Paris in July!

 

It's time again for all things French. Yep, Paris in July is back (thanks to Tamara from Thyme for Tea for hosting and creating this terrific challenge) and I am thrilled to be participating in this challenge. All month long I will be reading books and watching films set in France (or written/created by French authors/directors/actors), listening to French music, and indulging in some French foods. Talk about bliss! 

I'm thinking of Jean Rhys. I recently bought a few new editions of some of her books and was leaning toward re-reading Good Morning, Midnight. What do you think? 

Not sure what else I'll read, but I'm looking forward to figuring it out. Also, I decided to make my journal Paris themed this month. So, I'm really looking forward to decorating it and writing about this challenge. 

Let me know if you're participating, too. Or, if you have any book recs you'd like to share. 

Happy reading!!

Its baaaaack!

Fall is in the air, or at least it feels like it thanks to Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings and his awesome reading event: R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XI.  Yes, its back and I am so darn excited.  I'm already imagining, hot chocolate and creepy reads - the perfect combination to kick-start the Fall season. 

So, what exactly is R.I.P. XI you wonder.  Well, here's some info to fill you in on all the fun:

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril, or R.I.P. for short, is a participatory event created by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings, wherein we the people spend however little, or much, time we want over the months of September and October imbibing all things ghastly and ghostly.

The purpose of R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XI is to enjoy books and movies/television that could be classified (by you) as:
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.
Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.

There are two simple goals for R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XI
1. Have fun reading.
2. Share that fun with others.

There are multiple levels of participation (Perils) that allow you to be a part of R.I.P. XI without adding the burden of another commitment to your already busy lives. There is even a one book only option for those who feel that this sort of reading is not their cup of tea (or who have many other commitments) but want to participate all the same.  For details on the various Perils check out the Stainless Steel Droppings website.  And, just so you know, there is a review site where you can a link to your R.I.P. XI posts and check out what everyone else is reading or watching!

How fun does that sound?  You know you want to join in.  I know that I can't wait to figure out which spooky books I want to read. I'm thinking Stephen King will be included on my R.I.P. XI TBR list.  And, I know that I will be aiming for at least four books and a couple of creepy movies, which means I'll be going for:

and

Pretty awesome, eh?  Well, I hope you decided to join in on all of the fun.  I'm off to peruse my bookshelves and find something thrilling to read for R.I.P. XI.  Happy reading!!

Paris in July is back!!

How exciting!  Paris in July, the popular blogging event hosted and created by Tamara of Thyme for Tea is back.  And I am so excited!  As a huge fan of all things Paris, I am really looking forward to reading everyone's posts this year.  I swear I always learn something new each year and its always fun to see what everyone decides to write about. Plus, there are always some great photos of Paris to look through.   As for me, I will pop in some French music, eat a pain au chocolat, and settle down with some lovely new reads to enjoy during this month.  Here are some of the books I'm considering:

So many good books to choose from! I can't decide which to read first. Let me know what you think? Have you read any? Which one(s) do you recommend?

And now, I'm off to flip through a baking magazine for a recipe to make macarons.  Wish me luck!!

Bookish and Non-Bookish Thoughts...

Summer is nigh! How awesome is that? Of course, that does make me wonder where the first half of the year has gone.  Seriously, what have I been doing with my time? Yikes!

• Okay, so I've had that song "Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke in my head these past few days - on repeat. And I was reading Dance Dance Dance the other night (yes, I'm still reading it. Its taking me a lot longer than I thought it would) and found this:   "No sooner had I punched the PLAY button than Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World" came on.  Don't know much about history...Sam the Man, killed when I was in  ninth grade".   How crazy is that?!  Murakami mentioned the exact song that I've been humming lately.  Talk about fate! I'm supposed to be reading this book!  I absolutely love when weird coincidences like that happen.  And I must admit that I'm really enjoying reading this last book in the Rat trilogy.  Its strange and wonderful at the same time.  One passage I read had me thinking of The Shining, while another section had so many Star Wars references in it that I was thinking I should re-watch the movie.   I'm wondering what will pop up next.
• Just bought these awesome journals to add to my collection. Yes, I collect journals. I can't seem to help myself.  Now I just need to write in them: 

       Pretty nifty, eh? As you can tell I'm a fan of TWD. 

•  I've been watching Real Housewives of NYC and OMFG it is crazy this season. So much DRAMA!! I think its got to be one of the BEST seasons ever. The OC series is about to start soon, too.  I can't wait to see Vicki "whoop" it up. Talk about a Bravo addiction!  Of course, that's not the only TV show I'm obsessed with lately.  Grimm is where its at!  I am crushing so hard on this show and its cast and Portland (where it takes place and is filmed).  Each episode focuses on a Grimm's fairy tale, which is pretty cool.  The show's about Nick (a cop) who is a grimm.  He comes from a long line of grimms.  Basically, grimms kill the bad wesen who are usually criminals.  Wesen are creatures from the Grimm's fairy tales. It is a bit far fetched at times - okay, the story lines can get ridiculous and convoluted - but I still really liked it (a lot).  
• Hamilton and Mudcrutch are my go-to CDs when it comes to music.  Yep, I'm still listening to Hamilton (all the time!!). Its just so damn good!  My Shot is my favorite song at the moment, but I'm also loving the rap battle on Cabinet Battle #1. Talk about a smart and creative musical - it is seriously the BEST!  As for Mudcrutch, I am enjoying jamming out to this country rock music featuring Tom Petty (who I LOVE).  The band just released their second album and it is awesome.  

• I've been reading a lot lately.  I got hooked on YA for awhile and wound up reading ( The Problem With Forever; Tell Me Three Things; The List; and Exit, Pursued by a Bear ).  I just finished Love and Freindship by Jane Austen the other day. I found myself laughing so much as I imagined these woman fainting at every wrong turn in their lives - which for some reason was just hilarious and seemed to happen all the time.  Is it evil to be sure? by Lena Dunham was a fun and interesting read.  Its a collection of her diary entries from a year in college.  Talk about strange and fascinating.  And, I'm currently reading the fourth book (Dance Dance Dance) in Murakami's Rat trilogy. I gobbled up the first three books (Hear the Wind Sing; Pinball,1973; and A Wild Sheep Chase) and LOVED them to bits.  I have to admit to being partial to the first book, Hear the Wind Sing.  I think its because it was the first book that Murakami wrote and I loved that he referred to it as his kitchen-table book.  Up next are Frankenstein and End of Watch.  I'm excited for both, especially End of Watch.  Its the final book in the Bill Hodges trilogy by Stephen King and I just know its going to be fantastic!!  As for Frankenstein, I know it seems weird to read it now instead of in the Fall, but Frances from nonsuch book will be discussing the book on June 16th and I want to join in on the fun.  Apparently, its the 200th anniversary of the night that Mary Shelley was inspired to write the story. How cool is that?!  

And now I'm off to continue with Dance Dance Dance. Happy reading!!

Films for Paris in July...

Paris in July is in high gear and I've really been enjoying reading everyone's posts about French cuisine, Bastille Day, Paris in summer, French perfume, and literature set in France.  So many wonderful photos and subjects to get lost in - I am absolutely loving it.  As for me, I've been so busy reading non-Paris books that I haven't really had a chance to participate as much as I had planned.  All I've really done lately is listen to my French music CDs whilst I drive, write, and cook.  Realizing that I needed to kick it up a notch, I decided to watch some movies and get lost in Paris visually.  What films did I choose? 2 Days in New York, Sabrina, and Midnight in Paris.  Yes, I've seen them all before, but honestly its been so long, that I'd forgotten so many things that happen in each one, that I felt like I was watching it for the first time again.  Anyhow, I just wanted to share a few quick thoughts about each film.  Here goes:

