Are you ready for Lesson 8 in L’anglais sans peine (English Without Pain)? If you missed my Lesson 1 blog post, see it here as well as read about what English Without Pain is.

Here’s lesson 8: I have a surprise for you in my pocket…

Am I the only one who thinks this is absolutely hilarious?!

French people over the age of 45 or so, who’ve tried to study English, will all be able to say “My tailor is rich.” Some might not be able to say much more than that, but by God they can at least say that and that might come in handy…some day! I’ve met many people who’ve proudly recited this line to me. I never know how to respond.

This most absurd and utterly useless phrase is the very first lesson from a book called, L’anglais sans peine (English Without Pain). It’s a book that a lot of French people owned, and I recently found it at my in-laws! My dad in law can’t say too much more than “my tailor is rich.” How many more times will we all laugh when he says that to me? I don’t know.

The book is pure gold in its datedness, silliness and just plain wrongness and it’s something I must share here, albeit in little blog posts.

Here’s the cartoon that goes with lesson Number 1: My Tailor is Rich. From where the author pulled this out of, I can’t say.

More to follow I hope.

We barely watched any of the Winter Olympics this year but did catch a few minutes of the biathlon (target shooting, cross country skiing) one night. The French athlete, 23 year-old Vincent Jay had apparently been in the lead for a long time and remained in first place as the race continued. Then, my sweetie says, “He’s going to crack and lose.” Me: “Wha? Don’t you want him to win?” “Yeah, but he’s going to lose. I know it and everyone in France watching right now are saying the same thing.” Me: “They said he just won the gold medal yesterday.” Him: “He got lucky. The French ALWAYS lose.” Me: “No they don’t.” Him: “Yes they do.” Me: “Where is your Olympic spirit!? I want him to win! You know, this collective Franco-negativity consciousness is going to MAKE him lose.” Him: “Wish all you want, It ain’t gonna happen.”

It turned out in the end Jay dropped to third right before the finish, but at least won the bronze medal. Him: “See, I told you. The French choke in the end.” Me: “!!!” Him: “You should’ve known.” Me: “Living here this long, I’ll eat pizza with a fork and knife, and I’ll drink morning coffee from a bowl, but expect failure without exception? NO.” Him: “What can I say? C’est plus fort que moi.”

This was another one of many clashes of cultures we experience: American Optimism (realistic or not) vs. The Undying French Pessimism (among other things). I call it “Ces impossibles Français,” which happens to be the name of a book recently released. I had to get it once I heard about it, although I haven’t gotten too much into it yet. Written by a French Canadian (Louis-Bernard Robitaille) who has been living in France for over 30 years now, it promises to be a light-hearted, warm and funny read, I think particularly for expats living with an impossible Français, or any expat living in France. Note: The book’s in French.

Boudin noir? Poulet rôti? Moules Frites? Un moelleux au chocolat? How ’bout some foie gras or a nice juicy côte de boeuf? I know you’ve been dying for a tête de veau, haven’t you? When you travel all the way to Paris, does it ever occur to you to hit the pavement in search of a croque monsieur? I mean, a really, really good croque monsieur? Well, the best one in Paris has truffles in it. I would travel all the way to Paris for that. If it was really exceptional, I wouldn’t even mind if it didn’t have any truffles. At the same time, I can’t imagine going to a fancy restaurant for a croque monsieur but hey, the best club sandwich in Paris is supposedly from Georges V, and I bet it is not a bon marché. I wouldn’t want to pay too much for a club sandwich, but my sweetie probably would. He LOVES club sammiches. Anyway, on to the book.

Je me ferais bien un… is a new Paris restaurant guide book in French written by Valérie Expert and Véronique André, and is a little different from most other Paris restaurant guides. The authors made it a mission to try a significant number of restaurants (they say they tried them all but c’mon) in Paris to find the best places for the French’s 52 most favorite foods and dishes suitable for all budgets. So in many cases you can choose a dish or dessert, for example, and find the best couscous from a fancy restaurant, a mid-range bistro or a budget restaurant.

The book is organized in alphabetical order. So during those times when you say to yourself, “Je me ferais bien un… / I feel like a…” just look for the dish in the book you feel like eating then go from there. We can’t wait to try out the recommendations! Will their listings for the best hamburger pass our test? We will see about that. Oui, by the way, the hamburger is apparently a favorite among the French.

Here’s the list of dishes included in the book, if you were wondering: andouillette, assiette de légumes, baba, bar, blanquette de veau, boudin noir, caesar salad, cassoulet, choucroute, club sandwich, côte de boeuf, couscous, crêpes, croque-monsieur, eclairs/religieuses, foie de veau, foie gras, gambas, gigot d’agneau, gibier, hachis parmentier, hamburger, île flottante, langoustines, magret de canard, mille-feuille, moelleux au chocolat, moules-frites, os à moelle, oeuf/omelette, paris-brest, pâtes, petit salé aux lentilles, pigeon, pieds de porc grillés, pizza, plateau de fruits de mer, poulet roti, pot-au-feu, raie, risotto, ris de veau, salade thaï, sole, soufflé, sushi/sashimi, souple chinoise, tapas, tartare, tarte au pommes, tête de veau, truffe.

Je me ferais bien un…

From newsweek:

“This week brought the release of the new Michelin Red Guide, prompting foodies to run and see which chefs had been awarded stars—the top honor in restaurant criticism.

The guide, whose English edition arrives mid-May, sells 1.3 million copies a year in its various editions.

Its star system rewards expensive restaurants, of course. But the guide also has a lesser-known rating for affordable restaurants. Toward the back of the guide, there’s the “Bib Gourmand” section in which Michelin recognizes places that offer excellent three-course meals for less than €35 ($44) each.

This year, 47 Paris restos are on the Bib Gourmand list—a record. Many of these spots are new additions to the list. My favorites include:

• Le Baratin,, 3 rue Jouye Rouve, 20th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-49-39-70

• Le Bistrot Paul Bert, 18 rue Paul Bert, 11th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-72-24-01

• La Cantine du Troquet, 101 rue de l’Ouest, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-45-40-04-98.

• L’Entêtée, 4 rue Danville, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-40-47-56-81

The above restaurants are not open every day of the week, so call ahead to confirm and to see if reservations are needed.”

More about The Michelin Red Guide France 2009

From france24.com:

“America’s most famous French bookstore will close its doors this year after 73 years in business, unable to bear a staggering rent increase in New York’s Rockefeller Center.

Outside the Librairie de France, hordes of tourists take pictures of the Center, its ice-skating rink and tree, but inside one of the first retail tenants, the shelves are slowly emptied of books.

The reason for closing this venerable institution located at one of America’s most cherished retail addresses is a simple, albeit familiar one: the rent, which is due in September, is rising, from 360,000 dollars to a million dollars per year.

Online book sales at bargain prices and declining interest in foreign-language books have also affected the landmark Fifth Avenue business.

And in another sign of the times, most shoppers these days come to the area in search of clothes, cosmetics or electronics.

“Of course, we sell for 20 dollars a book that costs five euros (seven dollars) in Paris, but there are also shipping fees for online orders,” says Emmanuel Molho, who manages the family-run bookstore with his two children.

“No, what changed is the whole bookstore culture and the Rockefeller Center has become no more than just a commercial center…”

tags: france, french, sad, french bookstore, new york

Molho’s father, Isaac, immigrated to the United States in 1928 after he attended a French school in Athens and met officials from major French publishing house Hachette in Paris.

Isaac Molho opened his bookstore in 1935 at the invitation of the Rockefeller family, who wanted Europeans to occupy retail space in the extraordinary new building complex developed by the oil tycoon and real estate magnate John D. Rockefeller Jr.

During World War II, the bookstore also ran a publishing house, La Maison Francaise, that published authors fleeing Nazism such as Andre Maurois, Jules Romains and “The Little Prince” writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

“My uncle would print the books,” Emmanuel Molho told AFP. The mock-ups were imitations of the “collection blanche,” or white collection of French publishing giant Gallimard.

“The 1960s were the most glorious years. French was in fashion, we had 50 employees and we imported two tonnes of books every week.”

