Update September 2016 #01

The beginning of this month was filled with responsibility, stress and changes. I attended my cousin's wedding at the beginning, started a new semester in a new university and reunited with my friends. Little I need to say that sometimes, books weren't my priority. Finding a new life rhythm can sometimes be tricky, managing work, friends and hobbies can quickly get overwhelming. I think, I needed some time to adjust and leave my three month of holidays behind me...

1. Dalva by Jim Harrison: 3/5

* This is the story of Dalva, a forty-something woman of Sioux descend. When she was fifteen she got pregnant of the love of her life and gave the child to adoption. Thirty years later she tries to find her son as well as going back to her hometown and roots.

* This is my father's favorite book and this was a gift from him, I kinda felt like I had to like it. unfortunately, it wasn't the time for me to read this novel. I never properly got into it, I was reading the words but I did not understand them. I was bored and I did not want to be so.

* The second half of the book interested me more, I slowly got to know the characters and grew interest in their fate, but nothing too passionate or remotely strong. I was actually happy to end it. I neither enjoyed nor disliked it.

* I really believe that we weave connections to certain characters and stories because they find an echo in ourselves, and I guess that this one didn't find any yet in me. I think that in some years I might read this again and love it, who knows.

* I would recommend this book if you're into nature writing, alcohol and sex themes as well as family secrets and meditative descriptions.

2. The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild : 4,5/5

* The story follows Annie who has the incredible luck of finding a Watteau in a junk shop. The whole novel narrates her adventures finding out about the lost painting, trying to tie it to its roots as well as dealing with the people of the art world. Weaved in this pursuit of the truth, a love story might bloom...

*At first, what draw me to this book was the incredible reviews AND the fact that one of the narrators was the painting itself. I found it original and actually useful, sometimes funny... When the painting wasn't narrating i would find myself wondering what it thought or how it felt haha.

* If you are a lover of art, it's a delight to read as it references to a bunch of painters and technical facts about art. It's witty and interesting. I must say, as a former art student, I knew a lot of the artists and paintings, or artistic movements the author referred to, but I also learned a lot of things on the actual making of a painting !

* It's also a very sharp critique of the art world and how money rules most things and how sometimes the artistic and emotional value of a painting is forgotten. I thought it underlined some deep issues of the modern art world and how some paintings are more commercial product than works of art.

* So-many-plot-twists, like seriously, until the very end, you don't know what's coming for you, you think t's going to go one way, but it goes the other. 

* My only issue with it, and why I didn't give it a 5/5 on goodreads was the love story between Annie and Jesse. Even though it wasn't the main subject of the novel and a side plot, I thought it lacked of something. For a while nothing happens (at all), then they both become super-cheesy, then nothing much again, then bam the very-predictable-end. I found it rather odd and, from my opinion, it lacked strength ? 

August Wrap Up part II

And here is the second part of the August wrap up ! I read a total of 9 books this month woo ! I am quite proud of myself... I don't think I've read this many books in a month since... maybe middle school ?


{ Harry Potter & the chamber of secrets by J.K. Rowling  }
* DO I NEED TO SUM THIS UP ??
*This is always a pleasure to re-read Rowling's masterpiece. I have read this series countless times but I always understand new elements, discover new things and find joy in seeing my beloved characters once more. That probably sounds insane, but Hogwarts really is a second home for me.
* I am just so impatient to read the Cursed Child that I needed to read another HP just to soothe my heart. I haven't read this last "bonus" book and I feel like i'm betraying myself because for the last 15 years Harry has been my life, but my best friend bought it for my birthday so I have to patiently wait to see her (a tear runs down her cheek, looks up at the sky with great sorrow "why art thou doing this to me ? Oh cruel fate !" I read too much Shakespeare I guess)

{ The Reader of Broken Wheel recommend by Katarina Bivald } VF
* This is the story of Sara Lindquist a swedish librarian who exchanges letters with an old american lady, Amy Harris. When Sara looses her job, Amy asks her to spend a couple of month in her little town in Iowa. But, when Sara arrives in Broken Wheel Amy is deceased.
* It's one of those good chick lit novels that makes you happy and gives a positive message but also deals with serious matters. I loved how this novel constantly refers to other novels, and how it gives some food for the thoughts on how literature can change a life or how you can have the Emma Bovary syndrome and think that books are better than reality. I would definitely recommend reading this on holidays or on a gloomy autumn day. It was lovely read.

{ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith } VF
* Francie is a little girl living in Brooklyn, New York in early 20th century. She's very poor and has to  deal with hunger and money issues on a daily basis. Francie loves books and movies, she wants to be a writer, but how to be one when there's barely enough money to get through the week ?
* Not exactly what I am used to read. I was pleasantly surprised that the narrator didn't dwell on the sadness and harshness of poverty. Yes, a big chunk of the story is about how Francie and her family deals with money and work and food, but really, what we see is the love in this family.
* I loved Katie the mother, such a strong woman ! surprisingly, I didn't feel connected to Francie, she's a very nice kid, but I don't know... I wasn't moved by her fate.

{ La drôle de vie de Zelda Zonk by Laurence Peyrin } VF + french author
* Hanna lives in the irish countryside near Cork with her husband jeff and her sister's daughter Patti. Unfortunately a car accident sends her to the hospital. That's where she'll meet Zelda, a bubbly old lady with a very handsome son. Hanna's life will never be the same.
* The first part of the novel was quite good, fresh, lovely and with good promises. But from the moment Hanna travels to Paris everything goes wrong. I didn't understand the author's decisions and it only got worse. The ending got me jumping off my seat and spit my orange juice, it was that bad. I'm disappointed because the first half was such a good start, it's a pity it had to end this way !

{ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling & Jack Thorne }

* The story picks up nineteen years later, in King's Cross station. Albus, Harry's son is torn between what the world awaits from him and what he feels.
* I don't want to reveal too much of the plot as it appears quite late in the script. I must WARN YOU that this is NOT the 8th Harry Potter book. It's, from my humble opinion, a bonus story that you certainly don't need to read. I loved getting to dive into the HP world once more, I loved the little things that reminded me of the original series. I also thought in depth, the plot is interesting, there were some good ideas. Unfortunately, the authors tried to cram too much in this play, meaning that a lot of things seemed too easily resolved, too fast paced and some ideas just...terrible (the trolley lady was probably the most WTF thing I've ever come across). On top of that I regretted the absence of some characters such as George or teddy Lupin as well as the misreading of Ron's character.

credit image: google + tumblr "the-book-ferret" 

August Wrap Up Part I

I was absent for awhile here, but I intend on trying to keep up with this blog. I realized that I couldn't write book reviews at every book i read because i read too much and I would have to write two posts per week and basically only talk about that which is not what i want. So, i will still be talking about books I've read but in a more concentrated version ! Here is the very first wrap up of the blog :

{Middlemarch by George Eliot}
* I was looking for a nice big chunky novel and my eyes fell on this. This is the story of three complicated love stories in the english countryside.
*I loved Eliot's humor very cynical and Jane Austen-esque. The novel is very descriptive and full of little details about the character's psychological traits, sometimes a bit too much.
*That was way too long and detailed. I love long descriptive novels but this was over the board. I found a lot of moments irrelevant to the plot and useless for our understanding of the characters. I got bored approaching the end... I'm kind of sorry because I really wanted to like it.

{ The Rook by Daniel O'Malley } VF
* This is a sci-fi novel in which the main character Myfanwy Thomas wakes up in the middle of the street surrounded by men with rubber gloves. She doesn't know who she is or what happened, but her life is under threat and she has to make choices.
* This whole story was DA BOMB, i absolutely loved Myfanwy the most sassy character ever after Harry Potter. I also enjoyed the men in black atmosphere as Myfanwy is working in a british paranormal secret agency called the Chequy and has for co-workers vampires and mind-readers. She herself has powers and is a total bad-ass. If I had to describe it in a word it would be Sassy.

{ A clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin } VF
* I read the second part of this huge book where the story picks out on Arya, Jon and Tyrion's adventures and misfortunes. I can't reveal much because of spoilers.
*I didn't like it that much. I was happy to read about my favorite characters (all listed above) but this felt like a transitional book where nothing much happened and I felt like I was endlessly waiting for something to happen. I could definitely feel like "winter is coming" but after 400 pages I didn't see a single snowflake. Damn You George.

{ Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer }
* After writing an article on the tragic quest of Christopher Mccandless and his death in an abandoned bus in Alaska, Jon Krakauer digs deeper in the life of this epic wanderer in an essay.
*This is a re-read for my "mémoire" (I don't know how this translate but this just a long dissertation on a subject that I choose and that has to be around 60 pages) and I loved it just as much as I did when i first read it in high school. I love how Krakauer tells the story and immerse us in McCandless' hopes and train of thoughts. I also loved how he incorporated letters from people reacting to his first article and criticizing their point of view in a clever and argued way.

