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6th july 2023 / Letter 402 |
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I am still in Paris this week because I’m not on vacation yet, so I took advantage of the good weather to stroll along the streets, see an exhibition and read, and I thought that this could inspire you if you plan to stay in the capital this summer or if you don’t yet know which books to take with you. |
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Eternal tourist in Paris, I love walking miles in the city, especially along the Seine ; strolling and looking at the second-hand booksellers’ stalls is a delight, though, alas, today, many of them only sell posters, mini Eiffel towers or key rings… The other day, opposite 17 quai Voltaire, I came across a second-hand bookseller : pretty old books, in perfect condition, from the white collection of Gallimard, the green collection of Grasset or even from the Julliard Sagan period. I bought an old edition of Noces by Camus and poems by Éluard. The choice is exciting and of high quality. It’s impossible not to find what you are looking for (or at least what you’ve been looking for). Who is the owner ? A charming Turkish lady speaking perfect French having taught it before moving into exile. She has a taste for good writing and beautiful editions. Moral : France is a big country, the most Parisian of booksellers is Turkish, that’s Paris ! |
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Under the sky of Paris… |
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Of the past |
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The NRF collection |
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Beautiful ! |
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A refined selection |
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Madame La Bouquiniste |
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Read this week : We called him Maïco, an incredible life, that of Marie-Claude Vaillant Couturier. I particularly liked the descriptions and lists of all the artists invited by her father Lucien Vogel and all the great minds she knew before, during and after the war. A great feminist and other stuff ending in ist… If that’s not book reviewIST!
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Reading for this summer |
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Sublime Maïco ! |
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At the Nuremberg trial |
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Maybe this book, Americanah, is very well known, because it came out a while ago, but I only discover it now (thanks Nine !) A young Nigerian student arrives in the United States, she describes her life, her loves, her discoveries on Afro-Americans, her friends in America as in Nigeria, it’s great ! But beyond that, it is the sort of book you never forget and which makes you see things differently. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie certainly does more against racism than a thousand speeches. See… I’m making progress on book reviews !
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I LOVED it ! |
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To find out more |
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Some exhibitions can become cult, I mean that there are exhibitions that we always remember (yes, just like books). This is the case for Degas/Manet at the Musée d’Orsay. I went there at 7:30 p.m. but it was still crowded because it is altogether extraordinary. Along the visit we keep wondering which we prefer between Degas & Manet. And then, we are perpetually surprised and enthusiastic and in the end, we love both !
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Portrait of Mrs. Manet mother |
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Degas, Old Italian |
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Manet, Berthe Morisot lying down |
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Degas, Gobillard, born Morisot |
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Manet, Boulogne beach |
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Degas, Interior or The Rape |
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OK, you don’t do watercolours, but have you ever tried ? This pretty box in the colours of Provence will perhaps make you want it. Why not get started this summer just to add a little flower or a sprig of olive tree to your postcards, for example ? Well, I couldn’t resist, we’ll see what I’ll do with it…
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Handcraft… |
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In the Luberon |
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I love the packaging ! |
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Brushes with water tank |
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First try |
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Why don’t you try ? |
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In the series ‘authentic Parisian restaurants’ the one that most resembles the cliché that we could have is with no doubt La Fontaine de Mars. The best press officer in this place was Barak Obama since he went there during one of his visits to Paris. In fact, English is spoken at all the tables with a strong American accent and everyone seems delighted in this decor with chequered tablecloths and wood everywhere. One of the customers asked what was the ‘boudin’ and was told in perfect English : ‘a blood sausage’ … well, I’m not sure this Democrat was convinced, but he and his wife looked happy to be in Ratatouille !
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There it is ! |
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Chequered tablecloths of course |
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The real slicer ! |
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On the menu… |
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The wines, of course ! |
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This is Paris ! |
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Next week, I’ll tell you about some little tricks I’ve been experimenting with lately : adding a strap to your bag, gilding a silver jewel, whitening your teeth… These aren’t exactly grandma’s recipes, but almost ! I wish you a very good week and I look forward to seeing you next Thursday.
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© La lettre d'Ines 2023 | Se désinscrire | CGU
3-9 avenue André Malraux, 92300 Levallois |
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