Then there was the bad weather. It would come in one day when the fall was over. We would have to shut the windows in the night against the rain and the cold wind would strip the leaves from the trees in the Place Contrescarpe. The leaves lay sodden in the rain and the wind drove the rain against the big green autobus at the terminal and the Café des Amateurs was crowded and the windows misted over from the heat and the smoke inside. It was a sad, evilly run cafe where the drunkards of the quarter crowded together and I kept away from it because of the smell of dirty bodies and the sour smell of drunkenness. The men and women who frequented the Amateurs stayed drunk all of the time, or all of the time they could afford it, mostly on wine which they bought by the half-liter or liter. Many strangely named aperitifs were advertised, but few people could afford them except as a foundation to build their wine drunks on. The women drunkards were called poivrottes
which meant female rummies.
A Moveable Feast
by Ernest Hemingway
Would you keep reading? I love the images of Paris Hemingway's writing paints in my mind.
Paris in July begins on Friday.
Tuesday Intros is hosted by Diane at
Bibliophile by the Sea.
I love the Moveable Feast! Hemingway makes Paris of the 1920's come alive. If you enjoy this, you might try A Paris Wife by Paula McLain. The novel describes those Paris years from Hemingway's first wife Hadley's perspective.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. Makes you want to visit Paris and walk in his footsteps.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely would keep reading. How have I not read this? Not a huge Hemingway fan, but then again, I didn't like Woody Allen and I loved Midnight in Paris.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book...it made me want to move to Paris and read everything Hemingway has ever written. :-D
ReplyDeleteI did! And I loved it!
ReplyDeleteYou should keep reading; it's a very good book. But do take his accounts with a grain of salt. He is often the only witness to the events he describes, and when he's not the only witness, there is often controversy.
ReplyDeleteBut it's still a terrific little book.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. I love the dreamy nature of the language. I love all the food descriptions. It really does make you want to live in Paris.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I love about it is how you can open it to any page and start reading. If you want to just read a couple pages and escape for 10 minutes it's the perfect portal. Thanks for reminding me of this!
This is among the few of Hemingway's books that I have not attempted yet. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI am loving this books, too! I hope you're reading with A Book Sanctuary, Books As Food, myself and others for the Paris in July challenge...there will be a big discussion as all who are reading will post on June 30. Hopefully. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is the first time I've properly enjoyed Hemingway. He was wasted on my youth; I wonder how many high schoolers are able to truly appreciate him, or J.D. Salinger, or Willa Cather or any of the greats they're required to read then. They don't have the background for the depth of appreciation, in my opinion.
Well, I do like Hemingway, so I would keep reading. I hope you like this one as I have a copy as well. Enjoyed that intro a lot.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I've never read this but I so want to. Even now, after reading that beginning!!!!
ReplyDeleteGirlsWannaRead - I've just read your excellent review of A Paris Wife and have added it to my wish list. Will be back to visit you soon - love the blog!
ReplyDeleteChasingbawa - It certainly does! I will get to Paris one of these days...
Paulita - Can't wait to see Midnight in Paris! We're planing on going this week.
Softdrink - I know I'll be reading more Hemingway! Now if I can only figure out a way to get to Paris.
Audrey - It was slow going at the beginning, but I liked it more and more as I kept reading.
C.B. James - I've finished it and now must go see Midnight in Paris. Didn't realize there was controversy surrounding some of the events, but that doesn't really surprise me.
Brooke - It definitely made me want to go to Paris. I'll be rereading several sections - think I liked the one with FSF and Zelda best.
Nise' - If you're a Hemingway fan, you should definitely give this a try.
Bellezza - If all goes as planned, I'll post my thoughts on Friday to kick off Paris in July. I really hated Hemingway in high school, too, but have enjoyed some of his work since then. I will definitely be reading more!
Diane - I'm giving this a thumbs up. Hope you like it, too!
Sandy - It gets better - had a hard time with the first 50-75 pages, but it picked up after that.
Yes, I would keep reading. I've only read Old Man and the Sea so would definitely like to read more Hemingway.
ReplyDeleteKathleen - I didn't like The Old Man and the Sea much in high school. Wonder what I'd make of it now. For Whom the Bell Tolls was better, but I really Liked The Garden of Eden. I'll need to read more Hemingway soon.
ReplyDeleteI would probably keep reading this one. I've only read The Old Man and the Sea, which I loved so I think adding for Hemingway into my diet would be a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read this for ages and would love to join in. I wonder if I can get hold of a copy in time...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that's a lot of alcohol to read about before breakfast!
ReplyDeleteSo how ironic that my next book after claiming not to venture into books set in Paris...is a book set in Paris! It was a case of serendipity but there you have it. Enjoy your bookish trip there, JoAnn.
Love this book!
ReplyDeleteStaci - I need to read The Old Man and the Sea again. I hated it in high school...
ReplyDeleteNymeth - I really hope you can!!
Darlene - There's no lack of alcohol in this book! Maybe you'' be joining me in Paris after all?
Julie - Can't believe I've waited so long to read it.
I read this also for last year's Paris in July. One of my favorite books ever and I have more Post-It Notes throughout that book to identify incredible passages than with any other book.
ReplyDeleteCoffee and a Book Chick - I know I'll be reading this one again.
ReplyDelete