2018 Goodreads Challenge

“We are readers. Books grace our shelves and fill our homes with beauty; they dwell in our minds and occupy our thoughts. Books prompt us to spend pleasant hours alone and connect us with fellow readers. They invite us to escape into their pages for an afternoon, and they inspire us to reimagine our lives.” - Anne Bogel, I’d Rather Be Reading

December 13, 2018 (347/365) • Follow me on Goodreads

• Initially 30 books (I read 30 last year), but reset to 40 in July
• Books Read: 50 (…so far! The year isn’t over yet.)
• Books Set in Paris/France: 23
• Books Set in Wisconsin: 1
• Books Borrowed from the Library: 39
• Books for Professional Development: 2
• Children’s Books: 3
• Biographies | Historical Fiction: 28
• Favorite Book(s): Paris By the Book, The Nightingale, The Power of Moments, Forever Paris
• Least Favorite(s): Uncommon Type (Tom Hanks), Bonjour Kale (Beddard) 

chez Madeline?

November 27, 2018 (331/365)

“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines Lived twelve little girls In two straight lines…” - Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline

And the winner is...

October 24, 2018 (297/365)

"There are many little ways to enlarge your world. Love of books is the best of all. - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Last May, I blogged about The Great American Read on PBS -- the series that "celebrates the power, passion and joy of reading through the lens of America's 100 best-loved books as chosen by the public." This fall, I have really enjoyed the episodes that curated the books into collections such as Who am I?, Heroes, Villains and Monsters, What We Do for Love, and Other Worlds.

Spoiler Alert! DO NOT read any further if you don't want to know the results of the voting!

To date, I have read 59/100 of America’s favorite books. Last night on the series finale, all 100 books were ranked in order. Some rankings shocked me:

• Hemingway at #66 (The Sun Also Rises) - No! 
• Le Petit Prince #33 - mais non!
• The Catcher in the Rye at #30 - absolutely not!
• The Great Gatsby was #15? How is that possible?

Throughout the show, the top five books were revealed:

• #5 Lord of the Rings (read it, saw the movies, studied the archives at Marquette)
• #4 Pride and Prejudice (❤️ - read it countless times, saw the movies -- especially love the PBS series with Colin Firth)
• #3 Harry Potter (read all the books in the series, saw all of the movies)
• #2 Outlander (the only book of the top 5 that I haven’t read, although I have watched the series on Starz)

And America’s favorite book is: 

Read it, taught it, love it!

Measurement

July 30, 2018 (211/365)

"The true measure of a summer well-spent is how many books you've read (and how many empty bottles are in your recycle bin)!" ~ N.C.

"How's your summer going?" --  It's a question that is often posed to educators who are "off" in the summertime. I have spent a lot of time at school, so one could argue that this hasn't been the greatest summer for me. However, a very wise friend has developed her own measure of a successful summer "break" that involves books and wine. By her accounting, 2018 has been quite a good summer for me. There has been a respectable quantity of rosé, unoaked Chardonnay, and lavender cider bottles in our bin throughout the summer and I have read several books -- so many that the "To Read" shelf of my Goodreads account is dwindling fast.

Here's the rundown of what I've read so far:

• Historical Fiction: Call Me Zelda (Zelda Fitzgerald), The Aviator's Wife (Anne Morrow Lindbergh), Love and Ruin (Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gelhorn), My Salinger Year
• Literary Fiction: The Lost Vintage, Paris by the Book, Currently Reading: Rules of Civility
• Biography: The Bettencourt Affair: The World's Richest Woman and the Scandal that Rocked Paris, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (Sorry, Walter Isaacson, but I had to add the Oxford Comma missing in your title!), Leonardo da Vinci, Jackie, Janet, and Lee: The Other Side of Camelot
• Short Stories: Uncommon Type (Tom Hanks)
• Self-Improvement/Awareness: The French Art of Not Giving a Sh*t, Home Sweet Maison
• Pewaukee High School Summer Reading Books: A List of Cages and The Power of Moments

Any suggestions -- wine or books -- to make my summer even better?

My Type of Project

July 2, 2018 (183/365)

"There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home and in Paris." ~ Ernest Hemingway

Thanks to Eric, I finally have the vintage Royal typewriter that I have wanted for years. Ernest Hemingway wrote both The Old Man and the Sea and my favorite A Moveable Feast on his Royal Quiet de Luxe. Hemingway's 1940's Royal was still At his home in Havana (now a museum) until 2007 when it sold at auction for $2750. Mine sits on a card catalogue in our living room along with a few favorite books including A Moveable Feast. I'm not very crafty, but I love today's little project -- a framed copy of my favorite Hemingway quote, typed on my Royal.

