I saw the "Paris in July" challenge the other day on "The Content Reader". "Thyme for Tea" has been hosting a Paris in July challenge for ten years. This is the first time I heard from it. "Brona's Books" also posted about it a couple of days later. If that isn't a sign that I should join, I don't know what is.
Here is the introduction:
"Paris is alluring for so many reasons - the incredible culinary adventures you can have, its lens into history through its architecture and art museums, its walkability and world-class shopping. There is a lot to see and do in Paris and first-timers can have a hard time fitting it all in.
We cant really go to Paris right now, but here we will share many different sides of our love of french things, and Paris.
The aim of the month is, and always has been, to celebrate our French experiences through reading, watching, listening, observing, cooking and eating all things French!
There are no rules or targets in terms of how much you need to do or complete in order to be a part of this experience – just blog about anything French and you can join in! Some ideas 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 (lucky Tamara!)
• Or anything else French inspired you can think of..."
So, I'm looking forward to a virtual trip to Paris with my friends. Here are my plans:
Books
I searched my TBR pile for books that take place in Paris and found the following (I'm probably not going to be reading all three of them in July but I'll start):
Clarke, Stephen "Merde actually" - 2005
McLain, Paula "The Paris Wife" - 2012
Simenon, Georges "Maigret Sets a Trap" (Maigret tend un piège) (Maigret #48) - 1958
Which reminds me, I should probably review the first French book I ever read. Or re-read it soon:
"Bonjour Tristesse" by Françoise Sagan. (Goodreads)
Films
We have a couple of movies on our shelf that we like to watch again and again, I'll put them in alphabetical order since I can't judge which ones are my favourites. I will probably rewatch the Maigret series with Rowan Atkinson again since I haven't seen them that often:
"La Boum" (The Party) and "La Boum 2" (The Party 2) w. Sophie Marceau and Claude Brasseur
"Charade" w. Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant
"Un éléphant ça trompe énormément" (Pardon mon affaire) w. Jean Rochefort and Claude Brasseur
"L'Etudiante" (The Student) w. Sophie Marceau and Vincent Lindon
"French Kiss" w. Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline
"Funny Face" w. Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire
"Gigi" w. Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier and Louis Jourdan
"Maigret" w. Rowan Atkinson:
"Maigret Sets a Trap"
"Maigret's Dead Man"
"Maigret: Night at the Crossroads"
"Maigret in Montmartre"
Music
One of my favourite French singers is Jacques Brel. I know, he's not French but he's lived there for a long time. I also love Georges Moustaki and several other singers from that genre and time. So, I'll probably get out my old CDs and listen to them during the month.
Art
Monet is one of my favourite artists, so I'll check out my art books and souvenirs I brought home from several visits to museums and Monet exhibitions.
If you are looking for more books about France, have a look here.
My Paris in July posts this year:
Eyewitness Guide Paris
Maps
Books:
de Brunhoff, Jean "The Story of Babar" (Histoire de Babar le petit éléphant) - 1934
Simenon, Georges "Maigret Sets a Trap" (Maigret #48) (Maigret tend un piège) - 1958
McLain, Paula "The Paris Wife" - 2012
Clarke, Stephen "Merde actually" - 2005
And for my other Paris in July years, see here.
🇫🇷 Paris in July 2022 🇫🇷
Great choices for Paris in July. Maigret is always good, and I loved The Paris Wife. My review here: https://thecontentreader.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-paris-wife-by-paula-mclain.html
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to see what you are 'cooking' up for the month.
Ooooh, thanks for that, Lisbeth. I am definitely looking forward to reading all of them. Whether I will manage that in July, I doubt it, but they have come to the top of my TBR list. Thanks for the link, I will definitely come back to it once I've read the book.
DeleteI'm looking forward to experiencing Paris with other readers, I'm sure there will be a lot to learn.
Have a good weekend.
