I Love Midnight in Paris!

About Film:

This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall, have experiences there that change their lives.  It's about a young man's great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.

My Thoughts:

To end the Paris in July 2012 I decided to watch Midnight in Paris - you know, that film by Woody Allen that everyone went bonkers over. I thought it would be the perfect way the end the month - a film set in the City of Light.  Plus, I knew it was about time I watched this movie that everyone else had already seen and that I had been putting off watching for no good reason.  And so, with a hot chocolate in hand I turned my attention to Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.

Suffice it to say, I loved Midnight in Paris!  How could I not?  Paris during the day, night and in the rain was just beautiful to see.  And the dialogue was clever and the acting superb.  I absolutely enjoyed watching Gil (Owen Wilson) get caught up in the roaring twenties.  Who wouldn't want to hang out with the Fitzgerald's, Hemingway, Stein and Dali.  All that drinking, dancing and carousing looked like quite the good time.  Plus, getting to see Gil and Inez (Rachel McAdams) interact as a couple was hilarious and sad at the same time - they were most definitely not meant to be together.   In fact, I was happy when Gil ended their engagement, especially after finding out from Hemingway that Inez was having an affair with Paul (Michael Sheen) - how oblivious was Gil?! Anyhow, aside from relationship woes, this film was a fantastic mix of fantasy and realism.  I loved how Gil's slips through time were never explained and just happened again and again.  I loved how we experienced Cole Porter's music and Stein's salon through Gil's eyes.  Woody Allen created quite a gem with this film.  Watching it was the highlight of my weekend and the Paris in July 2012 Challenge.

Well, time is up.  Today is the last day of Paris in July 2012 and although I didn't post as much as I had planned on, I did enjoy reading everyone's posts on Paris - in fact, I've added some books to my TBR list and jotted down the names of new films to watch.  I just wanted say thanks to Karen at BookBath and Tamara at Thyme for Tea for hosting this wonderful challenge (again).  I'm looking forward to Paris in July 2013!

French Favorites

I figured since the Paris in July challenge is open to all things Parisian, I would post about some of my favorite French items.  Here goes:

LONGCHAMP!  These tote bags are my staple.  Seriously, they are.  I must have at least 6 or 7 of these bags in a variety of colors and sizes.  They are great for carrying my makeup or for toting around my kindle, notebooks, wallet and water bottle.  Lightweight with a nice long handle that sits perfectly on my shoulder - what more could I ask for in a great bag?   I'm actually thinking of getting another one for my birthday next month. 

MARC JACOBS!!
Okay, so he's not French, but he is the head designer for Louis Vuitton's fashion house.  Plus, he's Marc Jacobs!  Tres handsome!

And I'm a huge fan of his work for Louis Vuitton!

PAIN AU CHOCOLAT!  Who doesn't love this yummy treat?  It was a favorite of mine when I lived in England.  I have to admit I indulged in it quite often - almost as often as I had tea and scones (which was weekly!).  Its basically a chocolate croissant - DELICIOUS!!

SCARVES! I've always found that when I wear a scarf I'm reminded of the French and their passion for wearing scarves.  Seriously!  It just seems to me that they know how to throw one on and head out the door and always wind up looking sophisticated.  I just love it!

And last but not least, here is one of my favorite books - Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys.  I know Jean Rhys isn't French, but she lived there for quite some time and this novel of hers takes place in Paris.  Its a book that deals with depression, loneliness and sadness - this story will stay with you for days after. 

There you have it - some of my French favorites.  And now that I've shared with you, I'm wondering what some of your French favorites are. 

Paris, My Sweet: A Year In The City Of Light (And Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas

About book:

Forever a girl obsessed with all things French, sweet freak Amy Thomas landed a gig as rich as the purest dark chocolate:  leave Manhattan for Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton.  Working on the Champ-Elysees, strolling the charming streets, and exploring the best patisseries and boulangeries, Amy marveled at the magnificence of the City of Light.

But does falling in love with one city mean turning your back on another?  As much as Amy adored Paris, there was a part of her that felt like a humble chocolate chip cookie in a sea of pristine macarons.  Paris, My Sweet explores how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a salted caramel souffle's rise, as intensely satisfying as molten chocolate cake, and about how the life you're meant to live doesn't always taste like the one you envisioned.

Part love letter to Paris, part love letter to New York, and total devotion to all things sweet, Paris, My Sweet is a treasure map for anyone with a hunger for life.

My thoughts:

I am craving macarons (I always thought it was spelled macaroons), chocolate croissants, and hot chocolate.  And, I'm wishing that I were writing ad copy for Louis Vuitton and living in Paris.  Then again, who wouldn't? Talk about a dream job in a dream city! Well, it was reality for Sweet Freak blogger, Amy Thomas, the author of this delectable memoir titled, Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate). 

Amy's in her thirties and living it up in NYC - she writes a blog devoted to sweets (her passion!) and works hard and plays hard.  Overall, life is good.  Except, Amy feels as if something is missing and she decides a change must be made.  Hmmm. I'm thinking that fate was on her side, because she soon finds herself with the offer of a lifetime - work at Louis Vuitton in Paris (her favorite city - besides NYC).  Gee, I wonder what she decided?  With bags packed and a fresh outlook on her upcoming adventure in the City of Light, Amy heads out ready to live it up Parisian-style.  Visions of yummy desserts dance in her head, along with the idea of some handsome Frenchman becoming more than her friend - life is Paris is going to be sweet!  Oh, if only reality wouldn't rear its ugly head into Amy's rose-colored dreams.  You see, Amy may be enjoying all the good food, but she's not enjoying eating it all alone.  Yep, its not as easy as Amy had thought it would be to make friends or boyfriends in Paris - ugh!  Instead, Amy bikes around town on her own, winds up feeling overworked, and misses her life in NYC dearly.  So, a trip to the Big Apple is in order.  Except, once she's there, things don't go exactly as she planned.  Instead of fun nights out with her friends, she finds herself feeling disconnected from everyone - they all seem to be coupling up, while she's been away.  Everyone seems so happy and Amy just isn't feel that happy.  Hmmm. Perhaps, Paris isn't the problem, nor is NYC - maybe Amy just needs to figure some things out.

And so she does.  Back in Paris, Amy starts to make some changes and soon enough, she is befriending some pretty cool people, winning an award for her work, and contemplating staying in Paris for another six months.  What to do?  Well, I won't tell you what Amy decides, but suffice it to say, she was happy with her decision. 

In this engaging memoir, we read all about Paris, delicious sweets, NYC and a woman's journey to self-discovery.  Each chapter is devoted to a specific dessert and details where to get said sweet at the end of the chapter (in Paris and NYC).  In fact, the book has a map of NYC and Paris hot spots - meaning the places to get the desserts Amy mentioned - because let me tell you, she is specific about the details of what the dessert tasted like and where she found it.  There's a key at the end that provides the addresses to these hot spots on her maps.  Pretty useful, eh?  And, just so you know, it wasn't just the desserts that had me enjoying the book, it was also Amy's story.  When she starts thinking about her future and whether it will include a husband or children, it made me think about my own future.  I liked how relatable Amy was and how much I identified with some of her issues - definitely made me connect with the book more.  Of course, when she was in an elevator with Marc Jacobs in Paris, I wasn't exactly relating to her so much as I was just plain jealous!  Paris, My Sweet left me feeling happy and excited for Amy.  It also made me curious about her blog, Sweet Freak - so I checked it out and loved it!  Then again, who wouldn't love a site devoted to yummy food that is filled with pictures of the food - delicious!  Check it out - Sweet Freak. 

Paris, My Sweet was the perfect read for Karen and Tamara's Paris in July challenge - it had Paris all over its pages (which I loved!). 

And now I'm off to check out all the other Paris in July posts from this past week. 

Never Tell by Alafair Burke

About book:

Sixteen-year-old Julia Whitmire appeared to have everything: a famous father, a luxurious Manhattan town house, a coveted spot at the elite Casden prep school.  When she is found dead in her bathtub, a handwritten suicide note left on her bed, her parents insist that their daughter would never take her own life.

But Julia's enviable life was more complicated than it seemed.  The pressure to excel at Casden was enormous.  Abuse of prescription antidepressants and drugs for attention-deficit hyperactivity ran rampant among students; an unlabeled bottle of pills in Julia's purse suggests she had succumbed to the trend.  And a search of Julia's computer reveals that in the days leading up to her death she was engaged in a dangerous game of cyber-bullying against an unlikely victim.

NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher is convinced the case is a suicide, but she knows from personal experience that a loving family can be the last to accept the truth.  When the Whitmires use their power to force a criminal investigation, Ellie's resistance causes trouble for her both at work and in her personal life.

