Sophie Simon writes the score of an America which denotes in black and white

Audio 48:30

By: Jean-François Cadet Follow

Two light hearts, Sophie Simon's new novel has just been published by Anne Carrière editions.

Publicity

“It's the story of two men, whatever their name. They are two anonymous in the crowd. Let's call them Marty and Ray. They are nothing extraordinary, they are even rather banal. But, it sometimes happens that for these two guys, everything does not turn out as they would like ”. This is the first verse of a song that ends like this: " I only hope that our children will see before dying new times when guys like Marty and Ray who have nothing extraordinary can stroll with a light heart ". This song, it is - it is the case to say it - at the heart of the novel which we are going to speak about today. Marty and Ray, they are two musicians, one is African-American, the other suffers from obesity. And their story, tossed between a small town in Nebraska and Los Angeles, tells us about difference, love and friendship, this very complex relationship that unites a father to his son, suffering and hope, and the liberating power of music.

Cover of Sophie Simon's book, "Deux coeurs blancs" published by Anne Carrière. © Editions Anne Carrière

This week, VMDN takes you to the Sahara, for the Africa 2020 season. The event, which will start in June 2020, throughout France, highlights African civil society and its diaspora through art, science, or new technologies. One of the flagship projects of the Festival is called Hotel Sahara. It is an artist residency carried by the General Stores in Pantin, near Paris. This residence brings together eight artists from countries crossed by the Sahara. For a week, they stayed at M'hamid El Ghizlane, at the gates of the desert, to reflect and experience this vast territory, source of fantasies, but also of major geopolitical issues. Our reporter Amélie Beaucour spent a few days with the artists, and takes us all this week to meet them. Today, she presents the camp where they stayed, through the eyes and the viewfinder of Sara Sadik, a young videographer.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• Culture
• Literature
• United States

On the same subject

The world walk

Paul Robeson, 1st black American star

Today's debate

After years of mobilization, where are the rights of black Americans?

TRNHAITI

United States: Lori Lightfoot, Black and gay woman is elected mayor of Chicago