You may not know because I talk about books so much, but I’m passionate about the 7th art: cinema! I used to watch hundreds of movies a few years ago (you know, when you had free times during high school), and even though I don’t watch as much movies as before, I still have a passion for it. My to-watch list never ends, but I’ve got a strong list of amazing films that I have to recommend to you. Here it is!

Mommy

Inglorious Basterds

Bohemian Rhapsody

Rush

Even if I talk in English and read mainly English speaking books, I read quite a few books in French as well. In fact, my favorite books and author are French. And the other day, I saw that some people on the bookstagram thing were reading French literature, and it gave me the idea to talk about some really good French books on this blog. I’m aware that they are not as famous as American or English one, and the translation might be terrible if you don’t read French, but for those of you who might or want to give it a try, this can be interesting. Here are some of my favorites. 

Anna Gavalda 

I have always loved reading, but she is the one that changed everything book-wise. I found one of her book in a second hand book shop when I was a teenager, I was so happy my mom bought it to me that I read it in the car on the way home. I read it several times since then, and it’s always my favourite. Anything she write is beautiful, simple, delicate, inspiring and so much more. It moves me every time because the character could be anyone, their life is simple but she depicts them in a certain way that it’s immediately incredible. She has a way of making you look at life like no one else. 

Where you can start: La Consolante, Je l’aimais (the one my mom bought to me), Ensemble c’est tout 

David Foenkinos 

Like Anna Gavalda, and basically all of the author I’m going to mention, what he writes is simple and beautiful. Really, I could not describe it more because you have to read it to understand it. He writes about “normal” people, about love stories with beautiful – or not – ending. It is touching, delicate, poetry-like and full of sentiments. 

Where you can start : La délicatesse, Vers la beauté 

Delphine de Vigan 

The same sort of writing, the one that makes you see life and people through a different perspective. What she writes is strong, harsh and sometimes fragile. She talks about people and their problems. She truly talks about them, not just their glory, but mainly their fragilities and weaknesses, in order to make them stronger. Her writing and stories are pretty incredible because, again, it could be anyone, just ordinary people. 

Virginie Grimaldi 

She is quite famous in France, but I’ve really read her work just a few weeks ago. She quickly became one of my favorites. Basically, all of her characters needs life-changing decisions in order to learn how to live again, and not just passing in your own life. Some really bad situation happened to them, and they had to do something. So they do the changing: it’s disturbing, uncomfortable, different, until it is not and becomes familiar. The characters grow, and you grow with them. You don’t feel tense for them anymore because you can feel that they are going in the right way, even though they haven’t figured out everything yet. And for that, her books are incredible. 

Where you can start: Il est grand temps de rallumer les étoiles, Le premier jour du reste de ma vie 

I have more of them, maybe I will do a part 2 for this post but my favorite are here, and they are always the one I recommend when people want to read simple and beautiful French literature. You can also read good books by Frederick Beigbeder, Franck Thilliez or Katherine Pancol. But I’m curious to know if you have already read some of them? Or simple, what are your favourite French books?

I’m in my fourth year in college now and I’m basically doing another year of literature all over again. For three years, I had English literature courses and this year, plenty of French one. As you may understand, I have to read quite a few books. I thought it could be interesting for some of you to know which books I had and have to read for my literature classes. Little reminder: I’m a French student  (Lettres modernes = literature everywhere), and before that I studied English (LLCER = English speaking literature and civilizations) 

 

2020 will be the year of great books! This is what I hoped for at the beginning of the month, and I can say that I found some really good one this month. I was inspired by some people on instagram saying that they wanted to read a bit less but reading books they wanted to, or longer books. I have been putting off some really big books I want to read because I knew it would take me a while to read them. But I know I’m missing something by not reading them. Next month’s list while probably be a bit shorter then, but let’s just hope I find some other good big books! 

Tu comprendras quand tu seras plus grande by V. Grimaldi 

I wanted to read more French books this month, especially by Virginie Grimaldi (she is quite famous in France). And I just loved what she writes. It was beautiful, simple, inspiring, lovely, all the good stuff. I love how she writes about simple people being so human, caring for others. She shows us that life can be simple and beautiful, no matter what, no matter what you’ve been through. 

Also read this month and loved: Le premier jour du reste de ma vie and Il est grand temps de rallumer les étoiles

Such a fun age by K. Reid 

This was such a strange and interesting book about « modern racism ». I liked the way we both had Emira and her boss thoughts and see how crazy Alix’s mind works. It was terrifying and sad. I thought that Emira was not an interesting character though, she was quite boring. But I guess that’s what is interesting, that Emira is so normal while being in a weird and toxic situation between her boyfriend and her boss. I wanted more concerning Emira and the kids she takes care, but I guess it was not really the point of the book. 