People came here to talk literature and buy books, Molho recalled. “The clients were American Francophiles, visiting Latin American francophones. They stayed to chat. At the time, we imported at least 3,000 copies of the latest Goncourt (French literature) prize winner. Today, it’s a few dozen at most.”

In 1993, Molho closed another French bookstore he maintained in southern Manhattan, and a year later he shuttered another one in Los Angeles.

France, he said, gave him the cold shoulder despite the letters he sent to French culture minister Christine Albanel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who dined at Rockefeller Center in September but did not stop by the bookstore.

On top of the declining popularity of French-language books, the coup de grace came with staggering rent hikes. In 1980, half of the store’s well-established space went to French cosmetics company L’Occitane.

Today, a few treasures can still be found in the basement: books that are out of print, old Michelin tour guides or women’s fashion pages published in Paris in the 1920s.

Molho plans to retire in New York or perhaps take up piano, delegating to his daughter the task of taking the family business online.” Link

tags: france, french, sad, french bookstore, new york

From time.com:

“Francophobes who cast all French as neurotically hostile to anything foreign would be wise to upgrade their perceptions. Last week, the supposed champions of shrill nationalism responded with a Gallic shrug to the news that France’s legendary Michelin guide will be edited by a German. The clichéd image of France as a bastion of macho swagger took a beating as well: the bible’s new boss is a woman.

The few French press accounts that did appear stuck to Michelin’s own rather laconic communiqué announcing the appointment of German executive…” continue reading

Remember the book, Comment Chier dans le bois (How to Shit in the Woods)? How could you forget? Was camping not your cup of tea? That’s ok because now you can read Comment chier au bureau (How to take a sh*t at work). A quirky, humorous lesson book written anonymously by two office workers. Ok, written by “Mats and Enzo,” which sounds like the names of their dogs or cats. This silly book is 144 pages filled with tips, strategies and rules to respect in the bathroom at work, which can help, in fact, advance employees’ careers!

Comment chier au bureau will be available at amazon.fr on November 10.

tags: france, french, comment chier au bureau, Mats et Enzo

From the luxurypropertyblog:

“A lot of movie fans travel to see the filming site of their favorite flick. And Chateau de Villette is no exception. Many fans of The Da Vinci Code movie starring Tom Hanks have visited this 185 estate about 35 minutes northwest of Paris. It was featured as Sir Leigh Teabing’s home. (Teabing was played by Ian McKellan.)

And it’s for sale for an undisclosed amount.

The main house has eleven bedrooms and bathrooms (with 18 beds and 17 baths total), all of which were remodeled within the last 10 years, according to public information. The Chateau was designed by architect Francois Mansart in 1668 for Louis XIV’s Venetian ambassador. The gardens were designed by Le Notre and spread out behind the home.

Villette is considered on of the most significant historical chateaux in France. It was designed around the same time as Versailles, earning it the nickname “Le Petite Versailles.” The dining room features an original 17th-century carved stone buffet and the limestone entry hall harkens back to the 17th century as well. The gourmet kitchen was installed in 2001. It also has two service kitchens and a banquet room.

And if that’s not enough, it has a gym, billiard room, library, music salon, and a grand staircase. The property also boasts a chapel and reception room for hosting weddings, a greenhouse, and horse stables. Many more modern amenities have been added to the property as well: wireless internet, a swimming pool, a tennis court. It basically has just about everything you could want. Including plenty of privacy. Gee, why didn’t Brad and Angelina just buy it instead of renting someplace else?” [source]

tags: france, french, Chateau de Villette, Da Vinci Code, luxury property in france

Monsieur le président must be a money magnet because the same publishers (Pascal Petiot Editions) of the famous Sarkozy Voodoo Doll is ready to release a book of games based on the presidential couple, and their history. In this book of games you’ll find puzzles and games filled with funny and playful references and anecdotes of Nicolas and Carla, etal. I bet you can’t wait to get your hands on this, can you? You’ll have to wait ’til next Monday. It’ll be available on November 6 for 8.5 euros.

[source]

tags: france, french, sarkozy voodoo doll, Pascal Petiot Editions, cahier de jeux de Nicolas et Carla, carla bruni

According to an advice author French women don’t sleep alone because they have a knack for attracting men. Apparently, American women don’t have this knack. Um. Ok.

From topnews:

French women have “an effortless gift for attracting men” that American ladies lack and need to learn, says author Jamie Cat Callan, in her forthcoming advice book.

In her “ French Women Don’t Sleep Alone”, which is due to hit the shelves in March, the writer tries to guide American ladies to learn from their French rivals who have a natural flair of pulling men.

“French women don”t listen to Dr. Phil”s advice,” the New York Post quoted Callan, as saying in the book.

It said: “They don”t worry about the care and feeding of their boyfriends . . . American women are trying too hard – and the results have been grim.

“On the contrary, French women”s love lives are romantic, sensual, playful, complicated, intense and positively epic.”

tags: france, books, french, French Women Don’t Sleep Alone

My book arrived in the mail today! A French expressions dictionary is perfect for my lack of attention span these days. Just open up a random page and learn something quickly. And voilà, quoi.

Some of the first items we fell upon were unknown to my sweetie, so there’s a good chance that many expressions in this book will not be that practical because even French people aren’t familiar with them. However, there are definitely some silly ones, good for a laugh. Here’s one I thought was fun, and like many French expressions, involves food.

avoir le persil qui dépasse du cabas – to have parsley overflowing from a basket (or grocery bag) – means that your pubic hair is exposed (because your bathing suit is too small or you haven’t shaved depending on your perspective). Example: Je ne peux pas aller à la piscine, j’ai le persil qui dépasse du cabas ! (I can’t go to the pool because my pubic hair is showing! (or because I haven’t shaved!))

tags: france, french, french expressions, parsley, pubic hair

I was recently at a dinner party and someone recommended that I get some DVDs of Raymond Devos, a famous stand-up comedian (as well as a humorist, clown and “fake” Belgian). She thought I’d really enjoy his humor. Immediately, another person in the group blurted, “She’s not going to understand that!” and continues, “there are too many expressions that will just go past her.”

Obviously, I didn’t appreciate his asinine comment at all. Admittedly, he may have been right about what he said, but he shouldn’t have said that JACKASS comment out loud. What a jerk.

He is now on my HATE list.

Anyway, last night on the news, they announced the release of a new dictionary called, On va le dire comme ca, and I had to get it! I just ordered it even though it is 30 euros. It’s sort of the first of its kind, apparently, and explains 5000 French expressions and sayings (in French). As a non-native French speaker who is always trying to learn new words and expressions, this kind of information comes slowly, and painfully, like in conversations. And it doesn’t help when I immediately forget what they mean.

With this dictionary, it’ll be nice to have most if not all expressions I’ll ever come across, conveniently located in one book.

tags: france, french, dictionary, french expressions, unpleasant dinner guests

Tired of shlepping your guide books around Paris? If you have an iPhone, you might want look into Frommer’s Paris Guide, which fits nicely on your favorite mobile phone from Apple. This is basically the hard copy guide book, but in a digital and more convenient format.

While we’re on the subject of i-things, Apple is rumored to be announcing new iPods next Tuesday, September 9, so keep an eye out for that. By the way, iPod Touches are basically iPhones without the phone (but with internet), so most (if not all) iPhone apps should be able to work on these.

Frommer’s Paris iPhone App (You must have iTunes installed on your Mac or PC to view this)

tags: france, paris travel, travel guides, frommers, iphone apps

Nature et Decouverte, a French equivalent of The Nature Company, sure knows how to get your attention. While we were waiting at the cash register, we laughed at this book, displayed right at the entrance of the store. The book is called, Comment chier dans les bois, which means, “How to Shit in the Woods.” Yeah, we were tempted to get it but realized we already know how to do so.

Actually, it’s a book pour une approche environnementale d’un art perdu. that takes an environmental approach to a lost art.

Makes me wonder about how many are sold based on shock value.

tags: france books comment chier dans les bois green

Remember recently how the media was reporting that France was heading for U.S. obesity levels? Well. It has arrived. I saw this store for large sizes 44 to 52, which is alarmingly huge. We’re used to seeing these stores in the U.S. where obesity is commonplace and has been for decades, but in France, it’s fairly new. I hope it’s a temporary thing.

