The book, with its handy tips and instructions, enables repairs without having to call for help. The isolated and alarmed girl transforms into a solo warrior! It’s also suitable for women who want to free themselves and not leave domestic repairs exclusively to their partner or husband.
This little guide is pleasant and refreshing. 231 pages of handy tips and tricks, illustrated by Pénélope Bagieu. (Pénélope Bagieu created the character on the cover. Pétronille is the recurring heroine of the “For Girls” series. She shares advice and ideas with her group of girlfriends.)
The tone is deliberately informal with a lot of self-deprecating humor, a banner for the generation of self-assured girls but more glamorous than classic books.
“I’ve faced some problems myself. I thought, I’m no dumber than anyone else, I can figure this out and do it. I also realized that the existing manuals and websites were not suited for true beginners,” shares the author of the book, Faustine Sappa.
### Four Questions for the Author
Nice-Premium: You wrote “Little Repairs for Girls.” How did this project come to life?
Faustine Sappa: Having already collaborated on several books about interior decoration, I was in touch with the publisher, who wanted to diversify the topics in its “For Girls” series to include DIY projects. Together, we defined a unique angle to distinguish ourselves from existing DIY guides and to truly enrich our readers.
NP: Is this a book telling women, “You no longer need men, you too can do ‘men’s stuff’”?
FS: It’s a guide to tell women, “you can do it too.” Often when faced with a problem, we think we can’t overcome it. The easy solution is then to call for help! However, with a guide that explains which tools to use and how to use them safely, peppered with tips and precautions, anyone can fix a water leak or change an electrical socket. However, the message is not about women not needing men! Mr. Right is present in the book and sometimes lends a hand. It’s about telling women that if he can do it, so can they. Nowadays, roles traditionally held by each gender, without being reversed, are often shared. A lot of men love cooking. So, why shouldn’t girls like to do DIY?
NP: Your book employs self-deprecating humor. Is this also a message for women to embrace what they might not know how to do?
FS: Yes, the book is indeed written in a humorous and easygoing tone. Sure, we might be less comfortable with a drill than a hairdryer. So what? That shouldn’t stop us from still doing things. We can wear pink, get manicures, be on diets, and still have smart ideas! The tone of the book is therefore deliberately “girly” and unapologetic!
NP: Do you have any upcoming projects?
FS: I might start on writing a guide to help authors answer overly curious journalists!