I know the title has you wondering why I watched this film in reference to Paris in July, but I do have my reasons.  Firstly, it is a film by Julie Delpy - the French actress, writer, director (see, that counts).  Secondly, it is the sequel to her 2007 film, 2 Days in Paris (which I absolutely love!), which meant that it would be chock full of French actors from the first film (and it was).  And, thirdly, I just wanted to watch it.  Okay, so what is it about?  Well, its about a French woman named Marion (Julie Delpy) and her boyfriend, Mingus (played by Chris Rock).  They live a cozy life in NYC with their children (she has a son and he has a daughter) and everything is moving along swimmingly, until Marion's family decides to come visit.  Her father, sister, and sister's boyfriend (which happens to be Marion's ex, Manu) take over the apartment and overwhelm Mingus with their fire rapid French, overt sexuality, drug deals, and cultural miscommunications.  Its truly a treat to watch. The dialogue is smart and funny, the acting is spot on, and the story itself is relatable, because who doesn't have family members that drive you crazy at times?

According to Sabrina Fairchild, "Paris is always a good idea.", and I think she is right.  After watching this movie and seeing how much she grew and changed in Paris - who wouldn't want to travel to the City of Light?  Sabrina is about a young woman who is madly in love with a man named David Larrabee.  She grew up watching David from afar (well, perched on a tree actually).  Her father is the Larrabee family's chauffeur, so Sabrina has known David all his life.  However, David is a playboy and has never taken notice of Sabrina.  All of that changes after she returns from an internship in Paris.  Sabrina comes back more grown up and self-assured, thereby finally catching David's attention.  He is smitten, but nothing manages to work out right between the two, thanks to Linus (David's older brother).   Suffice it to say, love does blossom for Sabrina in the end.  And Paris is there waiting for her.  I love this film.  I love watching Sabrina grow into herself  in Paris. I love looking at Paris through her eyes.  And, I especially love how sentimentally attached she has become to a city that awakened her - a city that really seemed to affect her in so many positive ways. 

A movie about a writer obsessed with 1920s Paris is one thing,  but throw in time travel and I'm hooked.  Gil Pender and his fiancee are in Paris with her her parents.  He's trying to work on his novel about a nostalgia shop, while she is seeing the sights with friends.  By chance, Gil discovers that at the stroke of midnight he is able to hop in a taxi and visit with his literary heroes (Hemingway, Stein, and Fitzgerald) in the 1920s.  He is flush with excitement at the prospect of talking to the men and women who have created some of the world's greatest literature and art.  Plus, he winds up meeting a woman and becoming rather besotted with her.  Gil is living his dream during these nightly jaunts, however during the day, he's starting to realize what a nightmare his fiancee really is.  The more time he spends in the 1920s, the more Gil begins to realize he wants to live in Paris, without a fiancee.  Through Gil's eyes we get to see a beautiful, rainy Paris that is filled with love, adventure, and dreams.  Midnight in Paris is a wonderful film filled with witty dialogue, terrific acting, and amazing cinematography.  I absolutely fell in love with this film all over again.  

And there you have it, my three films for Paris in July.  I actually plan on watching Le Divorce again, too.  I just find that movie to be funny and a little ridiculous, which is why I love it.  Plus, it has Birkin bags, a crime of passion, and Paris.  Anyhow, I'm off to do some reading.  Bonjour!

Film Review: Le Divorce and Before Sunset

Bonjour! It is time for Paris in July! To kick things off, I've been listening to my French music non-stop and I am loving it.  Of course, I might love it more, if I had an inkling as to what they were crooning about.  Nonetheless, I am enjoying the musical delights of Tiersen.  And, to get even more excited about Paris in July, I've watched two lovely films: Le Divorce and Before Sunset. One is a comedy and one is a love story, both are set in Paris, and both are unforgettable.