I like that the French stores take a more “soft” and kind approach, and never say, “larger,” “bigger” or even “plus” sizes – even if they are for overweight and obese people. Toscan is a spinoff from Armand Thiery, but when we were shopping at H&M in this very same mall (Cap Sud) in Avignon, they had a large size section, which is relatively new.

What does this mean about France?

1. People are FAT! And are getting fatter! 42% of French women are overweight. The rate of adult obesity is 25%. With children, there was an overall overweight and obesity prevalence of 17.8%, with an overweight and obesity prevalence of 25.3% in boys and 16.5% in girls aged 11-14 years and 16.7% for boys and 16.5% for girls in the 15-17 year age group (from a 2007 study). 

2. The French can no longer indulge in disdain toward the U.S. when it comes to obesity. Don’t they LOVE to show supersize, bulging, ripply, jiggly Americans on TV!? That’s over, TF1.

3. French people are beginning to eat more processed foods. The weak buying power has forced many people to shop the center of the supermarket – meaning, the cheaper but more caloric items versus the fresh foods, which are found in the periphery of the market that are more expensive, less caloric but more healthful.

4. There is a need to monitor what kinds of foods get imported into France. Example, do they need to bring in GMO cereals ladened with corn syrup, trans fats, and other (as Michael Pollan likes to call them,) “food-like substances”? This is the government’s role: to protect its citizens.

5.  Risk Factors associated with obesity – will increase health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure in adults and children. This will also decrease the overall lifespan of the French.

tags: france obesity big sizes fat french

Jumping on the e-reading bandwagon like Kindle (except without a keyboard), Orange and partners Le Monde, Le Parisien, Les Echos, L’Equipe and Télérama are joining together to offer a wireless, touch screen mobile e-newspaper reader that resembles a flat, black Etch a Sketch (sans knobs). They are still testing the product.

The Read&Go has a storage capacity of 1 Gb – more than 200 newspapers – and also contains a e-library of thirty or so books (literature, comic strips, children’s and practical publications, etc.) provided by Feedbooks, Médiatoon (Dargaud, Dupuis, Lombard et Kana) and Mango editions.

I’m still waiting for an e-reader for my Nintendo DS. I’d use that!

More info here (pdf)

[via]

Tags: france, orange, e-reader, kindle, newspapers, wifi, touchscreen

Just released! These Moleskine Van Gogh Special Edition Sketch Books are normally only available at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam but now you can get them at Amazon.

Just like the Moleskine notebooks that famous artists uses, each book is covered in colored silk and features 40 sheets of heavy duty off-white drawing paper. The trademark Moleskine pocket is in the back cover and there is a sturdy elastic band that holds the book closed when not in use.

Get one now:

Moleskine Van Gogh Special Edition Sketch Books

About Moleskine and related links:
Moleskine Notebooks are French Again
Sketched Paris Guide Book
2008 Limited Edition Moleskines are Out!
Sketched Paris Guidebook Part Deux

If you stroll through the Palais-Royal in Paris you’ll come across the shiny metallic fountain sculptures of Pol Bury, which are a welcoming sight and a nice example of old and new blending well with each other. However, you then stumble upon something else that only a crazed artist obsessed with black and white stripes could only dream of. Oui, I’m talking about the 260 striped marble pillars, which are part of a permanent sculpture installation at the Palais-Royal’s open courtyard where there previously was a parking lot. They sort of slap you in the face and leave welts of black and white on you. Forever.

You can thank contemporary artist, Daniel Buren, aka The Stripe Guy, for that striping striking monochrome art. You can also send a merci to Francois Mitterand, (may he rest …where ever he’s resting) – for having commissioned The Stripe Guy’s columns in 1985. Named Les Deux Plateaux (the two levels), it has a underground level covered by metal grilles. On this level water is supposed to flow and at night the columns/pillars are meant to be illuminated by floodlights. The upper columns are on the street level in the south courtyard.

Today, the lights don’t work and there is no water flowing happily beneath. In fact the water stopped about seven years ago. Instead of water, there’s trash. The Stripe Guy is not happy about this! He’s accused the French government of vandalizing his work with neglect and the pillars are dingy which makes the contrast of black and white less striping striking. Daniel Buren would like Les Deux Plateaux dismantled, as it’s really only half an art piece, with the working half in a state of disrepair. Dismantling it would cost about the same as restoring it (about € 3 million) but if restored, it would need regular maintenance. Is it worth it?

Ok, ok. So I’m not a huge fan. But, I do like how it looks from Google Earth.

Related: books: Daniel Buren by Daniel Buren (release date March 1), Daniel Buren, slideshow of the work-in-progress

Some are calling Kindle an amazing reading device from Amazon, but others, like French Designer Philippe Starck, have some issues with its design. I hate to admit it (seeing that Philippe Starck designed this) but I don’t find this digital book reader a very pretty designed gadget either. Watch the video here.

More about Kindle

A French court ruled that Amazon.fr must stop its free delivery.

The court gave Amazon 10 days to start charging for the delivery of books, which should at least allow the company to maintain the offer through the end-of-year gift-giving season. After that, it must pay a fine of €1,000 (US$1,470) per day that it continues to offer free delivery. It must also pay €100,000 in compensation to the booksellers’ union.

Retail prices, particularly of books, are tightly regulated in France. (read the article from MacWorld)

A Sidenote: Amazon France offers books in English!

We finally got around to seeing Ratatouille, which I think was one of Pixar’s best works on a variety of levels. But all-in-all, it’s essentially a very cute, heart-warm-and-fuzzy story with amazing production value.Now I (sort of) realize why the popularity of pet rats has exploded in France. Elsewhere too, I imagine. Eiuw, though.

Anyway, since it’s gift giving time, here’s another suggestion for a nice alternative to getting the DVD of Ratatouille.

How about getting instead: The Art of Ratatouille for the Ratatouille fan who is more artistically inclined? Perfect for someone who wants to take a peek behind the scenes.

The Art of Ratatouille includes more than 200 storyboards, full-color pastels, digital and pencil sketches, character studies, maquettes, etc. Also, quotes from the director, artists, animators, and production team reveal the genius at work inside the studio.

Note: There’s also a Limited Edition of The Art of Ratatouille for collectors.

These unique walking tour books will make great holiday gifts for the people passionate about Paris, its architecture, and history and who are interested in exploring places where famous writers, painters, kings and queens hung out in the City of Light.

Walks Through Napoleon & Josephine’s Paris allows you to see the Paris of today and yesterday, simultaneously. Not only can you visit some of the same shops and restaurants that the Emperor and Empress used to frequent, but you will also find yourself being sidetracked (time and time again) by other historical sites and famous places of today that you will inevitably pass along the way.

Walks Through Marie Antoinette’s Paris has photos that you may not have seen anywhere else, the information about Marie Antoinette is a history enthusiast’s treat. The size of the book, which adds to it’s charm, is suitable to take with you as it guides you along in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette.

The Impressionists’ Paris: Walking Tours of the Artists’ Studios, Homes, and the Sites They Painted allows travelers to venture beyond the museum walls and trace the footsteps of these great artists, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Edouard Manet, just to name a few. Three city walking tours–surprisingly manageable considering the city’s size–cover not only the sites depicted in many of their paintings, but also the studios in which they worked, the buildings where they lived, and–this being Paris–the cafes in which they gathered.

The Historic Restaurants of Paris: A Guide to Century-Old Cafes, Bistros, and Gourmet Food Shops First sentence of the book: Marcel Proust, who was transported back to childhood with the taste of a tea cake known as a madeleine, was among the early regular customers at this chic salon de the that faces the Tuileries Gardens…

Walks In Hemingway’s Paris: A Guide To Paris For The Literary Traveler 7 walks take the reader to every Hemingway (and Fitzgerald) site in Paris. The walks include wonderful quotations from many of Hemingway’s novels, short stories, and his memoir of Paris.

Picasso’s Paris: Walking Tours of the Artist’s Life in the City Pablo Picasso’s presence still can be felt in Paris. Four walking tours follow the painter from the gaslit garrets of fin-de-siècle Montmartre to the Left Bank quarter where he sat out the Nazi Occupation. Both art book and travel guide, this pocketable volume identifies the sites where Picasso created some of his best-known masterpieces and describes his celebrated circle of friends, among them Gertrude Stein, Henri Matisse, Jean Cocteau, and Coco Chanel.

