Tag Archives: France

Book review: A Little Tour in France

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A Little Tour in France

🎧 A Little Tour in France,
by Henry James
Narrated by Nicholas Clifford (Librivox)
Nonfiction / France / Travelogue
1884/1900
255 pages / 7H51
It counts for the Classics Club
and for #Nonficnov 2025

I have read only one book by Henry James,The Turn of the Screw, but was intrigued when I saw he wrote A Little Tour in France, a nonfiction book based on his travels in France, and especially as it says that he goes through Dijon, my home town.

This is a fascinating travelogue, when France was shortly out of the 1870-1871 war and German invasion.
Published under the title En Province in 1883–1884 as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly, the book recounts a six-week tour James made of many provincial towns in France. The first book publication was in 1884.
A second, extensively revised edition was published in 1900 with illustrations by Joseph Pennell. I believe I listened to the 2nd edition, seeing the length of the audiobook.

Click to continue reading

#ParisinJuly2025: recap and winners

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Paris in July 2025

Paris in July 2025
#ParisinJuly2025
(Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr)
Click on the logo to access all the links

Our #ParisinJuly2025 event is over!

It was a great success, with 27 participants (24 in 2024), we lost some older participants, but gained a bunch of new ones!
But only 94 posts (129 posts last year).

We had 63 book reviews (65 in 2024).
The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris and A Bakery in Paris were reviewed by two of you.
We have two heros this year:
Antoine Laurain (as usual) but also Georges Simenon, with each 5 books reviewed.
Followed by Annie Ernaux and Patrick Modiano, with 2 books reviewed for each.
Lots of ideas of reading to keep you in France until next July!

Besides book reviews, we covered lots of themes (art, food, history, movies, music, sport, travels), including theater, a new one this year (thank you Emma!)
It’s also neat to have several of us combining #ParisinJuly with other memes, like Top Ten Tuesday for instance.

We didn’t have a Zoom meeting this year. No one showed interest, and I didn’t pursue it aggresively, as I had issues with my voice for most of the month.

Eiffel-Tower#5

As the organizer, I’m very surprised about a few things:

  1. Several participants didn’t use MrLinky, but instead put the link to their post in a comment. Most memes, for instance the most popular Top Ten Tuesday, do use a MrLinky type system. And the MrLinky widget was almost at the top of the post, so not sure what’s going on here
  2. Some bloggers still think it’s just about Paris, even though this event has been going on for years, and we have a very clear “mission statement” at the beginning of the post explaining what this event is all about
  3. Some think I just started this, though it’s already the 3rd year I’ve taken over hosting this event which I think started in 2010.
  4. Very few people entered the giveaways.
  5. Only 1 participant posted her BINGO

So, do you suggest any improvement next year related to these points?

Eiffel-Tower#5

And now to our winners:
I will contact each shortly,
and will also forward your info to the publishers/authors.
Click on the covers to access the giveaway page.
There, if you click on the giveaway widget,
you will see the official widget winners displayed

From the Valley We Rise

Karen & Sharon

The Propagandist

Anne & Diana

Fifteen Days in Paris

Diana & Jinjer

The Wit and Charm of Emily in Paris

Anne

We have extra winners:
Marg, Lisbeth, and Fanda, for the most number of entries.
Ewa for the BINGO
Karen @ Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings:
random number generated – #6 (from the MrLinky list)

They will all received an ebook of their choice

Eiffel-Tower#5

Until next July in Paris!

Let me know in a comment
if there’s anything you think
should be edited or added
to make this event  even better

#ParisinJuly2025: all the links

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Paris in July 2025

Paris in July 2025
#ParisinJuly2025
(Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr)

During this month,
our goal is to embrace and honor our French encounters
by immersing ourselves in various activities
like reading, watching, listening, observing, cooking,
and indulging in all things French!

Bienvenue à Paris !

On this page you will find:

  • the widget for you to share your links
  • giveaways
  • review copies
  • our BINGO card
  • the list of our participants – updated as we go along
  • the links to all your posts

Here is the widget for all your posts
if you can specify the theme of your post in the title area, that will help:

Eiffel-Tower#5

GIVEAWAYS:
click on covers to access the posts
From the Valley We Rise   Nova Core

There will be other giveaways at the end of the month:
for the 3 top participants
for a BINGO winner
for a random participant

REVIEW COPIES

  From the Valley We Rise    

  Fifteen Days in Paris  The Wit and Charm of Emily in Paris  

BOOK FEATURED:

Nobody Sits Like the French

Eiffel-Tower#5

BINGO:
this is optional, just more fun for those who love challenges
come this way (same as in 2024)!

