by Agnès Desarthe, Translated by Adriana Hunter
'Chez Moi is full of surprises and delights. Myriam is the sort of friend we’d all like to have—smart and determined, eccentric and brave—a person who will serve you fine coffee and praline raspberry mousse while she listens to your story. Her own story, with its pleasures of discovery and piercing losses and errors of the past, will catch your attention and make you want to linger in her restaurant over yet another cup of coffee, and then one more.'
Kim Edwardes, author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Included in the Introductory Offer: 20% Off All Titles discount
Myriam’s decision to open a restaurant in her Paris flat is characteristically unexpected and transforms her life in a curious way. For six years, Myriam has been living in self-imposed exile, cut off from her cool, reserved husband and from her son, and the opening night of Chez Moi is typically desolate.
But little by little, Myriam’s mouth-watering dishes draw people in, first the florist from across the road, followed by the school children tempted by a four-euro lunch, and then Ben, the most unflappable and devoted of waiters.
As the restaurant sizzles towards success, figures and feelings from Myriam’s past also begin to emerge, gradually re-awakening her appetite for life, both the bitter parts and the sweet. Simmering with stories, recipes, observations and dreams, Chez Moi serves up a painfully adult story, with an irresistible sprinkling of wonder and magic.
Portobello Books has been shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year 2009!
Agnés Desarthe will be speaking about Chez Moi with Farahad Zama at The Edinburgh International Book Festival, in Charlotte Square Gardens, at 5.30pm.
Agnes Desarthe will be speaking about Chez Moi with Philippe Sands at the Guardian Hay Festival, Dream Stage, Hay-on-Wye, Wales.