|
|
Post by Happygoin on Nov 11, 2012 18:35:16 GMT -5
Some of you might enjoy reading A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead.
It's a non-fiction about 230 French women, arrested for participating in the Resistance during WWII, who were shipped off to camps. Most never came home. It's pretty graphic and intense, but what a read!
|
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Nov 11, 2012 18:48:15 GMT -5
Some of you might enjoy reading A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead. It's a non-fiction about 230 French women, arrested for participating in the Resistance during WWII, who were shipped off to camps. Most never came home. It's pretty graphic and intense, but what a read! ancin Very intense Happy....what those women endured !And so few survived. On a totally different note just got Joie de Vivre Secrets of Wining, Dining and Romancing Like the French from the Library. Will have to hild me awhile... |
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 24, 2012 8:54:08 GMT -5
Currently reading "The Fall of Paris", subtitled "the Siege and the Commune 1870-71", by Alastair Horne. A fascinating account of this momentous period of Paris' history.
Foodies please look away now as I quote a piece from the chapter headed Hunger.
" A man he had met was fattening up a huge cat which he meant to serve up on Christmas Day, surrounded with mice, like sausages"
|
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Nov 24, 2012 11:27:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on Nov 24, 2012 16:17:25 GMT -5
Oh. My. I wonder how hungry I'd have to be to get to that level? Hope I don't ever have to find out.
|
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 25, 2012 9:44:14 GMT -5
Just to lighten this up I'll now quote from a few pages later. Note that this is dealing with the siege by the Prussians in 1870 when they were trying to starve Paris into submission. This piece refers to the fact that the rich can always find ways and means.
"A fabulous dinner .... just two weeks before the capitulation. 'Domestics in breeches and silk hose served us foies gras truffles, filets of steak of real beef-no Jardin des Plantes hippopotamus-enormous Argenteuil asparagus, grapes from Thomery that had escaped Prussian surveillance, and buckets of the finest champagne'"
The hippo refers to the fact that the zoo animals were bought up by butchers to sell to their favoured clients
And the occasion celebrated "the installation of a new mistress". Must get the priorities right. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Nov 25, 2012 15:56:39 GMT -5
Jeez Mossie...I thought you were going to redeem yourself with talk of foie gras and truffles. But then you told us what the feast was for...  I found myself and a girlfriend rummaging around a wonderful consignment shop (one step removed from the lowly junk shop  ) and I found a wonderful old copy of a set of books by Henri Michel. They were titled simply World War II. The lady wanted $15 but I found a Tiffany cheese knife and a wonderful old cookie tin to add to my collection, so the books will have to wait til next time. But they looked wonderful! |
|
|
|
Post by jo on Jan 7, 2013 6:52:00 GMT -5
Just spent a week in Cuba lazing on the beach and reading ~ 1000 years of annoying the French by Stephen Clark ~ meh, ok, but not laugh out loud funny as his Merde books. I'm 3/4 of the way through David McCullough's book and am LOVING IT!! He really makes history come alive and I am fascinated by all that I am learning about Paris' history and how many Americans came to make their mark during that time. Highly recommended!
Jo
|
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Jan 7, 2013 9:55:25 GMT -5
Yup, Jo...that was a good one, for sure! I don't know if I posted it here or not, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself: David McCullough lives in Boston. He is a much loved figure who can regularly be seen walking through and around the Boston Common. He is delighted when people recognize him and will happily stop to chat. I'm guessing that his shock of white hair makes him easily recognizable  |
|
|
|
Post by cigalechanta on Jan 7, 2013 11:20:57 GMT -5
I'm reading Stuff Pariseans Like. The author is the Frenchman who has the wine tastings at
Chateau O. I've preordered Cara Black's latest book.
|
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Feb 2, 2013 9:12:33 GMT -5
Picked up a copy of "Petite Francaise" in a charity shop and devoured it in a day and a half.
Doesn't half add to the PDP, she describes walking across the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and down Av Laumiere and other places I know well. It is obvious she knows the area better than I do, cannot wait to be back there in March.
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on Feb 2, 2013 10:41:03 GMT -5
I can't believe we're missing you by just a few days, Mossie! We fly home on the 17th.
|
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Feb 2, 2013 15:09:24 GMT -5
Yes, Annette, that is a real pity, I would love to meet you and Darryl again.
I realised later that I had made a big booboo over my book title. It is really "Petite Anglaise" and she wrote the blog of the same name. A girly book really but I was taken by the fact that she knew Belleville intimately
|
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Feb 2, 2013 16:37:20 GMT -5
Peter. the March issue of france Today has a big section on Belleville. I thought of you Can you get it in the UK if not I'll send a copy if you PM your address!
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on Feb 2, 2013 17:30:08 GMT -5
That sounds like a great issue Jody. I'll have to run down to Barnes & Noble. I'd like to spend more time up there. Mossie gave us a little taste when we went on our walk together Mossie, "girlie book" caught my attention...that's right up my alley, I'll check it out! hehe |
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Feb 3, 2013 8:47:41 GMT -5
Peter. the March issue of france Today has a big section on Belleville. I thought of you Can you get it in the UK if not I'll send a copy if you PM your address! That article is going with me Jody! |
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Feb 4, 2013 11:00:02 GMT -5
Thanks for your kind offer Jody, I will check in town when I go tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
Post by cigalechanta on Mar 18, 2013 11:41:56 GMT -5
I'm reading Cara Black's latest book, Murder in Below Montparnasse. The book comes with a postcard to enter a give away of a trip to paris and a tour of the places in the books
with Cara as your guide.
|
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Apr 20, 2013 9:17:20 GMT -5
I just finished "The Painted Girls".. It is a fact based fictionalized story based on the dancer who posed for Degas' "Little Dancer" sculpture and other drawings/paintings.. It is told from the perspective of 2 of 3 impoverished sisters and combined with a real life murder trial of the time...the accused also the subjects of Degas drawings.
Enjoyed it and am heading to the MEt museum today to examine further the "Little Dancer" sculpture there and other Degas!
As well as a repeat visit to the Impressionist Fashion exhibition on view 'til sometime next month.
Now I'm reading the latest Lee Child Reacher book...all caught up with the earlier ones...so will be anxiously awaiting the next!
|
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Apr 20, 2013 9:23:58 GMT -5
I'm just reading Douglas Kennedy's The Woman in the Fifth. Good read and, happily, it all takes place in Paris. |
|
) and I found a wonderful old copy of a set of books by Henri Michel. They were titled simply World War II. The lady wanted $15 but I found a Tiffany cheese knife and a wonderful old cookie tin to add to my collection, so the books will have to wait til next time. But they looked wonderful!
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha