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Post by andi on Jun 9, 2007 17:43:02 GMT -5
I was just wondering what books we were all reading at the moment, I haven't read anything Paris related for a while. The last book I read about Paris was "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind, my daughter bought it for my birthday knowing how much I love Paris, luckily I read it before the movie came out, some of the descriptions of old Paris are grotesque. At the moment I have just finished a Bette Davis autobiography and now started on an Errol Flynn autobiography, both are very fascinating.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 9, 2007 17:59:55 GMT -5
I'm most of the way through "Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings." It was written in 1950 but still is in publication because it's an excellent biography of Eleanor and history of the period in France and England. What a fascinating woman! She was married young to Louis VII of France, went on a crusade with him, divorced him, and married Henry duc d'Anjou (later Henry II of England). I've been interested in her since I first saw "The Lion in Winter" (Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole were both perfectly cast, IMO). I also recently read a biography of Catherine de Medici (also fascinating, and covered a period of history about which I knew very little), and a book called "The Affair of the Poisons" about a period during the reign of Louis XIV when there was widespread hysteria in Paris, including at court, about suspected poisonings, satanism, etc., etc.
I read "Perfume" a few years ago -- interesting, but it kind of weirded me out!
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Post by iank9 on Jun 9, 2007 18:12:01 GMT -5
Hi, Just finished reading "We'll Always have Paris" Author John Baxter ISBN: 9780 553 81600 6 " A charming insider's guide to literary and artistic Paris.... if you can't hop on the Eurostar, this little volume and a glass of red make an excellent substitute" The Daily Mail Not that I read the Daily Mail..... honest!!! Really good read, and a little racey  Best wishes |
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Post by holger on Jun 9, 2007 20:08:27 GMT -5
 Just finished Paris by Heart. Enjoyed it for the reactions of an American family to France over the four years they lived there. It is light and an easy read.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 9, 2007 21:30:35 GMT -5
Holger, I am going to get that book--sounds cute. I finished A Year in the Merde (Stephen Clarke) a few weeks ago, and am now reading Marie Antoinette (Antonia Fraser). I started it quite awhile back, but couldn't get into it. While reading A Year in the Merde, my 16 y/o daughter (just finished her 3rd year of French) asked what "merde" meant. I gave a vague answer like, "I'm not sure" (not excited about having her learn foreign swear words!). Well, she came back a few minutes later after having looked it up, with this look on her face  and said "MOM!!! I can't believe you're reading that!"  |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 9, 2007 21:57:34 GMT -5
I think "merde" was one of the first French words I learned when I was a kid. ( after "bonjour", "monsieur" and a few others)
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Post by goldenmama on Jun 10, 2007 4:56:05 GMT -5
I am in the middle of "Abundance", which is a wonderful book about Marie Antoinette. Its making the whole era come alive, and I am so excited to go to Versailles!
I just wish I could read more than 10 pages of any book without falling asleep! It makes me feel like an old lady
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Post by holger on Jun 10, 2007 7:44:08 GMT -5
Merde was one of the first French words I learned, too. And Gitte, I also know the Danish equivalent.
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Post by andi on Jun 10, 2007 10:17:24 GMT -5
LOL... I am naive I had to ask my hubby what merde meant and now I know |
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 10, 2007 10:39:04 GMT -5
Every Israeli kid (even the very young ones) knows (and uses ) the four-letter English equivalent of "merde"........only with an Israeli accent it sounds more like "sheet". |
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Post by Ray(aka) tripnebraska on Jun 10, 2007 12:01:17 GMT -5
Right now I'm reading "Alexis de Tocqueville, A Life" by Hugh Brogan.( Brogan is one of your countrymen Andi) One of the great political thinkers of all time. A keen observer of America.
My degree is Political Science, and History, so this is a great biography for me.
On my desk at work is Sun Tzu's Art of War.
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Post by cybee on Jun 10, 2007 12:48:50 GMT -5
Ray, that does sound interesting. I read earlier this year "American Vertigo. Traveling Amerca in the Footsteps of Tocqueville" by Bernard-Henri Levy (I saw him on a cnn interview and he seemed so engaging that I determined to read his book).Well, it was a bit "Vertigo'esque" and that he tried to emulate Tocqueville's path whilst in a new age may have skewed a bit of the perspective...but it was interesting nonetheless.
I ordered Edmund White's "Flaneur" and having just finished my current read ("Einstein" by Issacson), that may be my next book!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 10, 2007 13:16:36 GMT -5
Cybee -- I enjoyed "Flaneur" very much, hope you do as well.
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 10, 2007 13:51:13 GMT -5
I still have the old habit of re-reading the classic during the summer months (as if my schoolboy days where not over, and so far behind me!) so right now I am in the middle of Stendhal "Le rouge et le noir" and also a new biography of Louis XVI by Jean-Christian Petitfils. Petitfils is breaking a lot of the stereotypes and the writing is fluid.
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Post by Ray(aka) tripnebraska on Jun 10, 2007 14:12:03 GMT -5
Cybee,
when I picked up the Brogan book, I had gone in to buy the Issacson book on Einstein. So that is my next read.
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 11, 2007 6:53:56 GMT -5
I am re-reading one of my all-time favorite classics. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne duMaurier. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to find a first edition of her other classic, Rebecca, at a church bazaar for 25 cents. My hands were shaking as I paid as quickly as I could and ran like the wind.
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Post by andi on Jun 11, 2007 11:24:59 GMT -5
Wow what a lucky find Happy! definately a book to treasure.  |
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 11, 2007 12:06:10 GMT -5
Andi, several years ago in Florence, I happened to eat breakfast with a lovely older lady who lived very near duMaurier's home in England. She told me several stories about the author and her husband. I'll remember it always, as duMaurier was one of my favorite authors as a girl and the lady in Florence was just delightful.
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Post by phread on Jun 12, 2007 6:45:40 GMT -5
What a coincidence, Ray, I've been reading de Tocqueville'e de la Democratie en Amèrique!
Cybee, I loved Le Flaneur.
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Post by joan1 on Jun 20, 2007 0:56:25 GMT -5
Wow, this is a good thread to read to figure out what to read!! LOl
I have read Marie Antionette by Frazer,, and loved it,, I also have just finished rereading( for the tenth time I am sure) Jane Eyre,, my absolute favorite classis love story.
I am about to start "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky, I have heard it is good.
I also enjoyed "A Year in the Merde", it was so light hearted and funny!
And "merde" was definately my first french word,, dad used around us kids thinking it was "safe " to do so,, I found out what it meant by the time I was about 5,, mom heard me telling all my kindergarden friends the " french " words I knew!! LOL
I actually love reading historicial biograhpies also,, I went through a " Tudor" period before a trip to England a few years back, and I must say ,, reading about the important figures of the time certainly makes most sights come alive..
Luckyluc, that biography on Louis xvi,, sounds interesting.
I am trying to find some reading material for my friend who is coming to Paris with me in August, she has never been, and I think some background info will make it a better trip I am sure.
You know, she does not know who lived at Versailles, I mean that, really, completely oblivious ,, shocking I know, but she reads trashy novels,, so I must try to find some trashy HISTORICAL novels at least.. Lest you think she is an idiot,, she is not, she is an accountant,, who loves math, numbers etc, but always hated english and history in school, complete opposite of me,, I can barely add two plus two!
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and said "MOM!!! I can't believe you're reading that!" 
hahahha