Literary Cafes of Paris Away from the tourist throngs, the reader can people watch and sip for literally hours reflecting upon Hemingway at the Brasserie Lipp, Picasso at the Cafe de Flore, Shirer at the Brasserie Balzar and so much more.

Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris chronicles Paris’s great periods of urban reconstruction through four walking tours. With a special focus on the work of Georges-Eugene Haussmann, this book provides a history of each site along with the motives behind the urban redesign and the reactions of Parisians who witnessed it. Detailed maps take you through a city whose changes were captured by photographers and artists in each stage. Hundreds of color photos, diagrams, and engravings splendidly survey the massive transformation that resulted in the Paris of today.

Quiet Corners of Paris 81 often overlooked, always beautiful, locales: hidden villas, winding lanes, little-known 19th-century passages, serene gardens, and cobblestone courtyards. Some of the places have breathtaking views, others are filled with historic and architectural details, from stone archways, garden follies, boxwood mazes, ornamental statuary, stained glass, and Renaissance fountains.

It’s already December, which means you have a couple of weeks to get in all of your holiday shopping. I don’t mean to nag, but you should do that now, unless you like doing that last minute crazy psycho shopper madness. Since this is a site about France, I’ll be suggesting France/French related items. Here’s Part I. I got this idea from my very good friend’s 5 year old daughter, who fell madly in love with Paris and France after reading the classic children’s book, Madeline. I started looking for other books and DVDs about France for kids and came up with these:

This is Paris This is Paris takes kids on a really fun tour of famous buildings, beautiful gardens, cafés, and the Parisians-artists, and even thousands of cats. Young readers will travel along the banks of the Seine, through the galleries of the Louvre, and to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

The Little Prince Fun and Adventure Inspired by the famous tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, kids will discover a whole galaxy of board games, mazes, connect-the-dot puzzles, finger puppets, masks, coloring pages, and more activities – all the while learning about everyone’s favorite little prince.

Postmark Paris: A Story in Stamps Ten-year-old Leslie tells her story of living in Paris for a year, illustrating this appealing odyssey with postage stamps.

Monsieur Saguette and His Baguette Monsieur Saguette, on the way home, transforms his ordinary baguette into something extraordinary. (No matter how tempting it is to find an innuendo here, just remember this is really a kids story…)

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet A great way to introduce kids to famous artists, this is a story about a little girl who thinks that Monet is the gardener and is immersed in his gardens at Giverny.

The Truffle Hunter The story of an inept pig who is abandoned in the forest where she finds true love in the form of Raoul, a wild boar. Raoul teaches her the lost art of truffling, whereupon she returns to her home with a fine chef. But she has also learned the value of freedom.With charming style the book tells of problems that reveal hidden opportunities.

The Cat Who Walked Across France A cute cat in France travels through lavendar fields, palatial castles, canals, Paris and beyond.

Anatole A bicycle riding Parisian mouse named Anatole makes his living by tasting the cheese in a cheese factory and leaving notes about its quality. This story makes me wonder if it was the inspiration for Ratatouille.

Katie and the Mona Lisa Katie convinces a sad Mona Lisa to leave her portrait in order to regain her famous smile. Katie leads her to several other famous Italian Renaissance works.

Let’s Learn French Coloring Book This introduces kids ages 3 to 6 to every day French vocabulary using the same simple techniques that help children build vocabulary in their native language.

French for Children Cute, catchy songs and the humorous, serial adventures of SuperCat captivate the imagination and foster language acquisition. The set in the series contains an 80-page full-color activity book coordinated with two 60-minute CDs as well as a Parent/Instructor CD packed with helpful tips.

Click here for more kids books about France

From AFP:

An eye-popping array of rutting satyrs, tumescent aristocrats and lusty 18th-century shepherdesses went on display in Paris on Tuesday, as France’s National Library lifted the veil on its collection of long-censored erotica.For the first time since it was catalogued in the 1830s, the library’s special pornographic section — officially entitled ‘Enfer‘ (Hell) — has been revealed in all its priapic glory. Such is the graphic nature of the material that under-16 year-olds are barred.

Some 350 books, engravings, photographs and curiosities — the oldest a 14th-century manuscript illustration of a nun picking the fruit of a phallus-tree — bear witness to man’s insatiable instinct for the lurid intimacies of the flesh

Closed to the public before

Overall more than 2000 works — including books by the Marquis de Sade, Jean Genet and Guillaume Apollinaire — were marked with the library inscription ‘Enfer’ until the department’s closure at the end of the 1960s. It meant they were off-limits to the reading public.

“Today the ‘Enfer’ section is still the focus of all sorts of false rumours and fantasies, even though it no longer exists. This exhibition is to set the record straight,” said curator Raymond-Josue Seckel.

The first golden age of French erotica was the 17th century — when titanically-endowed figures from the Greek pantheon were shown doing things to each other that certainly did not figure in the conventional myths and legends.

A hundred years later the novel was born and a secret book called ‘Therese Philosophe’ (Therese the Philosopher) lay discreetly on many a nobleman’s bookshelf. Harbinger of the enduring ‘Confessions’ genre, it told of a girl’s sexual awakening through the perusal of pornography.

Cruelty, crime and obscene delights

Contemporary police documents show the troubles encountered by another novel, ‘The History of Dom Bugger’, whose publisher was sent to the Bastille. As indeed was the Marquis de Sade, whose ‘Justine’ published in 1791 brought sex into new contact with…

Continue reading

Note: The exposition continues at the Bibliothèque nationale de France until March 2, 2008. Quai François-Mauriac 75706 Paris (13th), Tél : 33(0)1 53 79 59 59 – Under 16-year olds are not permitted; 7 euros entrance fee; Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 7pm; Sundays 1pm- 7pm.

American expat and Pastry chef, David Lebovitz, will be signing copies of his books, The Perfect Scoop and The Great Book of Chocolate in Paris tomorrow, Sunday, October 21. Please try to make it to this rare event. You can also bring your own books or purchase new ones on-site.

Where? Details are here

france booksigning david lebovitz paris

“For seventy years, a prayer book moldered in the closet of a family in France, passed down from one generation to the next. Its mildewed parchment pages were stiff and contorted, tarnished by burn marks and waxy smudges. Behind the text of the prayers, faint Greek letters marched in lines up the page, with an occasional diagram disappearing into the spine.

The owners wondered if the strange book might have some value, so they took it to Christie’s Auction House of London. And in 1998, Christie’s auctioned it off—for two million dollars.

For this was not just a prayer book. The faint Greek inscriptions and accompanying diagrams were, in fact, the only surviving copies of several works by the great Greek mathematician Archimedes…”

Read the full article

In conjunction with the French October 26 release of Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort (Deathly Hallows), the publisher, Gallimard, is organizing la Tournée du MagicoBus Harry Potter, a Magic bus tour that will stop by major cities in France to meet young Harry Potter fans. From October 17th through the 26th, fans will be able to take part in magical activities and games inside the bus. All participants will receive a poster. Three big winners per city will receive a diploma from Gallimard jeunesse and a collection of novels including the 7th Harry Potter tome. You must have a ticket to enter the Magicobus (Available at participating bookstores). Here’s the bus schedule:

Oct 17 – Lille – place Rihour
Oct 18 – Nancy – porte Desilles
Oct 19 – Lyon – place Louis-Pradel
Oct 20 – Aix-en-Provence – place Batard (Cité du Livre)
Oct 21 – Montpellier – esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle
Oct 22 – Toulouse – rue de Metz /rue des Arts
Oct 23 – Bordeaux – place dal Victoire
Oct 24 – Nantes – place de Bretagne
Oct 25 – Paris – rue Sébastien-Bottin
Oct 26 – Paris – parvis Montparnasse 9am / place du Châtelet 3pm

[via Univers HP]

Links: Gallimard, Official Press Release

Not that it’ll change anything or even prevent anyone from using this term, but a French Police Union is taking Le Petit Robert dictionary to court for including a reference to police as “connard de flic” (f*cking pig) in its latest 2008 edition. The union is demanding that this item be removed from the dictionary but the company Le Petit Robert states they, “would not under any circumstance allow its choices to be dictated by external pressures….it is not intended to disparage or dishonour anyone but to describe language in all of its richness and multiple usages, from its most elevated form to the colloquial.