The bookish life of Nina Hill by A. Waxman 

*SPOILER* Well, this book was a winner for me. I recognized so much of me through different characters, and the love of books by so many of them changed it all. Thank god, books like that exist! I loved the character of Nina, and especially how happy she is in her life, as simply as it is. She just enjoys being her, while struggling with life at the same time with anxiety (nice try to talk about it, but I wanted more of that part). Then one day, people came into her life and everything changes while triggering her organized life. I was not particularly a fan of the romance in the book, it was not what I was looking for. Well, I just wanted to read about a girl who enjoyed books as much as I do. But I was surprised to see much more in it, especially the new family part of it. The book shows that family are messy even if everything turns out pretty good and easy for her in the end. I also liked how she seems to enjoy being alone and not in a relationship. There nothing wrong to be alone, and this book describes it well but destroys everything with a man, sadly. I'm not against it, but for me, Nina is definitely not in a place where she wants a boyfriend, which she said several times. The end part was also a bit disappointing. Suddenly, all of the problems are solved, which is really unrealistic. She changes for a man she just met because she feels good about him. Well okay, but when you have anxiety, changing your life for someone (especially when you are perfectly happy alone) seems a bit strange for me. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it! 

Extension du domaine de la lutte by M. Houellebecq 

I wanted to talk about this book because it was one of the worst I’ve read in a long time. I had to read that for uni – but in the end they changed it for another book, thanks for nothing – and it was a torture to read something so annoying for numerous reasons. I did not care about the writing, it was familiar and sometimes vulgar. This man is racist, hates women and probably himself. It’s like reading a book told by a man who is not part of his own life himself, like he is watching what is happening to him and is completely dead inside. I was so bored and so angry when I read it. Women are compared to animals or objects, he is completely racist towards people who are not like him and is completely obsess with sex. Oh and it's supposed to be about work, but that’s just a small part of it in the end. The only “good” thing is that this book talks about depression at works. That’s all. 

Le quai de Ouistreham by F. Aubenas 

Another book I had to read for uni, but this one was really good. On the subject of work again, this true story/documentary follows this French (bad ass) journalist who is going to go ‘undercover’ in the hard life of unemployment after the 2008 crisis in France. This book is so important, so real and interesting. She talks about her life during six months there, but she does not really talk about her. She tells everything on the same tone, with detachment. She doesn’t add any feelings really, she just tells what she lived for those six months, trying to find a job, working during crazy hours for little or no money. I’m sure this book can resonate not only in France, but with any country which had an impact with the 2008 crisis.

Have you read any of these books? What did you read in January?

Last week, after finishing my exam for the first semester, I unexpectedly had a week off. Because it is quite rare – and because the strike is mainly over now in Paris – I wanted to enjoy this week and discover Paris a bit more, especially in the places I love the most. So here is a little tour of the city.

Saint Germain

This was probably the area I wanted to see more as I don't go there really often. Yet, I think it's one of the prettiest place in Paris, especially during autumn with the beautiful colours of the tree, next to the white buildings. There, I could only see naked tree but with a bright blue sky during a very cold winter day. I got out of the metro at the “Pont Neuf” station and then I crossed the river to walk a bit along the Seine. I had to go at Gibert - this huge bookstore where you can find new and secondhand books – to find a book for uni, but really it was just an excuse to go into a bookstore. Then, I wandered around and took pictures of some of the very “trendy/instagrammable” places that I wanted to see in real life. It's always like a dream to see places in real life after seeing in on other's people account. I finished my walk by going to Île-Saint-Louis which is the little Island being Notre Dame. It was gorgeous with the winter sun and the white buildings, a bit like being on holidays. I just loved the view there.

Montmartre 

The next day, I decided to go to Montmartre. Despite all of the opinion on this area, I don’t like it so much. The place is crowded even if the view is incredible. I’m always scared of pick-pocket, and you really have to get lost to find some really pretty places. And this time, I wanted to love the place and find some gem. 

I went up (up up) and decided to walk around and, again, get lost. I finally found some pretty corners even though you really have to walk deeply in the area to find some quiet streets. This place is really crowded, loud and full of touristic “attractions”, which I don’t really like. I won’t say I love this area now, but every time I go there I find it more and more beautiful. And the view is probably one of the best you can have in Paris. 

Along the Seine 

Next stop: Eiffel Tower. The best view you can get in right at the Trocadero. Despite the crowd, I love going there, I always feel like a dreaming little girl watching this monument for the first time. It’s impressive. Then, I wanted to get a closer look, therefore I went to Rue de l’université to have this beautiful view between two buildings. 

I wanted to walk along the Seine as it is so beautiful and probably my favourite thing to do. I took a few pictures on my view to the Louvres. I was lucky enough to have a beautiful shot without any cars in it!