The Girl Who Reads on the Métro

by Christine Féret-Fleury

“Have you heard of the principle of releasing books into the wild?” he went on after a few moments’ silence. “An American, Ron Hornbaker, created, or rather developed, the concept of BookCrossing in 2001. Turn the whole world into a library … a lovely idea, don’t you think? You leave a book in a public place—a station, park bench, cinema—someone picks it up, reads it, then releases it elsewhere a few days or weeks later.”

“Do you ever read love stories?” she asked without turning around. “This will surprise you,” he answered. “Yes, sometimes.” “What happens on page 247?” There was a pause. He appeared to be thinking about her question. Or perhaps dredging up a memory. Then he said:

“On page 247, all seems lost. It’s the best moment, you know.”

each book is a portrait and it has at least two faces.” “Two…” “Yes. The face of the person who gives it, and the face of the person who receives it.”

“Because it’s complicated explaining why you love a book. And I can’t always do it. There are books that when I’ve read them I feel … well … something stirs inside me. But I can’t show it. So, now I’ve said it and people should just try them.”