[via]

Talented and silly illustrators world-wide were asked to contribute their take on the Mona Lisa at Nick Mag’s Magazine Gallery – but this prompted a Mona Lisa meme at Drawn! Submit your version of Mona Lisa there. [related: Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa Men Have Framed You]

The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching, beginning September 5 in Paris. What better way to commemorate your favorite francophone rugbyman or in this case rugbymen than with a 2008 calendar of your French Rugby players all naked!?? Does it merit the name, “Dieux du Stade Calendrier 2008” (Gods of the Stadium, 2008 Calendar)? I think so.

Who’s on this calendar jam-packed with French rugby players showing off their best assets?

- Christophe Dominici
- David Skrela
- Rémy Martin
- Dimitri Szarzewski
- Clément Poitrenaud
- Vincent Clerc
- Nicolas Jeanjean
- Ignacio Corleto
- Sergio Parisse
- Mirco et Mauro Bergamasco
- Geoffroy Messina
- Julien Arias
- Marcello Bosch
- Loïc Jacquet

This year the calendar photos were shot by Steven Klein, well-known for his provocative images – for example, could the photo of Brad Pitt in a very short Greek skirt (for his film, Troy) be indelibly engraved in your memory? Klein has also shot Madonna for years as well as other stars and athletes.

Order one now (26.60 euros (about $36), free delivery in France)

[via Dieux du stade (in French)]

Un Français, c’est un Italien de mauvaise humeur.
The French are Italians in a bad mood. ~ Jean Cocteau (French artist/filmmaker/poet/novelist – 1889 – 1963)

I don’t think the French find this quote particularly endearing…

Having nothing to do with travel but everything to do with France (albeit a France from the 50s), I thought this merited at least one blog post.

While some would find it to be just trash, we thought this old newspaper was a little treasure from the past, a peek into French life 50 or so years ago – and well, who doesn’t think that some found objects rule? I absolutely adore finding old newspapers (unless there’s something vile on it like poo or vomit). It doesn’t have a date on it but I think it’s from the 50′s based on the content. I’ll be posting little bits and pieces of it in the next few days.

YAY! I was SO HAPPY that the comics page was intact (click on the photo to enlarge it). Here’s a comic strip that was actually adapted from a book by the short story writer, Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) called, Notre Coeur. I guess France back then (at least in the comic strip world) was pretty literary; I mean, there’s a lot of text and it’s hard to compare it to contemporary comic strips of today. I wonder if kids back then even liked this comic strip. It’s not as fun as Calvin and Hobbs, afterall. Anyway. The actual book, Notre Coeur was published in 1890 and was Maupassant’s last book published while he was still alive. It’s a love story. But of course!

To read the free ebook of Notre Coeur by Guy de Maupassant, download it here. (from La Bibliothèque électronique du Québec)

From the LAist:

“Venerable French magazine Cahiers du cinema (yup, it’s still in existence) today launched its first English language edition, which will be available both in print and online for an annual fee. For $45, English-language readers will now be able to subscribe to a year’s worth of the magazine (11 regular issues + 1 special issue)…”

Read the full post

Tags: france, Cahiers+du+cinema, french, films, movies, critiques

From Teleread:

“…How can you read a paper book if you’re quadriplegic and can’t use your hands? And what if your only way of communicating is through blinking?

People with those and other disabilities, including visual impairments, are of special interest to us here at the Landowski Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine, France) in the western suburbs of Paris… Since 2001, with our special users in mind, we have…”

Read the article

Tags: france, french, ebooks, Boulogne-Billancourt, disabilities, Locked-in+Syndrome, Landowski+multimedia+library, Digital+Lbrary+for+Disabled+Persons, Bibliothèque+numérique+pour+le+Handicap

For what it’s worth, here’s a list of gift book ideas. I started this list way too late but it could be helpful to some of you who are very last minute shoppers in need of gifts for francophiles. (For last year’s lists of Gift Ideas for Francophiles click here: Part I, Part II & Part III)

Travel Guides
1. One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France by Simonetta Greggio
2. Lonely Planet France (2007) by Nicola Williams and Oliver Berry
3. France From the Air by Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, Catherine Guigon, and Yann Arthus-Bertrand
4. Provence Made Easy: The Best Sights and Walks of Provence and the French Riviera (Open Road Travel Guides) Paperback by Andy Herbach
5. Drive Around Dordogne and Western France: Your guide to great drives by Eric Bailey today

On Learning French
1. French: The Complete Language Course (Learn in Your Car) by Henry N. Raymond
2. French With Michel Thomas: The Fastest Way to Learn a Language (Deluxe Language Courses with Michel Thomas) by Michel Thomas
3. Rick Steves’ French Phrase Book and Dictionary by Rick Steves
4. Better Reading French : A Reader and Guide to Improving Your Understanding of Written French by Annie Heminway
5. 501 French Verbs: with CD-ROM (501 Verb Series) by Christopher Kendris and Theodore N. Kendris

On Paris
1. The Paris Cafe Cookbook : Rendezvous and Recipes by Daniel Young
2. The Historic Restaurants of Paris: A Guide to Century-Old Cafes, Bistros, and Gourmet Food Shops by Ellen Williams
3. Paris: An Architectural History by Anthony Sutcliffe
4. Antique and Flea Markets of London and Paris by Rupert Thomas and Egle Salvy
5. Alphonse Mucha: The Spirit of Art Nouveau by Victor Arwas

On French Things, History & People
1. Absinthe: History in a Bottle by Barnaby Conrad
2. The Cooking of Southwest France : Recipes from France’s Magnificent Rustic Cuisine by Paula Wolfert
3. JJacques-Louis David’s ‘Marat’ (Masterpieces of Western Painting) by Will Vaughn
4. Chanel: A Woman of her Own by Axel Madsen
5. The Wines of France: The Essential Guide for Savvy Shoppers by Jacqueline Friedrich
6. Culture Shock! France: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette by Sally Adamson Taylor
7. The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France by Ina Caro
8. The Color of Liberty: Histories of Race in France (Paperback) by Sue Peabody
9. France and the French: A Modern History by Rod Kedward

I’ve seen this cartoon character, Bécassine, on products all over France and just assumed it was from a cartoon made by the same artist (Hergé), who created TinTin. Bécassine was launched as a comic strip in 1905 as part of La Semaine de Suzette, a magazine for little girls. I believe TinTin appeared 20 or so years later. Isn’t this a clear example of RIP OFF? Or doesn’t Bécassine look EXACTLY like Tin Tin in a dress? I guess no one cared back then.

I actually don’t know that much about Bécassine except that she was from Bretagne (thus the outfit), so for those interested, here is some information about her: Bande Dessinée Bécassine (in French).

Maybe I wasn’t paying attention in class the day they talked about this but the first time I’d ever heard about La grotte de Lascaux (The Lascaux Cave) and the prehistoric drawings there – was when we were visiting southwest France just about a month ago. At first, I wasn’t very excited about seeing them especially because the original cave is closed to the public and you can only visit a replica of it. I know: I was lame because I thought it would be so boring. I’m glad I we took the advice of the people around us and visited it afterall because it was surprisingly far from a snorer.
Christened “The Sistine Chapel of Prehistory,” these ancient frescoes are the most spectacular prehistoric cave paintings in the world. Dating back approximately 17,000 years ago, the original cave paintings at Lascaux, near the village of Montignac, are some of the earliest known art by man. Incidentally, Cro-Magnon man was the first to show signs of artistic ability according to scientists.

If it weren’t for two teenagers in 1940 who stumbled accidentally upon the cave whilst looking for their dog (that fell into a hole leading to the cave), we may never have known about Lascaux.

Sadly, they had to close Lascaux to the public in 1963 because the walls began developing a deteriorating fungus from all the visitors’ wows, oohs and ahhhs.

Soon thereafter, the French embarked on a huge project to build an exact, inch-by-inch replica of the Lascaux cave and the drawings. It took about 11 years.

The replica, called Lascaux 2, situated just 200 meters away from the original cave, opened to the public in 1983.

