Saturday, July 10, 2010

Paris in July

Karen at Book Bath and Tamara at Thyme for Tea are hosting a special project this July, featuring the beautiful city of Paris. You can participate along with many others by clicking here. 
I took this cliché picture when I was in Paris for a few days in June of 2006. I went as part of an early graduation present from my Grandmother with my best friend and mom. I absolutely fell in love with the city - with the geography, architecture, cuisine, people - everything. I still have a vivid, simple memory of my mom and I roaming the streets by our hotel looking for a nail salon. The entire trip was about 2 weeks long and had us spending time in London and Rome as well as Paris. At the time I was more interested in crossing off locations on a list than in the places themselves. Looking back I think those few days in Paris were the inspiring, because they showed me a city that I'd previously thought of as snobby and foreign as something amazing. 

Since then I've taken French (with little success), discovered the charm of the French New Wave film movement, read Les Mis, I haphazardly watch the Tour de France every year, and have, taken a class completely dedicated to the French Revolution. 
Every year I try to transport myself to a far away place using books. While this year has been more of an Italy year, one of my favorite books was set in Paris. Claude and Camille follows the early life of the painter Claude Monet and his first true love and wife, Camille. It made the Paris the Impressionists new vivid and entrancing.  I'm looking forward to dedicating the parts of July that are not filled with Harry Potter to books that are anyway related to France. 
After first hearing about Paris in July I was upset to realize that the only books that were either French/set in France were those of Victor Hugo and the above mentioned Claude and Camille. I decided I would enlist the help of the blogging community to come up with some other books for the month. The great people over at livejournals bookish community have been very helpful. If anyone is interested here is my book request post.
I look forward to reviewing some French inspired books and writing about my favorite French movies later in the month. 

Bonne nuit!
 

6 comments:

Kathy said...

Here are two recent reads of mine:

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (I wasn't completely enthralled with the writing but it's a very interesting subject)

What French Women Know by Debra Ollivier (non-fiction, not just about Paris though)

Holly said...

I can definitely help you out with the history/ historical fiction set in Paris :)

Annette Valon by James Tipton (french revolution)
To Dance with Kings-Rosalind Laker
The Elegance of the Hedgehog-Barbery
The Secret Life of Josephine-Carolly Erickson
Labyrinth and Sepulchre-Kate Mosse
Suite Francaise-Irene Nemirovsky
In the Shadow of the Sun King-Golden Keyes Parsons
The Courtesan-Diane Haeger
The Josephine B Trilogy-Sandra Gulland
Mistress of the Sun-Sandra Gulland
Mistress of the Revolution-Catherine Delors
The French Mistress-Susan Holloway Scott
The Queen's Dollmaker-Christine Trent
The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette-Erickson
Abundance-Sena Jeter Naslund
Louis the Well Beloved-Jean Plaidy
The Road to Compeigne-Jean Plaidy
Flaunting Extravagent Queen-Jean Plaidy
The Queen of Diamonds-Jean Plaidy
Madame du Barry-Jean Plaidy
Angelique Series by Anne Golon
Trianon-Elena Maria Vidal

Packabook - Books Set in France said...

If you liked Claude and Camille - how about these other art related ones.

'Luncheon of the Boating Party' - fictional story related to Renoir's painting of the same name

and

'Dancing for Degas' - the story of a ballerina in Paris who modelled for Edgar Degas.

We have loads of suggestions for books set in France at http://packabook.com/books-set-in-france.html

Enjoy!

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

Ooh, great suggestions all around!! I am now furiously adding away...thanks!!

Unknown said...

Good luck when you start with Lolita Nabokov. Was not as cool as I expected.

Tamara said...

Hello, I'm very sorry for the late arrival here. I love your photo - even if a bit cliche - there's is something special about taking one yourself.