Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Paris in July


It's time for Paris in July! This event, back for a 6th year, is hosted by Tamara at Thyme for Tea. Here is her quick overview:
The aim of the month is to celebrate our French experiences through reading, watching, listening, observing, cooking and eating all things French!  There will be no rules or targets in terms of how much you need to do or complete in order to be a part of this experience – just blog about anything French or Paris, or Paris-like, and you can join in! Some ideas might include:
  • reading a French themed book – fiction or non-fiction,
  • watching a French movie,
  • listening to French music,
  • cooking French food,
  •  experiencing French, art, architecture and travel
 Sounds like fun, right? I'm not exactly sure what will strike my fancy this month, but I've requested a couple of books from the library:

Bonjour Tristesse by by Françoise Sagan
This book has been on my Paris in July list for a couple years, but Melissa's recent review prompted the library request. 



Clementine in the Kitchen by Samuel V. Chamberlain
Part of the Modern Library Foods series, I learned about this from Audrey a couple of years ago. Glad to find a copy in our library system.


Other possibilities:

The Fortune of the Rougons (Les Rougon-Macquart #1) by Émile Zola
on my kindle and ready to go


The Horla by Guy de Maupassant



That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay
Looks like this could be a foodie version of 84, Charring Cross Road. I think part of it takes place in Paris.


Would you like to travel with us? Tamara's general sign up post is here. If you write a post about what you might read, watch, cook, etc., link up here.

32 comments:

  1. This really does sound like a great event.

    I might try to join in for a post towards the end of the month. Unfortunately I will not have time to squeeze a book in.

    My wife's family is from France and while we both cook, she is the "expert" in French cooking. Perhaps I can squeeze a post in about that.

    I also try to watch some French films so that is also a possibility. Those books all seem very well worth reading.

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    1. Brian Joseph - A post about real French cooking would be most welcome! I just got a copy of The Horla and discovered that it's really an extended short story. Hope to read it tonight.

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  2. What fun! The new novel, The Little Paris Bookshop, arrived in my mail box yesterday. I'm tempted to play along...

    My Wednesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/07/waiting-on-wednesday-other-daughter.html

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    1. Catherine - I just saw The Little Paris Bookshop on the library's new books display. Sounds like the perfect book for this event!

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  3. I'm happy that you're going to read Clementine...it was very sweet. I liked That Part Was True as well...

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    1. Audrey - Both books should arrive at the library tomorrow. This is going to be a fun month... Trollope and Paris!

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  4. I might do this. I'm currently reading The Painted Girls which takes place in 1878 Paris.

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    1. Midlife Roadtripper - That sounds perfect!!

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  5. I am tied up with the Atlas Shrugged read a long but I will look for this event next year. It sounds like so much fun.

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  6. Sounds fun! I have a friend who will be in Paris for 3 weeks this month...I am so envious, but maybe It will be enough for me to read a couple of these book you mentioned. And share her postcards!

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    1. Debbie - The nice part about Paris in July is that you can do one post or twenty. It's a lot of fun seeing what everybody reads, watches, cooks, etc.

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  7. This actually sounds like a lot of fun and could lead me to some books I might not have taken a second glance at but end up loving.

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    1. Kathy - I alway enjoy Paris in July... have discovered some interesting books, movies, and recipes!

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  8. I've heard some great things about the Sagan book - can't wait to read what you think of it. The Clementine and Zola books look great. This is definitely going to be a fun month. Enjoy Paris in July!!

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    1. Nadia - Both the Sagan book and Clementine in the kitchen should be available later this afternoon. Will probably make a special trip to go pick them up... you never know if I might be inspired to start one over the long weekend. Paris in July is going to be fun!

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  9. This sounds really fun! I'm especially interested in That Part Was True. I love foodie memoirs and 84 Charring Cross Roads is one of my favorite books so anything that is even vaguely a combination of the 2 is definitely a must read. Have fun with your virtual visit to Paris.

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    1. Katherine - I read the first couple of chapters and it is very light and sweet so far... hope the comparison to 84, Charring Cross Road pans out :)

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  10. Do you speak or read French? I do not. But wish I did. I like Emile Zola, and recall his novel The Masterpiece in art history class in college. Loved it. Enjoy your month!

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    1. Thecuecard - No, I don't know any French at all :( I've read a few of Zola's novels, Therese Raquin, and a couple of Les Rougon-Macquart out of order. I'd like to go back and start at the beginning.

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  11. I think I already have a good start on Paris/France for July as I am now deep into A Wanderer in Paris. But at the library this week I happened to notice a new book that I had not read by Susan Vreeland called Lisette's List .... 1937 France, Provence, art galleries, etc. My all-time favorite by Ms. Vreeland is Luncheon of the Boating Party, which is about a painting of same name by Renoir. Many may remember her as the author of Girl in Hyacinth Blue. These two books should provide some pleasant French reading for July, don't you think?

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    1. JudyMac - You are definitely ready for Paris in July!! I read The Girl in Hyacinth Blue years ago, but none of Vreeland's later novels. Have just added Luncheon of the Boating Party to my ongoing Paris in July reading suggestions list. If you decide to read Lisette's List, I'll be curious to hear what you think.

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  12. I read Bonjour, Tristesse one year for Paris in July and was quite taken with it. It's really a "must read" for those of us who have a penchant for classic literature. But, I did have a similar reaction to that narrator and Briony from Atonement. Did you see the film or read the book? I wanted to slap her so badly that I still want to slap her! Not a very nice book blogger, I know. ;)

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    1. Bellezza - Yes, I read Atonement and saw the movie... and had exactly the same reaction toward Briony! Stopped at the library to pick up Bonjour Tristesse today and was disappointed to find a very musty-smelling ugly old edition. I'm glad it's short ;-)

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    2. Well, at least your library had it! I had to order mine from amazon as I do every worthwhile book I want to read. :)

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    3. Bellezza - I know I'm very fortunate to have so much is available to me through inter-library loan! Over the years I have requested literally hundred of books and only twice have I been disappointed. About a decade ago I received a copy of The Warden by Anthony Trollope that had literally been chewed by mice (they ended up discarding the copy and I purchased a new one, read it and donated). The edition I received is from the 80s and very musty. I think I'll do the same thing again.

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  13. I am excited to read all your literary Parisian travels!

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    1. Molly - July is going to be an excellent month!

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  14. Looking forward to your Paris posts, JoAnn! ;)

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  15. I'm so busy this month I'm not sure I will read many Paris in July books, but I will enjoy what everyone is reading :-)

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    1. Brona - Even if you can't read as much as you'd like, it's so much fun reading everyone'e posts!

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