rafters, to hear their brilliant words.

Odile ran it for 30 years, then closed it July 31st, 2012, after a big farewell party. Everyone in the community speculated about what Odile would do next…and now we know. She hinted at the time that “What I have in mind, at least for a while, is just working on the archives of the bookshop and writing about the experience of running it for three decades.”

When she was interviewed at the time of the closing, she told a reporter, “You can blame Amazon.fr; you can blame competition among publishers forced to discount prices. But, I can tell you the precise day when I realized it was over for us: April 3, 2010, when Apple launched the iPad. From that day, more and more of our customers began reading on the tablet. That did it.”

“Showroomers,” people who come to browse and then order from Amazon took a toll on business. Another factor that contributed to its demise was the high cost of employment in France and her reliance on good quality employees who would provide full service to her clients. It got expensive. High rents in the chic neighborhood didn’t help, either. Odile also admitted that “It’s a miracle we lasted this long.”

Various events to celebrate the memoir have filled the Paris rosters, all of which I have managed to miss due to my recent travels:

• The American Library in Paris Tuesday, October 15th moderated by Alan Riding
• Madison Hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, October 24th

Our Paris Writers Group, led by Mary Duncan, is holding a special meeting with Odile present. It’s taking place in 10 days, while I’m deep in the jungle of Maui. It’s tearing my heart out!

Village Voices has received outstanding reviews. “Every chapter of Village Voices is bursting with startling insights and revealing anecdotes,” wrote Jake Lamar. “My entire sense of Paris centers on Odile and the bookshop,” added Richard Ford. “Hellier recalls the extraordinary parade of visiting and ex-pat writers for whom a reading at the bookstore became something of a rite of passage,” a la Alan Riding.

I just ordered my copy and will read it while in paradise, then with good fortune, I’ll have a chance to meet up with Odile and have her sign it. Fingers crossed.

CARPENTER IS A CRAFTSMAN

On the flight over, I started reading Scott Carpenter’s new book, Paris Lost & Found. His previous memoir, French Like Moi was the funniest book I’d ever read. Carpenter’s word-smithery (is that a word?) blew my socks off with the most imaginative imagery and nail-on-the-head Franco-American cultural clashing ever put to print. Friend and author, Janet Hulstrand, warned me that if I thought French Like Moi was funny, then “hold on to your hat, because this one is even funnier…and sad, too.” I couldn’t wait to dig in, but saved it for the flight over—a perfect time to let it wash over me. Lucky me, both books of mine are already signed by the author!

FRANCE RANKS HIGH ON THE LIST FOR QUALITY OF LIFE

Numbeo.com has analyzed search logs from the past two years to uncover where residents of each country dream of moving, traveling, or exploring.

Globally Most Searched Countries:

United States – 5.31%
United Kingdom – 4.37%
Canada – 3.76%
Spain – 3.76%
Germany – 3.41%
Italy – 2.61%
United Arab Emirates – 2.56%
Australia – 2.34%
France – 2.19%
Switzerland – 2.09%
Netherlands – 1.99%

United States’s Top Destination Searches:

Canada – 3.47%
United Kingdom – 3.45%
Spain – 3.23%
Mexico – 3.13%
Italy – 2.62%
Germany – 2.30%
India – 2.24%
France – 2.17%
Japan – 2.10%
Australia – 1.85%
Philippines – 1.84%
Portugal – 1.81%
Brazil – 1.75%
China – 1.71%
Thailand – 1.64%
Switzerland – 1.45%
Turkey – 1.44%
Netherlands – 1.43%
Russia – 1.39%
Colombia – 1.38%

Meanwhile, when ranking France for Quality of Life, Numbeo ranks it very high at an index of 164.71!

Purchasing Power Index, 111.34, Very High
Safety Index, 44.58, Moderate
Health Care Index, 77.78, High
Climate Index, 89.71, Very High
Cost of Living Index, 62.17, Moderate
Property Price to Income Ratio, 10.47, Moderate
Traffic Commute Time Index, 34.77, Low
Pollution Index, 43.59, Moderate

Take note of key features of France: healthcare, purchasing power, climate, cost of living. Where would you rather be?

By the time you read this, I will have settled into our big adventure on the Hawaiian island of Maui, and preparing for Election Day when our futures will take a particular path…and not just the future of the U.S. and its citizens. The future of the entire world is held in the hands of U.S. voters because the U.S. plays such a large role in world politics.

Be sure to vote. You have a voice. And not only is it your right, not only is it your privilege, but it’s also your duty…even if you don’t like either candidate, you must make a choice. May the best woman win!

A la prochaine…