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The Little Black Book
One morning, confirmed bachelor Jean-Jacques leaves his door ajar—and a total stranger slips into his life. Is she a squatter, somewhat deranged, or a woman from his past? Jean-Jacques’ orderly world is turned upside down, when what started as a comic encounter changes his life forever.
86 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Jean-Claude Carrière
209 books88 followersJean-Claude Carrière is a writer, playwright and screenwriter, who has also written under the pseudonym Benoît Becker.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 18, 2017
Geçtiğimiz aylarda Ankara DT tarafından turne kapsamında Zonguldak'ta sahnelendiğinde izlemiştim oyunu. Neredeyse tamamen sadık kalınmış metne. İzlemesi, okumasından daha keyifliydi benim için.
November 16, 2025
L'Aide-mémoire by Jean-Claude Carrière
Modern and strange
The author is a familiar figure, although I did not know it at first glance. First of all, he is author of The Circle of Liars, a book that I have enjoyed and noted that on my blog and goodreads.
Second, but even more important, he is the screenwriter for a series of films that I loved: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Danton, The Tin Drum, Cyrano de Bergerac and a few others.
Wow. To have written the script for The Charm and it would have been great. But to have such a series is flabbergasting.
The play seems to be much more obscure, I could only find it with the French name.
It is not extraordinary and among the greatest works of the century, but it is an interesting work. I have listened to the adaptation for Romanian National Radio, and in the leading role there is an actor that I do not like. Not at all, and yet I was captivated by the motions of the play.
The start is strange enough:
The heroine, Suzanne enters the apartment of Jean Jacques, the leading male character
- I am looking for Mr. Ferrand
- You are not Mr. Ferrand?
- No
- I was convinced that this is the apartment
Then it turns into a strange affair, a kind of Swan, with post modernist twists. He does not want his life, but ends up in a complex relationship anyway
Swan is not interested in Odette, at the beginning of their love affair. She is not his type.
The same thing happens to Jean Jacques. He wants the woman out.
Now. This very moment.
It is indeed at least intriguing to have a strange woman enter your home and then…not leave, in spite of requests to do so.
Albeit, if the woman is attractive and smart, why ask her to go?
The agenda in the title provides an answer. Jean Jacques had many more flings and intimate relationships than the average male, who is supposed to be “connected” (like on Tinder) with about 15-16 women during his life.
Jean Jacques had been involved in more than one hundred affairs. He plans to continue, until Suzanne walks into the door.
At the start, she wants to stay, only for a short rest, then for the night and a little longer.
After a while, she is saying that she found a place to stay and he is not willing to let go.
There are weird twists in the tale, which under different circumstances might have puzzled but also annoyed me.
A combination of chance factors made it pleasant to read- the sun in the garden, the striking events in the play, the witty dialogue and …je ne sais quoi.
Modern and strange
The author is a familiar figure, although I did not know it at first glance. First of all, he is author of The Circle of Liars, a book that I have enjoyed and noted that on my blog and goodreads.
Second, but even more important, he is the screenwriter for a series of films that I loved: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Danton, The Tin Drum, Cyrano de Bergerac and a few others.
Wow. To have written the script for The Charm and it would have been great. But to have such a series is flabbergasting.
The play seems to be much more obscure, I could only find it with the French name.
It is not extraordinary and among the greatest works of the century, but it is an interesting work. I have listened to the adaptation for Romanian National Radio, and in the leading role there is an actor that I do not like. Not at all, and yet I was captivated by the motions of the play.
The start is strange enough:
The heroine, Suzanne enters the apartment of Jean Jacques, the leading male character
- I am looking for Mr. Ferrand
- You are not Mr. Ferrand?
- No
- I was convinced that this is the apartment
Then it turns into a strange affair, a kind of Swan, with post modernist twists. He does not want his life, but ends up in a complex relationship anyway
Swan is not interested in Odette, at the beginning of their love affair. She is not his type.
The same thing happens to Jean Jacques. He wants the woman out.
Now. This very moment.
It is indeed at least intriguing to have a strange woman enter your home and then…not leave, in spite of requests to do so.
Albeit, if the woman is attractive and smart, why ask her to go?
The agenda in the title provides an answer. Jean Jacques had many more flings and intimate relationships than the average male, who is supposed to be “connected” (like on Tinder) with about 15-16 women during his life.
Jean Jacques had been involved in more than one hundred affairs. He plans to continue, until Suzanne walks into the door.
At the start, she wants to stay, only for a short rest, then for the night and a little longer.
After a while, she is saying that she found a place to stay and he is not willing to let go.
There are weird twists in the tale, which under different circumstances might have puzzled but also annoyed me.
A combination of chance factors made it pleasant to read- the sun in the garden, the striking events in the play, the witty dialogue and …je ne sais quoi.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews