The Years is an autobiography — told from a third-person point of view — of author Annie Ernaux. It takes readers through nearly six decades of the author's life, starting in 1941 and ending in 2006. Despite the lengthy-time period the novel covers, it has no chapter structure nor a table of contents. The novel is told chronologically, but with no other dividing or organizational structure.
In the first approximately 50 pages, Ernaux introduces readers to herself and where she came from. In those first few pages, Ernaux includes photos as a way to explore her memories. It is through those photos, for instance, that she talks about her childhood in a small provincial French village. Additionally, Ernaux explores her parent's fixation on World War I — all while World War II has started. Ernaux grew up in a relatively poor but happy family. The first section also explores Ernaux's time in school as well as gender and religion in a number of contexts and situations.
In the next section, Ernaux explores her adolescence, during which time she has an opportunity to go to school (and later, college) away from her parent's house. During her journeys outside of her home, Ernaux has several epiphanies. First, Ernaux realizes just how poor her family really is. In college, Ernaux explores a side of herself that she was not previously allowed to explore, including her sexuality and sex in general. At the same time, Ernaux talks about her interest in journaling and interest in politics.
Then, Ernaux gives readers a window into her family life and how her interests have changed since she had a family of her own. But a period in May 1968 reignites her interest in politics and political activism. That interest, however, is short-lived as she realizes what little impact the protests were in 1968.
Over time, Ernaux becomes disillusioned with her marriage and wonders what would happen if she left her husband and children — something she ultimately decides to do. After her divorce, Ernaux's life becomes much more solitary. At the same time, France begins to descend into recession and sees right-wing politicians take power.
And with their rise to power, a picture of Ernaux again appears — this time with a cat. The woman, who had been a lifelong journaler then decides to write a memoir which she thinks she wants to write in the third person (a lot like The Years). At the same time, Ernaux's children have grown and now visit her with their spouses, which makes her feel even older than she is.
As Ernaux exits middle age and enters old age, she is dismayed with how the country she loves — France — has changed around her. It has, mostly to her dismay, become a consumerist nation (though she marvels at how innovative people are to come up with so many new products). At this point in the story, Ernaux has grandchildren and deals with a number of struggles — including chemotherapy.
With those challenges in the rearview mirror, Ernaux decides to finally sit down and write her memoir, which she ultimately decides will indeed be written in the third person and in an impersonal tone. She does this, she says, to reflect her own life and the life of her beloved country.