Bonjour Tristesse is a really good choice!! I like your lists of books & films a lot. I’m looking for books that are written in French by French people, which has been my goal for Paris in July for a few years.
ReplyDeletebest… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
You won't get very lucky with my choices this year, then, Mae. But I will try to do better next year. I have only just discovered this and love it, but I didn't have any books left on my TBR that would fit the description (I'd have preferred that, as well.
DeleteAnyway, looking forward to what you've been coming up. Thanks for coming.
Marianne, so pleased you're joining us this year. Your collection of movies and books look exciting. I've only seen one of your choosen films, so looking forward to hearing more about them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tamara, I loved seeing the challenge, don't know why I haven't seen it before.
DeleteWould you mind telling me which one of the films you've seen?
We have a copy of the DVD of l'etudiant en franchise. And I love Audrey and have her movies too.
DeleteI see, nice. Thanks, Tamara.
DeleteI also have them all on DVD, love watching them in the original but can only do that when hubby doesn't want to watch it with me (only the French ones, his English is perfect). Still, they're also not too bad translated but it loses something, even worse than with translated books.
I'll be thinking about you when I watch any of them this month.
Paris in July. How lovely! A trip to Paris isn't complete without visiting la Tour Eiffel! Here's a link to a view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lectrice. You are so right. Every time I visit Paris, I have to go and see it. Not that you could avoid it altogether if you wanted to, LOL. But I'm looking forward to your link. Thanks for that.
DeleteGlad you'll be joining us in Paris next month... and you've got some excellent choices lined up. I enjoyed The Paris Wife on audio and thought Bonjour Tristesse was a perfect Paris in July treat!
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnn. It's nice to hear that others liked my choices. I must admit "The Paris Wife" has been on my TBR pile for a long time (but it is huuuuge), so I'm looking forward to reading it soon.
DeleteThanks for your visit.
It is just wonderful to escape into Paris…or anything French these days.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately “Les Bleus” were outclassed in European Championship by Switzerland…but wow what a game and HUGE upset!
Movies: loved your list and would add 2 films I will watch this week: “J’Accuse” (Roman Polanski) and L’Amant (great book by Marguerite Duras)
Books: Not a fan om Maigret….I’m selecting a modern writer of CF/thrillers Franck Thilliez (see Google)
Hope to read many of your blogposts in July!
True. I'ts lovely to escape anywhere. I would love Amsterdam and Brussels at the moment because that*s where my sons live. But I would take the opportunity to go to Paris, as well. I love that city.
DeleteI'm not much into football, so usually I cheer for the smaller countries. LOL But yes, I guess they all have to wear mourning clothes now. As they do in my country, Germany, since yesterday. Well, there are worse things.
Thank you for visiting and for the suggestions. Always lovely to see. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of crime stories overall but we watched the Maigret adaptations with Rowan Atkinson and absolutely loved them. He is the opposite of Mr. Bean. His non-funny films show even more what a fantastic actor he is.
You would expect me to participate in this event, but I have rarely done so in 10 years, not sure why.
ReplyDeleteThis month, I'm actually reading/listening to three French books: https://wordsandpeace.com/2021/07/02/the-top-7-books-to-read-in-july-2021/
I loved Moustaki too! So glad you are going to discover Maigret, in writing and film. With one of my French students, I have recently read the first nine in the series (out of 75!!)
I highly recommend this historical fiction on Monet: https://francebooktours.com/2021/03/15/joe-byrd-on-tour-monet-and-oscar/
Enjoy your time in Paris!
Thank you so much, Emma. True, I thought about you right away when I saw the challenge.
DeleteI saw the books you are reading this month, totally interesting. Thanks for repeating the link, so others can have a look, as well.
I have seen the Maigret films with Rowan Atkinson, just want to revisit them. But I have yet to read them, I don't read crime stories much but couldn't resist when I found this one, the first from the films.
And I've heard of the one on Monet, it's on my wishlist, should be great.
So many wonderful recommendations, thanks.