For the sixteenth edition of the Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon [Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon] held at the 7L library in Paris, CHANEL and Charlotte Casiraghi, ambassador and spokesperson for the House, invited novelist Katie Kitamura.

Moderated by journalist Caroline Issa, this encounter dedicated to the work of Katie Kitamura explores the changing nature of identity—a theme at the heart of her latest novel Audition—and the essential role of reading in her writing process: “The most intimate and optimistic thing I do every single day is to read. Because when I read, I open myself up to the mind of another person. And I hope to write the kind of fiction that allows a reader to do the same thing.” Together, they also talk about the contemporary questions that the author’s fictional heroines encounter.

00 : 10 : Opening by Charlotte Casiraghi

02 : 20 : Introduction by Caroline Issa

03 : 50 : Katie Kitamura and her unnamed women characters

06 : 17 : Reading of an extract of “Audition” by India Ennenga

11 : 37 : The role of self-performance in the construction of one’s identity

16 : 15 : Charlotte Casiraghi on female protagonists in contemporary literature

20 : 50 : On the relationships shaping Katie Kitamura’s characters

24 : 35 : Siri Hustvedt’s message to Katie Kitamura

26 : 40 : Reading of an extract of “A Separation” by Charlotte Casiraghi

32 : 40 : On literature as a collaboration between reader and writer

33 : 40 : On taking risks in the creative process

38 : 14 : On literature as a way to approach the complexity of truth

39 : 40 : On feelings after reading Katie Kitamura’s books

42 : 32 : Katie Kitamura’s takes on how to start writing

44 : 05 : Questions from the audience