Paris en juillet (Paris in July)

Un petit cafe, s'il vous plait!

Temperature in Paris: 64 degrees
Temperature chez moi: 100 degrees

Bonjour and welcome to Paris in July at Belle, Book, and Candle or as they say en français: Belle, livre, et la bougie.

In preparation for this month-long event, I scoured my own bookshelves for Francophile readings. I found:

Paris Was Ours: Thirty-two Writers Reflect on the City of Light edited by Penelope Rowland;

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway;

Monet at Giverny by Caroline Holmes,

For a Flower Album by Collette with watercolors by Manet; and,

Paris Was a Woman: Portraits From the Left Bank by Andrea Weiss.


I also discovered two home decor books: The French Inspired Home, with French General by Kaari Meng; and, Bringing It Home: France by Cheryl MacLachlan. These I will leave out on the living room table open to the most gorgeous photos. Just to inspire me.

I found a couple of English/French dictionaries and how-to-learn French textbooks as well.

As you can see, I already have a touch of Francomania to go along with my bibliomania.

I do believe I will begin with Paris Was Ours and then dive into A Moveable Feast which will be a reread for me but oh so perfect for this event.

I took a look at Wikipedia under French films and there are lists by year (from 1892) so quite a bit to choose from. I do love French Kiss with Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan. Not only the movie but the soundtrack.

And then I have planned a visit to a new French restaurant in town and I signed up for a cooking class where I will (perhaps) learn to make coq au vin.

Quoi! Only 31 days in July??