5 podcast you have to listen to right NOW

In the last couple month I found myself listening to more and more podcast, in car rides, in my way back home from university (45min bus-metro-tram-walk yay) and sometimes on sunday morning just for the hell of it. It's a nice change from the usual music i listen to. I sometimes want to feed my brain with more than just good songs that makes me want to dance in the commute (looking at u "good grief" by Bastille). I have gathered for you 5 podcast that i listen to regularly. As i am french I included one in french which is hilarious, so if you want to practice don't thank me ;)

1- Le Masque et la plume (dat french podcast) 
It's not an actual podcast but more of a recording of a radio show. The podcast lasts about 50min and 4 critics discuss a selection of books/movies/plays depending on the week. It's truly mean and smart but really it's hilarious. I love to listen to the different opinions and hear them fight over ridiculous details and ideas. I actually went to a recording last june with my mom and i loved it ! It was just as fun to watch them discuss the books and movies in real life.

2- Dear Sugar Radio
I discovered this one with a lot of research in the podcast app of my phone and that's my go-to podcast to listen to all the freaking time. It's run by Cheryl Strayed (author of Wild) and Steve Almond. They both read letters that speaks of relationships and other life struggles. Each episode has a theme. I love the advices that they provide and they often call on a specialist or someone who has a different more "professional" views of the matter.

3- CTRL ALT DELETE 
Slightly nerdier than the two over there, but just as good. It's a podcast made by the blogger/author Emma Gannon who released an essay about her life "growing up online". In this podcast she basically interviews personalities of the web on their relationship with online activities such as twitter, youtube or instagram. This is SO interesting and funny, i loved her interview of Elizabeth Gilbert.

4- Pardon my french
This podcast was created by the infamous Garance Doré, illustrator and fashion blogger, she, just like Emma, released a book last year. In this podcast she brings her friends around a cup of coffee, and discuss topics like friendship, spirituality, entertainment etc. My absolute favorite is the one she did with Zosia Mamet, actress from Girls. They're usually quite long, exceeding the hour, but she also released some "pocket" versions of these podcast that last around 40min.

5- Longform Podcast
Nerd alert number 2, this podcast was recommended by Emma Gannon and each episode focus on a writer of non-fiction and discuss their actuality. I would say that, as a non-native english speaker this is the most challenging as they use a lot of specific vocabulary and slang. Nevertheless this is an incredibly interesting podcast that gives you an insight in an author's writing process ! My favorite one so far was the interview they did with Ta-Nehisi Coates for his book "between the world and me", made me want to buy the book!

On July 2016

Friday, August 5th
"cleopatra" by the Lumineers

July was full of sparks. My July begun in June, with my summer job. I took the train to Aix en Provence and then the bus. I love those winding streets and the warm sun on every stone. It's another home now. I was scared but all my fears melted when i met my team and all the amazing people that i would be working with. Everything felt so natural and easy. Not much awkward moments, not much weird interactions, just new friends and laughters. I loved the twinkling lights in the garden after work, nights spent folding plaids and eyes too tired to stay open. These nights that sometimes became mornings because the sun was already lifting its rays onto our faces. Somehow this month felt right and good, there were some moments that felt too much, but it was better than it has been for awhile. July was all running in the ocean and being on a rollercoaster, and jumping on a trampoline and hugging someone tightly, this is not what happened but how it felt. It was exhilarating and sunny and beautiful. It sounded like freedom and smelt like happiness. It was probably the best month i've had all year so far.

I didn't know this would be this good, and feel this right. Last year i didn't go out or kept in touch with the people from my team. This year everything is different. We had diners together and plans to see each other again. We wrote notes to each others and had long conversations that made me forget that i didn't knew these people all along. I felt included, like i belonged. Like i was here.

I love Aix en provence. I love its little streets, its lovely blinds, the beautiful expensive shops. I spent my Sunday evenings with my dad having slices of pizza and watching movies on our laptops. I loved waking up at 11am because last night i fell asleep at 3. I loved all the restaurant we tried even the ones we didn't like. I remember the smell of the theatre and the stairs we climbed everyday to get into our uniforms. I loved having the walkie talkie and laughing to myself during the opera. I knew all the songs and all the words. We always shared the "crazies" of the days while folding plaids.

This was a good month.