On Friday, December 13, the town hall’s village hall hosted the Musset library readers’ prize ceremony. This year, the winner is Éric Chacour for his book What I know about you.
The members of the jury were won over by the first novel by this Quebec author who also won the booksellers’ prize. Living in Montreal, the latter was unable to be present but sent a message of thanks through his publisher, which was read at the start of the ceremony:
“Dear readers,
I learned with emotion of your choice to award your library’s prize to my novel, What I Know About You.
This recognition touches me all the more because it comes from this district of Paris where I lived, at the age when we discover that writing can be a refuge. Just like libraries are and must remain.
Thank you for keeping yours alive, through this prize, and for reserving this special place for my first novel. From my native Quebec, I send you my best thoughts.”
Eric Jakobiak, actor and professor at the Conservatoire du 16e
arrondissement, read large extracts from the novel which was borrowed the next day from the Musset library. During the ceremony, we had the pleasure of greeting Claudine Freulon, former director of the establishment, who created this prize in 2007. Through it, the library not only promotes literature and writers but also cultivates an essential link with all of its readers. In front of the buffet set up after the ceremony, one participant showed interest in the idea of joining the members of the jury sometime next year. I am delighted because it is thanks to you that the prize will continue to exist.
