Ex Libris
Books–could not love them more. I usually have two going at the same time. One comes with me wherever I go and one sits on my bedside table waiting to help me unwind from a crazy day. All topics make my list of what to read but I would have to admit that over the years France, Paris, French history or contemporary French literature have taken up much of my reading time. I thought I would share what I consider some of the better reads I have come across and would look forward to any suggestions you might have! Old Paris (fiction):
- The Kill by Emile Zola
- Gardener to the King by Frédéric Richaud
- Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford
- The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
- The Red and the Black by Stendahl
- Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky
- The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
- Gigi by Colette Sidonie-Gabrielle
New Paris (fiction):
- A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
- Merde, Actually by Stephen Clarke
- In the Merde for Love by Stephen Clarke
- Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
- The Mystery Guest by Gregoire Bouillier
Non-Fiction:
- Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnick
- Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology, by Adam Gopnick
- Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong by Jean-Benoit Nadeau & Julie Barlow
- Talk to the Snail by Stephen Clarke
- A Place in the World Called Paris by Steven Barclay
- The Flaneur by Edmund White
- The Secret Life of the Seine by Mort Rosenblum
- The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein
Quirky, But Fun!
There are so many more but didn’t have time to post them all. As suggestions from you come in, I will keep mentioning them as we go, how’s that work? The beautiful bookplate is custom-made by Daniel de Bruin.
Tags: b5media, books, Daniel-de-Bruin, ex-libris, paris, the paris traveler, travelRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Great Reads
6 opinions for Ex Libris
sara
Jan 3, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I would recommend the short stories of Mavis Gallant. The book titled Paris Stories is particularly wonderful.
Kim
Jan 3, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Sara
Thanks! I keep a small notebook with all the books I want to get to. I’ve just added your suggestion.
Sandy
Jan 3, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Great List! I’m printing it as I write this.
I would add the following non-fiction titles (a couple may be out of print, but try eBay or Alibris.com):
“Being Geniuses Together” by Robert McAlmon and Kay Boyle
“Everyone Was So Young” by Amanda Vail
“Shakespeare and Company” by Sylvia Beach
“Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation” by Noel Riley Fitch
“Paris was Yesterday” by Janet Flanner
(p.s. If you are writing about any French holidays, be sure to send me a note at All Holiday Cafe.)
Daniel de Bruin
Jan 4, 2008 at 8:21 am
You have an exquisit taste on bookplates (…)
your sincerely
Daniel de Bruin, SHA
The Netherlands
Kim
Jan 4, 2008 at 10:05 am
Daniel
Your work is beautiful! I was glad to share it with others.
Kim
Jan 4, 2008 at 10:10 am
Sandy
Yeah!–my reading list is growing by leaps and bounds.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: