Childhood

Madame Sarraute, who is in the twilight of her distinguished career, writes not of memories of her childhood, but rather of memory itself. Read this not to learn of her childhood memories, but to hear her teach us what are the building blocks of memory. What is it that causes us to remember one event, and not another? Why is one memory so attached to others? Why do we care about the memory more than the event? Sarraute knows, and tells us. This book is not for cowards. Or youth. Since she has taught us about memory, we cannot help but use those lessons to explore our own. Perhaps then, the book is really not about Madame Sarraute's childhood, but our own.