I first felt a bit resentful having to see a replica but it is nearly an identical copy of the first and it is truly amazing; the guided tour was excellent as well. You will be engaged by the bulls, elk and horses that seem to trot across a cave ceiling before your eyes. You’ll be tempted to decipher symbols and stories. Note: I don’t think this would be an interesting for claustrophobes, however.

The construction of the Lascaux II was a clear opportunity for scientists, to explore their hypotheses and knowledge about how the drawings and paintings were made.

They used the same kinds of materials they believed to have been used some 17,000+ years ago. Materials such as natural pigments like ochre, charcoal, and iron oxides. The images show animals, hunts, wars, symbols and other objects not easily decipherable.

If anything, the cave tour does inspire you to wonder about the lives of these ancient peoples. What they did; how they lived; what was their relationship to the animals around them. The scientist clearly say with certainty that animals were not domesticated until thousands of years later, but some of the images seem to point otherwise. How they can say that so confidently is beyond me because in the same breath, they will note that the Cro-Magnon man was only different to us in physical attributes (longer jaws that accommodated all their wisdom teeth! and also they were taller), and not in intelligence. In other words, Cro-Magnon man was as intelligent as man today. The 40-minute tour is very detailed and fascinating, and our tour guide was very pleased that the group was quite animated and many theories emerged into lively discussion.

Though there was a lot of debate about what could have been, clearly, these prehistoric murals and artwork, at minimum, testify to the existence of ancient and well-established civilization in the south of France, which is pretty neat.

Important Note: You cannot buy tickets onsite at Lascaux II; you must purchase them in the nearby town of Montignac, next to the Office de tourisme. Admission: 8.20 € (5.20 € for kids 6-12 years old); During the high season (May through August), reserve tickets one or two weeks in advance or arrive early. The office opens at 9am until they sell all of tickets for the day. Tours are available in French and English.

Books about Lascaux
The Cave Painter of Lascaux (a book for small kids),
Cave of Lascaux: The Cave of Prehistoric Wall Paintings (Famous Caves of the World),
The Cave of Lascaux,
Lascaux: Movement, Space and Time,
Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey of Humankind

For more Information
Lascaux II: Semitour Périgord, 221 bis route d’Angouleme, BP 1024, 24001
Périgueux Cedex, Tel: +33-553-519503 or +33-553-056565
E-mail: contact@semitour.com
Website: Official Site for The Lascaux 2 Cave

Related: Where to stay in Dordogne: Rent a vacation house in Dordogne

^{[photos from the original Lascaux Cave courtesy of the Delluc and Laval Collections]}

Halloween is not for a couple of weeks, but face it, you wait ’til the last minute to decide how you’re going to dress up for that Halloween party. Don’t lie.

There’s nothing worse than going to a costume party with a sheet over your head, two holes cut out on top for eyes. Or wearing jeans and a black turtleneck saying you’re dressed as Steve Jobs. Please. Have some self-respect. Try something new this year: effort. Since I’m in France, I’m offering a few ideas a la francaise that would make fun Halloween costumes.

Police (or any military position that requires the képi). You gotta love those hats (I sort of want a real one.) and they are such a snap to make yourself. It’s basically a cylinder with a flap. You can easily make it on your own (you might be able to find a DIY on a craft site) if you can’t find it elsewhere. If you are able to find an oval box the right size and go from there, you are good to go. The rest is basically a dark blue or black marching band outfit. Can’t find a marching band suit? Just wear an old dark suit and add shiny, gold buttons and rank ribbons (or whatever they’re called). Pictured to the right is Charles de Gaulle in his general outfit.

Boulanger (Baker) – Now that I realize who the scary boulanger was (merci, Roland!), I figure it’s not a bad idea to go as RAIMU in the role of the boulanger, especially if you have some accessories of bread and baguettes. Feel free to sprinkle some flour around your face and hair for authenticity. Remember your white hat and an added apron if you like. Most importantly, work on that “I’m going to kill you now” look down pat.

A French President – This idea goes well with older, bald and balding men. You have to be bald (or nearly bald) to make this work, as baldness seems to be the requirement for being elected French president, at least since 1974 (starting with Giscard d’Estaing, then Mitterand and now our kooky Chirac). Take your pick.

Here are some French celebrities to dress up as if you dare:

Yannick Noah, Johnny Hallyday, Claude Francois, Marquis de Sade, Coluche, Maïté, Brigitte Bardot, Napoleon, Zidane

Here are some fictional celebrities:

Inspector Jacques Clouseau (from The Pink Panther) in a trench coat, leather gloves, hat and magnifying glass, Pepe le Pew, the cat-amourous cartoon skunk romantic wannabe, Cyrano de Bergerac (or was he a real person?) whose ugliness prevented him from expressing his true love for Roxanne, Vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, a character from the Vampire Chronicals by Anne Rice – a French vampire made even further known by Tom Cruise playing the lead role in the movie version. (btw, you can go as the vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac, who was played by Brad Pitt in the movie. They were both French.)

The obvious highly stereotyped French costumes. Better than a sheet but trite:

French Maid – Ok, this is more of an American fantasy, I believe, as I’ve never seen a maid in anything even remotely resembling this outfit. Anyway, if this fits the bill for you, knock yourself out.

French man – Man wearing a black beret, striped dark blue or black/white shirt, holding a baguette and bottle of wine. I’ve actually seen lots of people holding baguettes and/or wine bottles, and I have definitely witnessed lots of others wearing the striped shirt, but the beret wearing is getting more rare. Lately, the beret fashion is limited to very, very old men.

No, this post is not a “How to” and no, I’m not saying this is right.

It is simply a WHOA! from me after having seen a news item the other day. There’s a 44-year old man, who has been living off of unemployment benefits in France for most of the last 26 years. During that time, he’s actually worked a total of 4 years. And it’s, in fact, he, who has written and published a “How To Be a Professional Unemployed Person.” I have a feeling he isn’t alone and after the release of his new book, I am guessing there will be LOTS more like him. Do you think millions will buy his book? After all the sales, he will no longer need his unemployment benefits. That’s good because someone who really needs it can receive the benefits.

In his new book, “Moi, Thierry F. Chômeur Professionnel,” Thierry explains how he receives 600 euros ($760) every month, and while that is not a great amount, he’s still managed to buy an apartment and new car simply off his unemployment benefits. Actually, it doesn’t sound very difficult and that is the fault of the system. The way unemployment (and welfare for that matter) works is so faulty, that many people living in France not only profit from the system, but also feel it is fine to do such a thing. The attitude is more of a, “hey, the government is stupid enough to have such a system, they deserve it!” As an unemployed person, you also receive other aid in the form of free or discounted public transportation as well as many other perks. Thierry can gain so much more from the unemployed way than if he worked for minimum wage.

A slight aside: When my friend N was unemployed and living in her parents’ extra studio apartment for free in the south of France, everyone around her advised her to apply for benefits saying she’s paying for rent and needs help with it. She could have done this and gotten some money every month, but she refused. She wondered why everyone was so adamant that lying was the right thing to do.

In the newscast, Thierry mentions he does not have a moral problem with what he does because it is all within legal boundaries. He considers himself someone who profits from the system, rather than someone who is cheating it. Alrightee then. At the same time, he does say that he purposely submits faulty CVs and intentionally performs poorly in job interviews to assure he will receive no job offers. In France now, if you turn down three job offers, your unemployment is taken away, but if you never get an offer, the “taking away of benefits” can never happen.

This whole thing is part of a chapter in MY (imaginary) book called, “France Makes No Sense Sometimes.” This news story was featured on France 2, which is a state-run (as in this flawed system makers aka the government) channel and seemed like an invitation to become a professional unemployed person. It’s all so insane. Maybe it’s a trap!

In a recent post on her blog called, in my spare time, Jan from New South Wales, Australia, has beautifully drawn maps and info in her rebound Moleskine-like sketchbook (she even did the rebinding herself!) in preparation for her trip to Paris. The sketches and teeny tiny info are amazing and avoid having to lug around a whole guide book that she doesn’t really need, plus it’s all part of her travel journal/sketchbook that will have her personal observations and experiences of her trip in drawings and writing. I am already dying to see it and she hasn’t even gone yet.