The Great American Read

 May 22, 2018 (142/365)

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.”  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Anyone else excited to watch tonight's première of The Great American Read on PBS? The series "celebrates the power, passion and joy of reading through the lens of America's 100 best-loved books as chosen by the public." The list is included on the PBS website. I've read only 54/100 -- I'd better get busy! 

Week 15 - Composition: Rule of Space

 April 9, 2018 (099/365) • On y va!

"Congratulations! Today is your day. 

You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose." 

~ Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go

*

Week 15 - COMPOSITION: Rule of Space"

[Keep your subject "in" the frame and engaging with it. Give your subject room to move.]

#dogwoodweek15, #dogwood52, #dogwood2018 • f/4, 1/200, ISO100

Plans for Spring Break

March 26, 2018 (085/365)

“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. 

They are home.” ~ Anna Quindlen, How Reading Changed My Life

Help me plan my Spring Break travel plans -- Books suggestions, please!

Givenchy

March 13, 2018 (072/365)

"His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, 

[Givenchy] is a creator of personality." ~ Audrey Hepburn 

Iconic French couturier, Hubert de Givenchy, passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Givenchy's New York Times obituary states that "Mr. Givenchy was emblematic of a generation of gentlemanly designers who established their couture houses in postwar Paris, nurturing personal relationships with customers and creating entire collections with specific women in mind." The woman with whom he had the closest relationship was, of course, Audrey Hepburn. Givenchy's designs appeared in many of Audrey's most memorable films including Sabrina, Funny Face, Charade, and How to Steal a Million -- all of which are set in Paris and all of which we watched during our recent trip. In fact, we were so enamored with Audrey and Givenchy dresses that we visited the flagship atelier and I purchased this charming book.

Packing for Paris

February 12, 2018 (043/365) • J-8 avant Paris

“I took only one suitcase and a cosmetics case...but I was worried about books."

~ Martha Gellhorn (aka Mrs. Ernest Hemingway III), Travels With Myself and Another

There are so many iterations of "What to Pack for Paris in the Winter" articles and blog posts, and here's one more: 

• LUGGAGE & HANDBAGS: Even when I check a bag, my Swiss Army carry on is the perfect size for a week to ten days in Paris. I also love eBags Packing Cubes to keep my things organized. For my electronics and carry on essentials, I usually take my Lancel Elsa bag (similar to this one, only older -- purchased in Paris in 2009). For everyday walking around, I prefer a small cross-body bag like this one from Coach or this Chanel WOC (purchased in Paris in 2013) to more safely carry my essentials (passport, cash, bankcard, phone, etc.).

• FOOTWARE: My #1 bit of packing advice is take COMFORTABLE walking shoes! Poor shoes impact one's feet, back, and attitude! Don’t be a slave to fashion (even during Paris Fashion Week)! That being said, there are a lot of boots and flats that are both comfortable and fashionable. Here are my choices for this trip: Bandolino flats (I have these in black and burgundy) and these Lucky booties.

• OUTERWEAR: The average high temperature in Paris for February is in 40’s. Although mild weather is expected next week, Paris has experienced both flooding rains and significant snow accumulations this month. I plan to be prepared for a variety of weather situations. A good mid-weight coat is key, along with accessories such as gloves, scarves, sunnies, and, despite what Audrey says in Sabrina, an umbrella.

• CLOTHING: In Paris, black is always chic, but to avoid being boring, I pack a variety of jewelry and accessories. A good capsule wardrobe is appropriate for everything from a stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens to tea at the Ritz.

• PERSONAL ITEMS: Don't forget pajamas, slippers, undergarments, and socks. I pack my favorite hair and skincare products, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush and hairdryer (Yes, I do need my powerful, ionic hairdryer), daily contact lenses, makeup, Advil, and band-aids.

• ELECTRONICS: Some people are able to unplug when on vacation, but I enjoy staying connected. These days, I travel with quite a bit of technology:
• Voltage converters and plug adaptors for France. A voltage converter is absolutely essential to avoid frying your phone battery and even your hair.
• Laptop: My 12" Macbook is perfect for everything from editing photos to watching movies -- all set in Paris, of course.
• Mobile phone: iPhone X with the Verizon TravelPass (for $10/day, I can use my phone exactly as I do in the US, including calls, texts, and data)
• Camera: As much as I love my Sony a6000 DSLR, I think I'll rely on my iPhone X this time. I intend to focus on the daily delights that make Paris special rather than yet another requisite tourist photo of each landmark and monument. I'd like to try to enjoy the moments as they happen rather than obsessing over lighting and focus. 
• iPad Mini 4 for movies, photos, Facetime with Piper (and Eric), and especially books. Unlike Marty Gellhorn, I no longer worry about the bulk that essential reading material adds to my suitcase. So, all my francophone and francophile friends, what should I read this time? Send me your favorite set-in-Paris reading suggestions. Merci!