In Le Divorce, we have a film about family, love, a painting, and Paris.  Isabel Walker has traveled to Paris to check in on her older sister, Roxy (who is married and pregnant with her second child).  Eager to embrace French culture, Isabel is excited about the prospects that Paris is sure to bring.  However, once there, she is confronted with a depressed and suicidal sister who has just been dumped by her cheating husband - not exactly a warm welcome.  And, things get even more complicated when her brother-in-law's mistress' husband tries to insinuate himself into her and Roxy's lives by stalking them.  Plus, Isabel has found a new job, a sort-of boyfriend, and a married man to keep her occupied.  Oh, and the painting of St. Ursula that hangs in Roxy's home may or may not be a real La Tour - which brings the whole Walker clan out to Paris (plus, an attempted suicide).   All the while, Roxy is dealing with her husband's meddlesome family about a divorce that she is adamantly against.  Sounds pretty crazy and kind of ridiculous, right?  Well it is, and its not.  Thanks in large part to the stellar cast of actors in the film, this movie is a surprisingly sweet treat to watch.  Oh, and of course, it helps to have Paris be the backdrop amidst all the drama.  The Eiffel Tower, those ubiquitous scarves,  a red Hermes handbag, delectable dishes, chic apartments, and country estates - what more could I want?

In Before Sunset, we finally have the long awaited reunion between Jesse and Celine.  Fans of Before Sunrise know that the couple met on a train and wound up spending the night wandering the streets of Vienna.  They planned to meet up six months later, but as the movie ended we were left wondering if a reunion ever took place.  And, now thanks to Before Sunset we have our answer.  Turns out that Jesse made it to Vienna in December, but Celine did not (her grandmother passed away and she was at her funeral).  Suffice it to say, Jesse is relieved to find out that Celine didn't purposely ditch him, and Celine is delighted to find out that he showed up as promised.  Of course, that was nine years ago and a lot has happened since then.  As the couple gets reacquainted with one another, and the day starts to fade into night, Paris surrounds them.  They wander around the city, visit a cafe, take a boat tour of the Seine River and wind up listening to Nina Simone at Celine's bohemian-styled apartment.  French music plays softly in the background at times, and the lush beauty of the gardens and cityscape provide a romantic tinged feel to the whole film. I felt like I was visiting Paris while I watched Jesse and Celine visiting with one another.  Now, I don't want to give away the plot, so I'm not going to say what transpires between Celine and Jesse, but just know that you will have a smile on your face as the credits roll. 

So, yes, I would most definitely recommend Le Divorce and Before Sunset to everyone.   I know that they aren't really French films, but for me they showcase the beauty of Paris quite nicely - the cobblestone streets, Notre Dame, chic Parisians, lovely parks, the Seine River, cool cafes, and the feeling of possibility that the city seems to possess.  I found myself wishing I were wandering around the City of Light, wearing an expertly knotted scarf, and taking in the beautiful scenery surrounding me.  Plus, the films felt like the perfect way to kick off Paris in July. 

And now, I'm off to read something for Paris in July - I'm torn between The Cleaner of Chartres, Gourmet Rhapsody, and The Whole Fromage.  Hmm.  What do you think?

Paris in July is back!

Hurrah!  Its nearly time for Paris in July - a fantastic challenge hosted by Karen of BookBath and Tamara of Thyme for Tea.  I look forward to it every year, as I am obsessed with all things French.  Plus, this challenge isn't a reading one, its an anything goes challenge  - meaning that you can post about books, music, films, food, travel, etc.  All you have to remember is that the challenge runs from July 1st through July 31st. How awesome is that?  Last year I posted about some of my favorite French items (Longchamps and pan au chocolat) and the film Midnight in Paris (LOVED this movie!!!).  And, I enjoyed checking out the other participants' blog posts - you learn about so many new books, films, and foods.  This year I plan on watching some movies and reading some books, all the while listening to my Midnight in Paris soundtrack on repeat.  Here are some of the titles for both films and books that I have in mind:

What do you think?  They all look pretty fantastic, no? Well, if you have any suggestions, feel free to leave me your ideas in the comments below.  And now, I'm off to start reading The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison.  Happy reading!!