This collection of unusual little stories about words is the end-of-year celebration of Joëlle Scoriels, who above all wants to make those who don't really like French understand that this complicated language “is a playground“. “We can feel cool with this French language, it's not just an ordeal. Even if there are rules, which I like, we can afford deviations“, supports the host.
With the humor and second degree that characterize her, but also gentleness and recognition, she tells us the genesis of this book, which came across her somewhat by chance. It was also, initially, his mother's idea. Having died before publication, she is omnipresent in her daughter's work. The latter would also almost dream (without daring to say it too loudly) of releasing another book about this mother at “quite original spirit” who transmitted to him the love of words.
How was this book born, which brings together part of your radio columns?
“It's not my fault, I swear! I think I've been writing reviews for Jérôme for seven years (Colin, in the show “Enter without knocking”, editor's note), and she's the editor from De Boeck who contacted me one day saying that she found it really cool, that she wanted to try to make a book out of it. I said yes, with a kind of baby's joy. , because in fact, the idea had germinated, not in my brain, but in that of my mother, who liked my columns. And when this proposal was made, I said to myself: “Yes, obviously, let’s do it”. But in the meantime, my mother died, which was very bad of her, so she didn't enjoy that joy.
Without this proposal, would you still have released this book one day? Or did you need that boost?
“I think I need a little help in life. It's not that I'm not proud of what I do, I love what I do, I'm really happy with it and I put my heart into it. But I am unable to assess the interest that it may have for anyone. I would not have dared to pretend that what I write for the radio can be of interest to the general public. moment, it's nice because the people who read the book say that they have fun and that they learn things. I guess the editor's idea wasn't so bad. Afterwards, people who don't like the book don't come to me. say (laughs).”
What is your favorite part of this book?
“I have to say that the one that amuses me the most, and it's absurd, is the one where I talk about my mother's funeral. There are lots of places where I know that I'm a little borderline, where I make jokes that are either completely stupid or a little reactive, etc. I don't think I have a very good sense of humor. I think what makes me laugh the most is when we're on the verge of trashy: either. a little dirty, or a little gory. That's what makes me laugh, because I find it unexpected And so I talk about my mother's funeral in the book and I purposely say completely stupid things about that funeral. chapter because I think it represents quite well the way in which I try to treat, with a humorous distance, subjects which are a little cumbersome on an emotional level.”
It’s precisely your mother who gave you this love of words…
“Yes, I really think so. That's what I say in the intro to the book, I owe that to her. Besides, it's not very pleasant to be her daughter because I I'll never have her level… She had an incalculably rich lexicon. She read a lot and what's great is that she remembered what she read. but I don't remember anything! My mother had extraordinary powers of memory. All the words she encountered in her life, she remembered them. I heard her manipulate the French language with such richness, and also with great originality. “
What was it like to hold your book in your hand for the first time?
“It was overexcitement. Really, really. Because it all comes down to luck. Honestly, I spend my time blessing the luck that my professional life represents because it all happened by chance. , a bit by chance. I didn't expect this book to exist and so it's an incredible gift. And the whole process was great. my opinion on so many little things. It's very exciting.”
Does this make you want to release another book?
“It's funny because this morning, I was telling my daughter that I was coming to answer questions about this book. And she said to me: 'Why didn't you write a story?'. Because She doesn't care about this book. I can't say that I have a writing project, but if this book interests people, why not write a volume 2? write something else, that might tempt me. on the other hand, I don't know what yet, I have no idea and for the moment, the subject that I find quite fascinating to explore in terms of writing, it's very banal and I hardly dare. to say it, it's my mother. But hey, everyone wants to write about their mother, but when my mother was dying, she kept a lot of humor, and I told her that I would write. something about her, but it would be making fun of me of her from the first to the last page. It made her laugh. Honestly, she's a character.”
Are there words on a daily basis that irritate your ears a little because people use them incorrectly?
“There are certainly plenty of them. But there are a lot of small grammatical errors which are spreading and which don't amuse me. For example, giving up “whose”, I find it difficult. “The things that I need”, I find it difficult to hear and it is said quickly, it escapes anyone, even educated people. These are things that settle in a bit and continue. to make me suffer, which I don't love. at the same time, and this is what I also try to explain in the book, I am not a pure reactionary either. The language must move and it is always with tears of blood for those who. are attached to the rules but things are moving, there is nothing to do.”
You, who have been voted Belgians' favorite presenter several times, when you were on screen daily (in the show “Sans chichis”, broadcast on La Deux from 2009 to 2013), are you close to your viewers and listeners?
“It's a real question for me. I'm very shy. I discovered what it was like to create a bond with the public thanks to the daily show “Sans chichies”. Before that, I did already on television, on MCM in particular, but it was a bit of a niche channel. It wasn't the same phenomenon as when I was on the daily show. That's when I understood that this link existed. in real life, and it fascinated me. It was strange. because with Gérald (Watelet) and Adrien (Devyver), we received mail from people who saw the show as intimate support. There were people who wrote to us that they had come out of depression, things like that. What I mean by that is that I'm shy but now I know how important certain programs we offer are for certain people. And so I'm very attentive and I try. to be very respectful of the public. I know that something can happen and I take it into account. On the other hand, I am not going to try today to create meetings with the old fans of “Sans chichis”.”