She used the maps and travel information from an old 1969 Guide France, which she also rebound – then sketched what she’s planning to do during her trip. I love this idea because it’s meaningful and personal (she didn’t just photocopy pages she needed) and shows how much she’s looking forward to the trip by spending so much of her time in preparation.

In a way it makes me feel guilty when I think of my first solo trip to Europe that lasted 4 months and I traveled all over. I had a huge guidebook and after I visited a place, I’d tear out and throw away the pages of the book related to that place, to lighten my backpack! (I know, how wasteful of me. I’m not as wasteful anymore, if that helps.)

Lastly, I admire how Jan loves old books so much so that she rebinds them to give them a re-birth instead of just tossing them in the trash. More people should be so thoughtful and kind to the environment. Thanks for sharing your wonderful blog, Jan.

See Jan’s Paris sketches

[via Angry B]

I briefly mentioned and recommended the best-seller, Perfume, a novel by Patrick Susskind in a post about Grasse, which is the perfume capital of France. The novel has sold more than 150 million copies since 1985, and has been translated into 45 different languages. In France alone, 2.5 million copies of Perfume were sold.

The Story from Library Journal:

Set in 18th-century France, Perfume relates the fascinating and horrifying tale of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a person as gifted as he was abominable. Born without a smell of his own but endowed with an extraordinary sense of smell, Grenouille becomes obsessed with procuring the perfect scent that will make him fully human. With brilliant narrative skill Susskind exposes the dark underside of the society through which Grenouille moves and explores the disquieting inner universe of this singularly possessed man.

It’s been many years since its initial publication and I’ve been wondering why it hasn’t been made into a movie. Actually, the German novelist, Patrick Susskind was approached by both Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott for the film rights, but he declined. It wasn’t until 2001 that Mr. Susskind finally allowed the sale of the film rights (for an undisclosed amount) to his friend, German Film Producer, Bernd Eichinger, who produced The Name of the Rose, and The Neverending Story among many other films.

Finally, 21 years after the novel’s publication, the movie, Perfume, was made for the big screen.

Perfume was directed by Tom Tykwer, who also directed and wrote the excellent, Run Lola Run. British actor, Ben Whishaw, will play the lead character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. (Yes. Last Name: Frog.) Alan Rickman, who i LOVE, will be playing the Antoine perfumer, Richis. I was largely disappointed with Dustin Hoffman casted as the Grenouille’s teacher Guiseppe Baldini, but I’m crossing my fingers everything will be fine.

Perfume opens in French theaters on October 4.

Da Vinci Code fanatics from the U.S., Australia and the UK (sorry rest of the world) can take a quest online, which is a contest to win a trip for four to Paris, New York, London or Rome, plus other prizes. It is a huge publicity campaign for the movie, The Da Vince Code starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou (from Amelie) disguised as a game contest filled with puzzles and questions. The movie premieres next month. The quest requires that you register for a Google home page account (which is free) before you can go on to play 24 daily puzzles that must all be solved by May 11, the end of Phase 1 of the contest. The puzzles incorporate characters, themes and symbols from the story. After solving a puzzle, you will then have to correctly answer a question that tests your knowledge of the story. You are allowed to solve the puzzles in any order. Once you complete all of the 24 daily puzzles correctly and before the due date of Phase 1, you will be sent to complete a form where you must enter your Google ID and submit it to receive a time stamp of your puzzle completion time. You then have to complete the contest’s entry form and submit it for another time stamp, marking your contest entry time. Only the first 10,000 qualified players (who answered all 24 puzzles correctly and filled out and submitted their puzzle complete and entry form) can move on to the final phase of the contest. Good luck! Go on the Da Vinci Code Quest now [related: Send online postcards of da Vinci Code Paris]

Tags: Da+Vinci+Code, contest, movies,

Just published: My Life in France by Julia Child, Alex Prud’Homme (Julia’s grandnephew) From Julia’s Introduction: This is a book about some of the things I have loved most in life: my husband Paul Child: la belle France: and the many pleasures of cooking and eating. It is also something new for me. Rather than a collection of recipes, I’ve put together a series of linked autobiographical stories, mostly focused on the years 1948 through 1954, when we lived in Paris and Marseille, and also a few of our later adventures in Provence. Those early years in France were among the best of my life. They marked a crucial period of transformation in which I found my true calling, experienced an awakening of the senses and had such fun that I hardly stopped moving long enough to catch my breath. From the Publisher: In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found ‘her true calling.’ From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre in the fall of 1948 and Julia watched the well-muscled stevedores unloading the cargo to the first perfectly soigné meal that she and her husband, Paul, savored in Rouen en route to Paris, where he was to work for the USIS, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon this tall, outspoken gal from Pasadena, California, who didn’t speak a word of French and knew nothing about the country, was steeped in the language, chatting with purveyors in the local markets, and enrolled in the Cordon Bleu. After managing to get her degree despite the machinations of the disagreeable directrice of the school, Julia started teaching cooking classes herself, then teamed up with two fellow gourmettes, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, to help them with a book they were trying to write on French cooking for Americans. Throwing herself heart and soul into making it a unique and thorough teaching book, only to suffer several rounds of painful rejection, is part of the behind-the-scenes drama that Julia reveals with her inimitable gusto and disarming honesty. Filled with the beautiful black-and-white photographs that Paul loved to take when he was not battling bureaucrats, as well as family snapshots, this memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia embraced so wholeheartedly. Above all, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became. Le voici. Et bon appétit! Click here for more information on: My Life in France (April 2006 published posthumously) [via Simply Recipes]

Tags: france, books, travel, my+life+in+france, julia+child, food, paris

founder of Emmaüs, 93 year old abbot pierre, (who recently released his book, my god why) has released a CD called, “avant de partir” (before leaving). on it he recites 14 short passages from the bible followed by the lord’s prayer. the “spiritual testament” is his recited voice with a background of music by french composer, erik satie and canadian composer stephen mulin. the CD is now available in french stores. [via tf1 (in french)]

talking about christmas shopping in france the other day made me really think, “OMG i still haven’t finished my shopping!”

for so many reasons, france remains to be the most visited country on EARTH. that means there are lots and lots of francophiles! (here’s a huge SLAP! with a large trout for bill o’reilly, hater and france basher)

i decided to post a shopping guide while i figure out what to get my sister and her husband (and other francophiles) for christmas. so if you have some friends and family that love france, here are some suggestions for you too:

BOOKS

The Book: Louis Vuiton – this is a must have for LV collectors and makes a great coffee table book.
60 Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong – an interesting read about france, why and how things evolved, and some explanations about the things in france that are perplexing.
A Year in the Merde – a fun, laugh-out-loud story about a british guy living and working in france.
La Bonne Cuisine – a trusted, comprehensive guide to french cooking, this is the equivalent to the joy of cooking or the fannie farmer cookbook. la bonne cuisine was written in 1927 and was a well-weathered recipe book in many french households. it was considered a BIBLE to the late and adorable julia child. this year it was translated into english for the first time.
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present – essential reading for enthusiasts of french films.
The Great Wines of France – a guide for the true lover of french wines with wine profiles written by expert clive coates and including stories behind some of france’s most reputable châteaux.
Judgment of Paris : California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine – a blind tasting of california and french wines. the findings sent shockwaves throughout the wine world.