Paris, My Sweet

February 7, 2018 (038/365)

“I guess it goes to show that you just never know where life will take you. 

You search for answers. You wonder what it all means. You stumble, and you soar. 

And, if you’re lucky, you make it to Paris for a while.” 

~ Amy Thomas, Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light

Earlier this week, I started reading Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light by Amy Thomas. I have been craving a good book and this tour of Paris' famed bakeries, pâtisseries, and chocolate shops is certainly satisfying my sweet tooth. Yet my appetite for Paris is voracious, so I'm going back -- in two weeks! What a sweet surprise!

Books

December 18, 2017 (351/365)

“Sleep is good and books are better.”  George R.R. Martin

And I intend to enjoy plenty of both over winter break. 

But first, here's a look back at the books I read in 2017.

What did you read this year? What are you looking forward to reading?

Book Goal: Initially 20, but reset to 30 in August

Books Read: 30

Books Set in/About Paris: 12

Books Borrowed from the Library: 19

Favorite Book(s): All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and, of course, Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Least Favorite(s): Into the Water by Paula Hawkins and the work-related books

Longest Book:All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (531 pages)

Shortest Book: I'd Rather Be Reading by Guinevere de la Mar (96 pages)

Funniest Book: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

French Friday: Le Petit Prince

September 8, 2017 (251/365)

« Toutes les grandes personnes ont d'abord été des enfants. 

Mais peu d'entre elles s'en souviennent. » 

~ Le Petit Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Today is International Literacy Day, and we're celebrating at PHS with summer reading book discussions and the ultimate luxury -- 45 minutes of uninterrupted time to read! Another way that we are promoting our own love of reading is by displaying a "read thread" with the name of a favorite book. I have read and taught Le Petit Prince more times than I can remember and, each time, I discover something new. From its whimsical watercolor illustrations to its ironic view of adults, from its social criticism to its touching advice about relationships, this universal tale of love and loss, of courage and faith, of vision and imagination -- disguised as a children's book -- is a must read for everyone who wants to avoid being labeled a "grande personne."  Le Petit Prince has taught me to look at life from different points of view, to notice beauty in ordinary things, to slow down and appreciate quiet moments -- not just with my eyes, but with my heart: «On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.» Last winter, when I was in Paris, I visited the Petit Prince Boutique in the charming Saint-Germain neighborhood in Paris -- a great place to reconnect with one's inner child.

Summer Reading

May 31, 2017 (152/365)

"Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, nihil deerit." 

~ Cicero, To Varro, Ad Familiares IX, 4

In the 1st century BC, Cicero wrote, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." Over two thousand years later, even in our high-tech society, these essentials still ring true for me. I don't have any big plans this summer. I'm simply content spending time outside, losing myself in a good book. This year's Pewaukee High School summer reading list is shorter, yet there's something for everyone. What are you reading this summer?

Necessities

April 11, 2017 (101/365)

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” ~ Cicero

That's my plan for Spring Break 2017 (well, + a beagle).

Any suggestions? What are you reading these days? 

What books do you read over and over?

French Friday: Shakespeare and Company (bis)

March 3, 2017 (062/365)

“Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise.” ~ George Whitman

I've featured the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookshop on my blog twice before -- first as one of my premiere posts in 2011 and again as a French Friday repost in 2014 because, despite my acute francophilia, I love this bastion of American literature and history. 

It was my pleasure to visit the shop again last weekend.

 I know that photos are forbidden, but George Whitman was a rebel too.

You know I can't resist a vintage typewriter!

Despite the temptation to believe in my own luck,

I purchased this new book about the "Rag & Bone Shop of the Heart"

It has so many great images, letters, poems, and artifacts that made me appreciate this space even more. (Official photo)

I bought a coffee at the new café next door.

The space that George longed to own just opened last year.

Finally, I found a bench to sit and read...

... just like I did as a student in 1994 (below)!

(I still think that is George Whitman in the window!)

Les Bouquinistes

February 26, 2017 (057/365)

“The whole of Paris is a vast university of art, literature and music.

It is worth anyone’s while to dally here...

Paris is a seminar, a post-graduate course in everything.”

~ James Thurber, The New Yorker (1918).

Along more than three kilometres on either side of the Seine are 900 green boxes containing over 300,000 old books, journals, posters, and souvenirs. Present since the 15th Century, these boxes have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bouquinistes can rent up to four 6'x3' boxes for 100€ each per year. Only one of four may contain tourist trinkets, so if you really look, you can find some unique treasures.