As she is pressured to pursue a case she doesn't believe in, she is pulled into Julia's inner circle - an eclectic mix of overly precocious teenagers from Manhattan's most privileged families as well as street kids from Greenwich Village.  But when the target of Julia's harassment continues to receive death threats, Ellie is forced to acknowledge that Julia may have learned the hard way that some secrets should never be told.

My thoughts:

Riveting!  That is the word to describe this novel.  It was absolutely unputdownable and I loved it!  This past rainy weekend I wanted something with suspense and lo and behold that is exactly what I got with Alafair Burke's, latest book, Never Tell. 

A young girl named Julia is found dead in her bathtub with a suicide note nearby and that leads detective Ellie Hatcher to believe that the kid committed suicide - its an open and shut case.  However,  the girl's family doesn't agree and after some phone calls are made, Hatcher and her partner Rogan are canvassing the streets and meeting up with Julia's friends to find out more about their supposed victim.  And the information they find out is interesting and unbelievable at times - its pretty crazy actually.  Quite frankly, Never Tell, kept me on my toes the whole way through.  Usually, I'm pretty good at figuring out who the murderer is and what really happened, but this time round, my guesses were way off and I didn't find out what really happened until the end.  I actually liked the revelations that were made throughout the book and being surprised in the end - definitely made for a fun read. 

Never Tell is a well written mystery/suspense novel that has some pretty crazy twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.  The story lines are interesting and dotted with references to everyday trends and news stories; which make for a rather authentic and gripping reading experience.  As for the characters, they are very flawed and relatable - which I loved.  All in all, this was definitely a fun book to read.  I was hooked from the beginning and didn't put the book down until I got to the end and found out "who done it."

I'm definitely recommending this book to anyone and everyone who loves a good mystery/suspense read - you will not be disappointed!

And for fans of Alafair Burke, here's a  link to her site detailing the Duffer Awards that she recently hosted (again) - check it out!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this terrific book!

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

About book:

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day.  That is, until the doorbell rings.  Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max that he could be his long-lost relation.  He introduces himself as Paolo, and Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos.  Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max.  Her Max.  And he is alive and well.

The information Paolo shares with Shelley sets them on a trail across the globe and through some of Europe's most dramatic history in search of answers.  Along the way, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was.  As she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to. 

My thoughts:

Wow. History and a love story - talk about the perfect combination.  Oh, and throw an immortal into the mix and you have got me hooked!  Seriously, I have to admit that I was not expecting what I read.  I mean from the blurb it says that Max is alive and well, but I truly never thought he was immortal.  I just thought he had faked his death or something.  Totally not what I expected.  And, I love Samantha Sotto for that!  This book has got to be one of my favorite reads this year.  It had everything and so much more.  I fell in love with Before Ever After and I'm sure anyone who reads it will, too.

So, what exactly is the story about?  Love.  Its as simple as that.  Max and Shelley meet and fall madly in love with one another.  They experience marital bliss and then suddenly, Max is no more.  Shelley is devastated by her loss and pretty much lives like a zombie - sleeping, barely eating and never leaving the house.  One day she gets a visitor - Max's grandson.  Say what?! Yep, looks like Max was not as truthful about his past, or his age, as Shelley had believed.  Trusting Paolo (Max's grandson), Shelley joins him on a trip that will reveal truths about her husband that will not only shock and amaze her, but also leave her feeling betrayed.  And on this trip we learn all the details surrounding how Shelley met Max.  From road trip guide to husband - lets just say, Shelley and Max had quite a historical and well-traveled courtship.   Its during this trip that we learn everything about Max and who he was - except we don't really know that we are learning about Max's history until we find out that he's immortal.  And let me just say that once you realize Max has been sharing stories from his own past, well, it makes for quite an emotional and unreal read.  Now, I'm not going to share anymore details about this book with you, because you seriously need to read it for yourself! I want you to read all about Shelley and Max falling in love and about the many, many lives of Max.  Oh, and I want you to read about the eggs and chicken and how they are relevant to the story.  Yes, eggs and chicken are enmeshed in this story and its actually pretty interesting. 

All in all,  Before Ever After is an amazing story!  Its filled with great writing, complex and emotional characters, and one unforgettable story.  Its the epitome of  unputdownable.  And, I'll definitely be recommending it to anyone and everyone looking for a truly good read. 

Thanks so much to Broadway Books an imprint of Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this lovely book! 

It's time for Paris in July!