Eiffel-Tower#5

THIS YEAR PARTICIPANTS


Annabel: https://annabookbel.net 
Anne: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/
Arti: https://rippleeffects.reviews/
Brona: https://bronasbooks.com/
Carol: https://casdinteret.com/
Chris: https://calmgrovebooks.wordpress.com/
Constance: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/
Davida: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/
Deb: https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/
Emma: https://bookaroundthecorner.com/ 
Emma: https://wordsandpeace.com
Ewa: https://notatnikemigrantki.home.blog/
Fanda: https://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/
Helen: https://shereadsnovels.com/
Jinjer: https://intrepidangeleno.wordpress.com/
Karen: https://bookertalk.com/
Karen: https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/
Lisa: https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/
Lisbeth: https://www.thecontentreader.com/
Marg: http://www.theintrepidreader.com/
Marianne: https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/
Marina: https://findingtimetowrite.wordpress.com/
Meredith: https://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/
Neeru: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpress.com/
Rebecca: https://bookishbeck.com/
Robyn: https://frenchquest.com/
Tina: https://1toast.blogspot.com/

Eiffel-Tower#5

YOUR POSTS BY THEME, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Books: listed by alphabetical order of author
Movies: listed in chronological order

GENERAL:

  1. 10+ Books I plan to Read for Paris in July – posted by ReaderBuzz
  2. Books read and movies wtached since the last Pris in July
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  3. My current French books – posted by Words And Peace
  4. Bestseller list in France – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  5. Books set in Paris – posted by findingtimetowrite

ART:

  1. The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry, at the Cluny Museum in Paris
    – posted by Book Around the Corner
  2. French art and citations related to cats – potsed by cas d’intérêt
  3. French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Exhibition
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker

BOOK QUOTES:

  1. Stefan Zweig on being in Paris: quotations from The World of Yesterday (his autobiography) on Paris – posted by The Content Reader

BOOK REVIEWS: (by alphabetical order of author)

