What are we all reading at the moment?

[PariS]

Finally, after being on my list for 2 years I started and have just finished reading the "Josephine trilogy" by Sandra Gulland (The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.; Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe; and The Last Great Dance on Earth). LOVED THEM! Thanks Darcy

[suzanne]

I just finished "The Paris Wife". After seeing "Midnight in Paris" I found it to be a very interesting book.

[geordy]

After reading "The Paris Wife" I once again decided I have to read more Hemingway! Particularly "The Sun Also Rises"

Have to admit my familiarity is more from seeing the movies than reading his novels!

Then again...caught a bit of "The Man in the iron Mask" on TV yesterday and realized I hadn't actually read "The Three Musketeers"!
I remember my brother had the book as kids but I was busy with "Black Beauty" and other horse and dog books!! (there weren't as many cat books in those days! )

[suzanne]

I remember being forced to read a Hemingway novel in Jr high and cannot remember any of it. After reading "The Parism Wife" I'm intrigued enough to give him another try. Although, after the way he treated Hadley I'm not sure he deserves it. LOL

[cybee]

I just read "The Judgment of Paris"..oh, here, let me just cut and paste a prior review I wrote (at Goodreads) of the same (a little long, so feel free to ignore) :
The Judgment of Paris , The Revolutionary Decade that Gave the World Impressionism as written by Ross King is a most informative and enlightening book regarding the transition of classical art to modern art. Art regarding noble moral lessons set in the far past or mythical settings were giving way to realistic art depicting not a glorified notion of the past but of the reality of the present. This book focuses on two artists primarily; Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet. Ernest Meissonier was highly exalted during his lifetime as a great artist. He at first primarily painted small images of Muskateers but he graduated to grander depictions regarding relatively recent momentous events (of that time) that glorified France. He made great effort in creating detailed and accurate images including the precise musculature of galloping horses, actual clothing worn, and trampled snow for example. Manet's art on the other hand provided less detailed depictions and sometimes painted "shocking" images of modern times. He struggled as a result generally as a result of his technique as well as his subject matter. His focus on people as opposed to the lighting and its effect upon the setting/image makes Manet not technically an impressionist but he is considered the godfather of impressionism. While it was difficult to change the mind set in France as to what was considered good art, the new modern artists made efforts to expose their work via creating their own exhibitions since the traditional Salon denied them such exposure. The Salon itself at times allowed an additional showing of the "rejects" as a result of external pressure. Ultimately, global exposure notably in the United States, created a changed valuation and recognition of the new art that was occurring but not always appreciated by France's "old school" officialdom (albeit the new art was championed by certain others such as Emile Zola in France). Posterity left Meissonier unremembered in sharp contrast to Manet and the like. This is quite an interesting read as to the path of this pivotal transition in art.

[cybee]

Oh, and speaking of books...I recall many enjoying "Sarah's Key" which I see will be released as a movie in theaters on Friday, July 22!

[Happygoin]

Oh Cybee. After I read your post about the Sarah's Key movie, I googled the trailer. I don't think I'll be able to watch the movie. The faces of the people in the velodrome on the trailer were bad enough. I'm afraid I won't sleep if I see it. And the music! Positively haunting (as it's supposed to be, I guess).

[cybee]

Oooh...HappyGoin', I see what you mean. I just watched the trailer as well..and even that...was difficult...looks well made (with Kristin Scott Thomas starring) but such an extremely difficult subject matter! Also, I noted the trailer states it starts December 23! Hmm....wonder when it starts in fact! Maybe July 22 is the US release date and it has already been released elsewhere?

[Happygoin]

You just solved a great mystery, Cybee. I knew the actress looked familiar but couldn't think of her name. Kristin Scott Thomas. Good choice. Still don't think I'd make it through the movie though

[suzanne]

That will be a 2 hanky movie for sure.

[Shoesy]

I'll definitely have to see "Sarah's Key". Great book about such a horrific time in history.

[Jody]

I have Sarah's Key pre=ordered at Netflix. I doubt I'd make it thru the movie in a theatre. I cried at the book , can't imagine making it dry-eyed thru the movie

[Happygoin]

Well, it's settled then. We definitely can't make an OPF date to go see Sarah's Key together. It would surely be a blubberfest.

[phread]

Sarah's Key is already available on DVD in Paris, came out ages ago. Wonder if they edited it for US audiences, or took longer to sell the rights, hmmmm.......

[holger]

I am with Jody. I will wait till I can see it at home where I can pause and calm down when upset. Found the book worth reading but very disturbing.

Sometimes today's news is so miserable that I am getting to the point where I want happy, happy, happy escapism in my reading and my films. Find myself re-reading Jane Austen again.
Would love some books on the same period and type set in France, but in English as my French is not up to that level.

Any suggestions?

[mez]

Jun 20, 2011 7:27:50 GMT -5 Happygoin said:

Well, it's settled then. We definitely can't make an OPF date to go see Sarah's Key together. It would surely be a blubberfest.

I missed seeing Sarah's Key when it was on in theatres here. It was a movie choice on the flight home but knowing it was likely to make me cry, I thought I'd better not risk turning into a blubbering mess at such a high altitude. ;D

I've got a stack of Paris related books that I bought during my trip. I will need to compile a list for you all. I have found that museum gift shops are great places to find such books.

[Happygoin]

Mez, you just reminded me. I bought a paperback called Wine and War for the plane ride home in January. It was a perfect diversion on the plane. I'm not even a fan of wine, but it was a fun read; part adventure, part war story.

[mossie]

Now reading a birthday present, "Empire of the Clouds" by James Hamilton-Paterson. This tells the story of the glory days of the British aircraft industry from 1945 until it died in the early 1960s.

He begins with the Farnborough crash of the DH 110 in Sept 1952, which cost me my first serious girl friend. Over 20 were killed and about 70 injured, and, while she was not hurt, she was there and saw it all, so I guess mad flying fools like me went right off the agenda. To put it in perspective, at the time I was serving on a night fighter squadron in Egypt.

I'm afraid my lunchtime dose of red wine (purely medicinal oc course) has got the better of me ;D ;D

[geordy]

Currently reading "Blood, Bones, & Butter" by Gabrielle Hamilton....a very different Chef's story! She is the owner/chef of a small place in the East Village ..Prune..her childhood nickname.

Her Mother was French..she married an Italiian....interesting story! Must read for foodies/resto lovers!

I'm now interested in the book.."A Girl's War" about Operation Pied Piper in England during WWII..currently featured on Bon Jour Paris.

The author was one of the children sent out of London to live with unknown families in the supposedly safer countryside.

[btrflyrfree]

For those of you who haven't as yet read "The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais, I highly recommend it. The story of a culinary family from Bombay to London to Paris and the South of France. Wonderful descriptions of the foods, you can almost smell them and the travels make you feel like you are there. A story of hardship and ultimately one's destiny.