MOVIES (DVDs)

Amelie – impish, fun and quirky movie that will leave you happy as you skip instead of walk for the rest of the day (original french version with english and spanish subtitles).
Grand Illusion – Jean Renoir’s antiwar masterpiece is one of the very first prison escape movies, and is hailed as one of the greatest films ever made.
Ma vie en rose – there are so few movies that will make you both laugh and cry and this is one of them. it’s a touching story about tolerance and a transgendered child living in a place that does not understand him.
The Dinner Game – really funny and silly movie that will make you laugh out loud – revolving around a game about who can bring the dorkiest guy to dinner. it’s also a great tribute to the actor, jacques villeret who sadly passed away this year.
Cyrano de Bergerac – out of all the remakes of the story of cyrano de bergerac, this one, with gerard depardieu, is one of my favorite versions (though it’s not as funny as this one)
Three Colors Trilogy – set of three absorbing and thought provoking films (blue/white/red – the colors of the french flag) and based on the french ideals: liberty, equality and fraternity.
Hiroshima Mon Amour – based on the novel by marguerite duras, hiroshima mon amour is perfect adaptation brought to the big screen, a story about love, tragedy, remembering, forgetting and rebirth.
Ridicule – during the time of louis xvi, survival demanded an engaging quick wit and a razor sharp tongue.
The Girl on the Bridge – beautiful and romantic story about a knife thrower and a girl – it’s an absorbing art piece exploring the human spirit.
Jules and Jim – a classic made in the 60′s about bohemian paris and a love triangle.

i realize that i could’ve listed so much more but i tried to include a variety of books and movies that would appeal to different interests and tastes.

see Part II: French Gifts for Foodies and Part III: French Music Guide (French Music for Francophiles)

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tags: france travel christmas shopping gifts francopiles french movies books ideas

he’s baaaaaAAAaaack. stephen clarke, author of the laugh-out-loud and huge success, a year in the merde has released a new book called, merde actually, part deux of paul west’s hilarious adventures in france. the new book was launched this month, and stephen clarke will be available for a reading and signing in paris. the details:

When: December 13, 2005, 8:00 p.m.
Where: Alimentation Generale, 64 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud 75011 Paris – Metro: Parmentier

The signing/reading will be followed by a concert by Amen Viana, whose music fuses rock, jazz and blues.

this book(let) from 1945 was written by the Information & Education Division of the US Occupation Forces. yes, france’s ally, the u.s. during WWII. it is in a question/answer format, based on complaints and observations of the american forces about france. the main purpose of this publication looked to dispell any french stereotypes american forces might have had, and to integrate american soldiers better into france with minimal levels of culture shock.

it is written surprisingly from a humane perspective encouraging tolerance, understanding and acceptance.

an excerpt from the forward:

“…It lists the criticisms, misconceptions and ordinary “gripes” which American troops in Europe express most frequently when they talk about the French. Each comment, or question, is followed by an answer — or discussion. Some of the answers are quite short, because the question is direct and simple. Some of the answers are quite long, because the “questions” are not questions at all, but indictments which contain complicated and sweeping preconceptions.

This booklet may not convince those who are hopelessly prejudiced, but it may help to keep others from being infected by the same lamentable virus.”

the full booklet is available to read online here: 112 gripes

a group of 15 french illustrators have assembled their work to be included “en bande dessinée” in a (cartoon-style) book called, “Les Beaux Dessins” (beautiful illustrations), a title inspired by cabrel’s latest cd, “Les beaux dégats.” they’ve dedicated their art to the one and only, inimitable francis cabrel and 12 of his most popular songs, songs that continue to transcend generations, and will probably remain popular for years to come.

i believe it is the first of its kind, in terms of taking a legendary french singer and his lyrics and re-interpreting them with illustrations, all in one book. i’ve just ordered it online.

contributing illustrators: Virginie Augustin, François Avril, Béhé, Ted Benoît, Buche, Max Cabanes, Jean-Claude Denis, Ferri, Jean-Claude Götting, Manu Larcenet, Emmanuel Lepage, Jérôme Lereculey, Mazan, Ana Mirallès, Cyril Pedrosa and Zep.

it’s available at amazon.fr (this was just released this month so it is not available at amazon.com for the moment. please check there at a later date.)

[related: francis cabrel organizes sos musiciens benefit concert for new orleans]

this children’s bookstore’s window display definitely merited a photo and a blog entry! the theme of the window display centers on toilet training and bodily functions with book titles: “caca boudin” (poop sausage), “crotte de nez” (boogers, or more formally SNOT), “prout!” (poot!), “crotte!” (poop log (unless is curls like an ice cream on a cone), “est-ce que les sirènes font pipi au lit?” (do mermaids pee in bed?), “qu’est ce que c’est que ca?” (what’s that?) – but my favorite in this window is “de la petite taupe qui voulait savoir qui lui avait fait sur la tete” (the little mole that wanted to know who did (pooped) on his head). cute!

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL WINDOW DISPLAY<

well-known for his humanitarian efforts by founding Emmaüs, france’s 93-year old abbot pierre has written a new book called, “Mon Dieu …pourquoi?” (My God…Why?)

in it, he talks about many things including his sexual relationships. he strongly advocates the marriage of catholic priests and admits to knowing priests that live with women. he hopes to reopen the debate of celibacy and sexuality within the catholic church.

i don’t think people feel this is scandalous (perhaps more in the u.s.?) in nature but are rather relieved by the obviousness of priesthood. it seems to be a breath of fresh air to hear a priest admit something that many priests have denied (and lied about) in the past.

personally, i’ve suspected that pope john paul II had a child, who then became one of his guards at the vatican. if you look at some archives, you will find a guard that looks EXACTLY like him!! unfortunately, this guard is now dead after having been mysteriously murdered in 1998. the case was “solved” even though there were no witnesses and the “murderer” was found dead as well.

but i digress.

back to abbe pierre’s book! he also writes about homosexual couples and parenting, and the ordaining of female priests.

[via tf1] (in french)

Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow, authors of best-seller and very interesting Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong from 2003 have released a version in french that is updated and tailored for france.

i think it will be an entertaining read for the french crowd to hear detailed observations about the french – from the point of view of a couple of canadians. i might have to check it out myself and compare the versions.

Available at franceloisirs: Pas Si Fous, Ces Francais!

tags: france cultural differences books

a law was passed in france to put a positive SPIN in textbooks related to its painful colonial past, making it mandatory to enshrine in textbooks the country’s “positive role” in its colonies.

do i hear revisionism? since when is colonialism POSITIVE?

[via France Orders Positive Spin on Colonialism]

guess it’s france’s turn to lampoon the US!

article: New Asterix Books pokes fun at US

Every time the subject of Gérard Depardieu comes up (which is quite often; he’s in like eight million films) i’m reminded of one of his obscure films i saw recently (late in the wee hours of the night when i couldn’t sleep), a franco-italian produced movie called, the last woman (1976). in it, he plays a seriously tortured soul that ultimately decides that the best thing to do is to cut off his dick (oops excuse my french) with an electric kitchen knife.

i know. ouch. i had to laugh out loud, but, in fact, it left me feeling traumatized. you know, ’twas nervous laughter WISHING that it would be, in fact, really (dan akroyd’s julia child spoof on SNL) kind of FUNNY.

today’s guardian interview with monsieur depardieu not only reminded me of that torturous film, but also, makes me laugh. again. – luckily it’s not too uncomfortable this time. you see, gerard just published a COOKBOOK called, Gérard Depardieu: My Cookbook, newly translated into English. In the book you’ll find his favorite traditional french and italian recipes, and it’s apparently accessible for all levels of cooks, and always great for those who like all things gerard.

i’m gonna pass on it, probably, though i do love to cook. i will try to rid my life of my weird association with this subject. in the meantime, i just hope my chronic insomnia will one day leave AND that GD didn’t use an electric kitchen knife…

find gerard’s book at amazon though, i’m not sure if it’s available yet there.

One of the several things France knows how to do the best, is perfumes. they’ve had quite a bit of practice at this industry too: 200 years.

Known as the perfume capital of the world, grasse is a short day trip from cannes (15 min drive) or nice (30 min drive).

When you vist the fragonard perfume factory & museum, housed in a 17th century villa you’ll get quite a noseful but the guided tour was informative, free and allowed dogs (which of course, is VERY important in these travel tips)…

Here’s a picture of “the nose,” taking a coffee break. they say, these mad olfactory scientists must train for 10 years to fully develop the abiility to mix, match and identify the correct essenses to create a great perfume.

At the end of the guided tour of fragonard, you’re strategically taken to the perfume store. if you don’t want to buy anything, that’s fine; you can, however, ask to smell samples of their perfumes and it’s fun. try to decifer each essence in one perfume.

The room is filled with a lot of extremely potent smells, so if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing, i wouldn’t recommend staying too long.

Address:
23 boulevard Fragonard, 06130 Grasse

Directions:
Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Bvd Fragonard and, Route de Cannes, “les Quatre Chemins”

Phone:
(33) 493 36 44 65

Website:
Fragonard

OH! To capture an imaginary olfactory medievel grasse experience (and intrigue) without having to leave the comfort of your home, read Perfume : The Story of a Murderer (Vintage International) by patrick susskind.