  1. 14 short reviews – posted by The Content Reader
  2. Américain, Les: Beginning French: Lessons from a Stone Farmhouse (2016, nonfiction, travel / memoir) – posted by Turn the Page
  3. Barbery, Muriel: The Elegance of the Hedgehog / L’Élégance du hérisson  (2006, literary fiction / philosophy) – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  4. Bartelt, Franz: Hôtel du Grand Cerf (2017, thriller)
    – posted by Words And Peace
  5. Baxter, John: Untold Paris: The Secrets of the City of Light
    (2024, nonfiction / travel) – posted by Turn the Page
  6. Beaumont, Sophie: A Secret Garden in Paris (2024, literary fiction / romance)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  7. Brownlee, Victoria: Eat Your Heart Out (2025, romance)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  8. Butor, Michel: Changing Track / La Modification (1957, literary fiction)
    – posted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
  9. Chevalier, Tracy: The Lady and the Unicorn / La Dame à la Licorne (2003, historical fiction) – posted by Book Around the Corner
  10. De Duras, Madame: Ourika / Ourika (1823, historical novella, 18th c.)
    – posted by Book Around the Corner
  11. De La Fayette, Madame: The Princess of Montpensier / La Princesse de Montpensier (1662, historical novella, 16th c.)
    – posted by Book Around the Corner
  12. Denizot, Franck: Nova Core (2025, scifi) – posted by Words And Peace
  13. Divry, Sophie: La Cote 400 / The Library of Unrequited Love
    (2010, literary novella) – posted by Words And Peace
  14. Drinkwater, Carol: One Summer in Provence (2025, literary fiction / romance)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  15. Druon, Maurice: The Lily and the Lion / Le Lis et le Lion
    (1959, historical fiction 14th c.) – posted by She Reads Novels
  16. Ernaux, Annie: A Man’s Place / La Place (1983, nonfiction / memoir)
    – posted by This Reading Life
  17. Ernaux, Annie: Happening / L’événement (2000, nonfiction / memoir)
    – posted by This Reading Life
  18. Fleming, Ian: Casino Royale (1953, spy mystery)
    – posted by The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
  19. Foley, Lucy: The Paris Apartment (2022, mystery)
    – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  20. Gavalda, Anna: 35 kilos d’espoir / 95 Pounds of Hope (2002, YA novel)
    – posted by Words And Peace
  21. Godden, Rumer: The Greengage Summer (1958, coming of age)
    – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  22. Goscinny, René: Le petit Nicolas (1959, childrens book)
    – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  23. Greenside, Mark: (Not Quite) Mastering the Art of French Living
    (2018, nonfiction / memoir) – posted by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
  24. Groskop, Viv: Au Revoir, Tristesse: Lessons in Happiness from French Literature (2020, nonfiction / book about books) – posted by Bookish Beck
  25. Harris, Joanne: Coastliners (2002, fiction)
    – posted by The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
  26. Harvey, Gillian: The Village Cafe in the Loire (2025, romance)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  27. Hemingway, Ernest: A Moveable Feast (1964, nonfiction / memoir)
    – posted by Turn the Page
  28. Huysmans, Joris-Karl: Parisian Sketches / Croquis parisiens
    (1880, nonfiction / essays) – posted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
  29. Izzo, Jean-Claude: Garlic, Mint, & Sweet Basil: Essays on Marseilles, Mediterranean Cuisine, and Noir Fiction (2003, nonfiction / essays)
    – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  30. Laclavetine, Jean-Marie: The First Line / Première Ligne  (1999, literary fiction)
    – posted by The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
  31. Laurain, Antoine: The Portrait / Ailleurs si j’y suis (2007, literary fiction)
    – posted by The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
  32. Laurain, Antoine: The Red Notebook / La Femme au carnet rouge
    (2014, fiction/romance) – posted by Fanda Classiclit and by Ripple Effects
  33. Laurain, Antoine: French Windows / The President’s Hat / French Rhapsody
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  34. Leblanc, Maurice: The Arrest of Arsène Lupin (a collection of 4 short stories: April 17, 2025 by Penguin Classics) – posted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
  35. Mah, Ann: Jacqueline in Paris (2022, historical fiction)
    – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  36. Maupassant, Guy de: Bel-Ami (1885, literary fiction) – posted by Dolce Bellezza
  37. Mayle, Peter: A Year in Provence  (1989, nonfiction)
    – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  38. Modiano, Patrick: So you don’t get lost in the Neighborhood / Pour que tu ne te perdes pas dans le quartier (2014, literary fiction)
    – posted by a hot cup of pleasure
  39. Modiano, Patrick: Ring Roads / Les Boulevards de ceinture
    (1972, literary fiction/historical fiction) – posted by Calmgrove Books
  40. Morais, Richard C.: The Hundred-Foot Journey (2008, literary fiction / food)
    – posted by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
  41. Morand, Paul: Tender Shoots / Tendres stocks (1921, three short stories)
    – posted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
  42. Mourlevat, Jean-Claude: The Upside Down River: Tomek’s Journey /
    La Rivière à l’envers     (2000, middle grade fantasy) – posted by Fanda Classiclit
  43. Murat, Laure: Proust, roman familial (2023, nonfiction / autobiography / literary criticism) – posted by Words And Peace
  44. Musso, Valentin: Voici demain (2025, thriller) – posted by Words And Peace
  45. Orsenna, Érik: Les Chevaliers du subjonctif (2003, literary fiction)
    – posted by Words And Peace
  46. Perec, Georges: Les Choses / Things (1965, literary fiction)
    – posted by Words And Peace
  47. Perrin, Valérie: Fresh water for Flowers / Changer l’eau des fleurs
    (2018, romance) – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  48. Proust, Marcel: The Captive / La Prisonnière (1923, literary fiction)
    – posted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
  49. Queneau, Raymond: A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems / Cent mille milliards de poèmes (1961, poetry) – posted by Words And Peace
  50. Riechl, Ruth: The Paris Novel (2024, historical novel, the 1980s)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  51. Roberts, Alison: The Magic of Provence (A Year in France #3)
    (2025, cosy romance) – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  52. Runyan, Aimie K.:  A Bakery in Paris (2023, historical fiction)
    – posted by Readerbuzz and by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  53. Sagan, Françoise: Bonjour tristesse (1954, literary fiction)
    – posted by BookerTalk
  54. Simenon, Georges: The Hanged Man of Saint Pholien / Le Pendu de Saint-Pholien (1931, mystery) – posted by This Reading Life
  55. Simenon, Georges: The Yellow Dog / Le Chien jaune (1931, mystery)
    – posted by This Reading Life
  56. Simenon, Georges: Mr Hire’s Engagement / Les Fiançailles de M. Hire
    (1933, mystery) – posted by Calmgrove Books
  57. Simenon, Georges: Maigret’s Holiday / Les Vacances de Maigret
    (1947, mystery) – by Annabel @ AnnaBookBel, posted @ Shiny New Books
  58. Simenon, Georges: Maigret’s Pickpocket / Le Voleur de Maigret
    (1967, mystery) – by Annabel @ AnnaBookBel, posted @ Shiny New Books
  59. Verne, Jules: Journey to the Center of the Earth / Voyage au centre de la terre (1864, science-fiction) – posted by a hot cup of pleasure
  60. Woods, Evie: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris (2014, historical fiction)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker 
    – posted by Staircase Wit
  61. Yourcenar, Marguerite: Mishima, ou La Vision du vide / Mishima: A Vision of the Void (1981, nonfiction / literary criticism) – posted by Words And Peace
  62. Zeller, Florian: The Mother and The Father / Le Père – La Mère – Le Fils
    (2019, plays) – posted by The Intrepid Angeleno
  63. Zweig, Stefan: Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman
    (1932, nonfiction / biography / history) – posted by Dolce Bellezza

