On Vacation: Paris!

Well, at least in my dreams. Anyway, today, while I was browsing around the bookstore, I found myself picking up a few travel books. I spent about a good twenty minutes or so, just reading and flipping through their pages. This inspired me to day dream again -- thinking about my top dream destinations! I actually have a lot, but for this post, it will be definitely be inspired by the city of lights.

Here, I will showcase beautiful photos of the city, and would also include some French literature, film, and some quotes. Sooo... without further adieu.. go pack your suitcase(s) and travel with me to Paris, France!

Paris is known as the City of Lights... A city of culture... It is a city for lovers: lovers of art, lovers of history, lovers of food, lovers of love.

French Literature
I am only putting the novels I have read. They can be either written by a French author, or be about Paris. Basically, these are books that are about anything Paris-related. There are so many other wonderful ones out there though that I have yet to try. If you have any recommendations, let me know! :)

1. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
2. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
3. The Stranger by Albert Camus
4. The Fall by Albert Camus
5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
8. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
9. My Life in France by Julia Child
10. Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda

French Films
The same here; I will only post ones I watched and liked -- and ones with English subtitles of course. Recommendations are so welcome!

1. Ponette (1996)
2. Love Me If You Dare -- Jeux de Enfants (2003)
3. Amelie -- Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain (2001)
4. Paris Jet' aime (2006)
5. La Vie En Rose (2007)
6. Inglourious Basterds (2008) <---- ?!?!?!?! I know, I know.. this isn't a French film. But Melanie Laurent is here, and she's a beautiful and talented French actress so I'll just put it here anyway! haha.

Some Quotes from the French
(from artists of all kinds)

Judge a man by his questions rather by his answers. - Voltaire

Fashion fades, only style remains the same. - Coco Chanel

Life has taught us that love does not exist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. - Coco Chanel

Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it. - Jules Renard


But that's it for this week's vacation! Wonder where I'll be going to next.. Hmm.. ;)
Ohh by the way, have you been to Paris? Or maybe anywhere else in France? Let me know, I looove hearing travel stories!

Capturing Paris

Summary: Annie Reed and her husband for twenty-five years are living a seemingly-perfect life in the city of lights. But when things turn for the worse in her husband's career, and a mysterious, new woman enter their lives, suddenly, life in Paris may never be the same again.

Review: This is a simple book; a simple story with a simple ending. To me, the plot is overdone: characters suffering from mid-life crisis situations in a beautiful city. But I didn't think it was a bad read.

Also, the title says it all. The author does, in fact, capture the very essence of the city in such a poetic manner. Everything was handled with grace and sensitivity. I thought that was the best thing about this book.

Would I recommend it? Probably not. But if you like to get the idea of the wonderful city, read it for that reason. I know that was mine.