Another July in Paris - Hurrah!  I'm so excited! Thanks to BookBath and Thyme for Tea it looks like I will be indulging in another Paris-centric summer!  I can't wait to start!  And I'm excited to read everyone's posts and find out what French-tastic book, film or food they've enjoyed. 

Okay, so what exactly is this Paris in July challenge I'm referring to?  Its a month-long challenge devoted to all things Paris.  Here are the details:

"Paris in July will run from the 1st - 31st July 2012 and the aim of the month is to celebrate our French experiences through reading, watching, listening to, 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 Paris in July - just blog about anything French and you can join in. Some ideas for the month might include:

- Reading a French book - fiction or non-fiction

- Watching a French movie

- Listening to French music

- Cooking French food

- Experiencing French art, architecture or travel (or remembering travel experiences)

- Or anything else French inspired you can think of..."

And that is all!  How easy is that?  Seriously?!  One French book or one French movie - and you are done!  Love it!  Actually, as I sit here listening to Tiersen (amazing French musician!!), I'm starting to wonder what I'll be reading or watching for this challenge.  Hmmm....here are a few of my ideas:

What do you think? Some pretty good choices, eh? If you have any recommendations, let me know.  As for now, I'm off to get me a macaroon and listen to some more Tiersen.  Adieu!

Shout Her Lovely Name by Natalie Serber

About book:

Mothers and daughters ride the familial tide of joy, pride, regret, loathing, and love in these stories of resilient and flawed women.  In a battle between a teenage daughter and her mother, wheat bread and plain yogurt become weapons.  An aimless college student, married to her much older professor, sneaks cigarettes while caring for their newborn son.  On the eve of her husband's fiftieth birthday, a pilfered fifth of vodka, and unexpected tattoo, and rogue teenagers leave a woman questioning her place.  And in a suite of stories, we follow capricious, ambitious single mother Ruby and her cautious, steadfast daughter Nora through their tumultuous life - stray men, stray cats, and psychedelic drugs - in 1970s California.

Gimlet-eyed and emotionally generous, achingly real and beautifully written, these unforgettable stories lay bare the connection and conflict in families.  Shout Her Lovely Name heralds the arrival of a powerful new writer.

My thoughts: 

OMFG!  Shout Her Lovely Name is EXCELLENT!  I meant it.  It really is a superb read.  In fact, I don't think I've read a book of short stories as good as this one, since I read Jhumpa Lahiri's,  Interpreter of Maladies (my favorite book of short stories!!) and that was some time ago.  Also, Lahiri's book went on to win the Pulitzer, so what does that say about how great this book is?  Seriously, I was stunned after I read the first short story.  It packed such an emotional punch that I found myself literally putting the book down and saying, "Wow." (in an awed voice).   There was just something about the writing that had me riveted from the get-go.  I found myself easily connecting with the characters and consumed by the story - I never wanted it to end, but when it did, I found the ending to be spot on.  I was so amazed by the first story that I knew I was in for a real treat - and I was right, this book has turned out to be my favorite read of the year!!

And here are the reasons why I fell in love with this book: 

• Writing: brilliant! Rich and vivid in detail, these stories felt so real, that I couldn't help but get emotionally invested in what I was reading.  I found the writing to be so powerful, emotional and compelling - that once I started reading the second story, I could not put the book down.  Plus, I really do enjoy short stories.
• Characters: memorable and relatable. I loved and hated these characters I read about - they were flawed and authentic, which made them feel so real to me.  I wanted to shake sense into them, hug them when they hurt, and cry with them when it seemed as if their world was falling apart.  They felt like old friends.
• Themes: mother-daughter relationships.  The stories in this book explored the complex relationships between mother and daughters.  This is one of my favorite topics to read about - seriously, I wrote three theses and they were all about the mother-daughter relationship.  How could I not find a book about the various types of mother-daughter relationships interesting and fascinating?  I was hooked when I read the summary on the back of the book and it started with "Mothers and daughters...". 
• Overall:  a must read!!!  This is one book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone I know - and to YOU!  Shout Her Lovely Name by Natalie Serber is a fantastic book of short stories that will leave you feeling utterly amazed by the awesomeness that is Serber's writing - seriously, the writing is that excellent.  You will not be disappointed!

And now I'm off to read something fun for the Paris in July reading challenge.  Or maybe I'll watch a movie.  Hmmm....after all that mother-daughter drama I need something a little light.  Happy reading!

Thank you to TLC Book tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!