ESSAYS: 

  1. French Literature in Occupied France 1939-1945 – posted by My French Quest

FOOD / DRINK:

  1. First attempt at baking croissants – posted by Readerbuzz
  2. Coq au vin and soufflé au chocolat mi-amer
    – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  3. Paris baguette shop in Illinois – posted by Dolce Bellezza
  4. Palmiers and other French food prepared at home – posted by Turn the page
  5. Raspberry Clafoutis recipe – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  6. Strawberry-Rhubard galette recipe – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  7. French summer menu – posted by findingtimetowrite

HISTORY:

  1. History of France:“Liberté, Egalité, and Fraternité” End of 19th Century
    – posted by My French Quest
  2. Napoleon Bonaparte – posted by My French Quest
  3. La Renaissance, 16th century – posted by My French Quest
  4. French Literature in Occupied France 1939-1945
    – posted by My French Quest
  5. Victor Hugo (1802-1885) – posted by My French Quest
  6. King François 1er: The Shameless Parenting Instincts—or Lack Thereof
    – posted by cas d’intérêt
  7. Zweig, Stefan: Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman
    (1932, nonfiction / biography / history) – posted by Dolce Bellezza

MEMES:

  1. Top Ten Tuesday: Books with the Eiffel Tower on the cover
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
    – posted by Let’s Read
  2. Top Ten recent French reads – posted by Words And Peace
  3. Top Ten French books I’ve reread the most – posted by Readerbuzz
  4. Top Ten Tuesday: Honorifics in French titles 
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  5. Spell the month of July in books – books set in France 
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  6. Top ten historical novels set in France
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  7. Top ten books with Paris in the title, in my TBR
    – posted by Words And Peace
    – posted by The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
  8. My 10 favorite books set in Paris – posted by Readerbuzz

MOVIES: (by chronological order)

  1. 5 mini movie reviews – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  2. Le Chat / The Cat (1971, drama) – posted by The Intrepid Angeleno
  3. Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    – posted by The Intrepid Angeleno
  4. Les rendez-vous d’Anna / The Meetings of Anna (1978)
    – posted by The Intrepid Angeleno
  5. Les Revenants / They Came Back  (2012 TV series)
    – posted by The Intrepid Angeleno
  6. Transatlantic (2023 Netflix drama miniseries)
    – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  7. Widow Cliquot (2023) – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  8. Jane Austen Wrecked My Life / Jane Austen a gâché ma vie (2024)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  9. Grande Maison Paris (2024 Japanese movie set in Paris)
    – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker

MUSIC:

  1. Comme toi, by Ishtar. And Sacha Distel – posted by Turn the Page
  2. French-ish songs – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker
  3. 2025 Paris in July playlist – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  4. French classical composers playlist – posted by My Head is Full of Books
  5. Les Misérables musical – posted by My Head is Full of Books

SPORTS:

  1. Le Tour de France – Stage 12 – posted by My Head is Full of Books

THEATER:

  1. Theatre in Paris and Lyon: from book to play
    – posted by Book Around the Corner

TRAVELS:

  1. Paris on foot: Lisbeth’s trip to Paris – posted by The Content Reader
  2. Père Lachaise Cemetery – posted by The Content Reader
  3. Literary escapade: Manosque and Jean Giono
    – posted by Book Around the Corner
  4. Shakespeare & Company Bookstore – posted by The Content Reader
  5. Literary footsteps: Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and Paul Verlaine
    – posted by The Content Reader
  6. Literary homes in and around Paris – posted by The Content Reader
  7. Where to eat in Paris  – posted by The Content Reader

BINGO recap:

  1. 1 bingo – posted by Notatnik Emigrantki

WRAP:

  1. Books by Valérie Perrin and others – posted by Turn the Page
  2. The end – posted by The Intrepid Reader & Baker