Heroes Not Zombies

One of my main treats is to browse in a “Maison de la Press” in a French town and sit down in a cafe with a new purchase or two. I have certain favourite French magazines. One of them is called Senso. It is beautifully produced. I love the illustrations and there are really interesting articles about literature, movies and all aspects of cultural life. But one of the most enjoyable things is the French language itself. It’s a wonderful language for playing with words. Here’s an example –

Elle me donne les larmes aux mes yeux, parce que je suis epuisee.

This is by Nina Bouraoui, a writer. Translated, it says “She brought tears to my eyes, because I was exhausted”. The other meaning of the word “epuisee” is “out of print” – for a writer that’s a really clever word to use and conveys quite a special sense of exhaustion, doesn’t it?