Paris in July - take one

I've been checking out some of the inspired posts for Paris in July, particularly Only Orangery who has set up some veeery tasty things to get stuck into - for whatever may float your Gallic boat. I myself am beginning to realise how many wonderful things I have sitting on my shelves to discover, and indeed, to revisit; particularly the fantastic snatches of France's legendary cinematic tradition that I have collected over the years. The bf is in for a month of subtitle reading as we sit down to classics such as Betty Blue, Delicatessen and La Haine. I'm also wondering whether to venture into HMV next weekend and check out the deals they usually have on foreign films, I started collecting years and years ago and haven't added to the pile for a very long time...

Béatrice Dalle - trop sexy 

Book-wise I'm thinking that a nice balance between books in French/books set in France may be a good balance and introduce a more interesting and varied group of authors. The bf has just finished The Paris Wife by Paula Mclain, and although he complained that it was a 'girlie book' after the first ten pages (partially because he had just finished reading about the British photo-journalist Nick Danziger sneaking over borders into war-torn countries - bit of a stark contrast) in the end he was rather affected and touched by Hadley Richardson's relationship with Ernest Hemingway, making me even keener to get on and read it. Among my French books (really should brush up on the ol'lingo before I begin!) I have La Cousine Bette by Balzac and Nana by Emile Zola.  Both fictional portraits of very different, yet seemingly fascinating women.  I also fancy revisiting Thérèse Raquin by Zola; a tormented yet deeply sensual woman whose story really inspired me when I discovered the book during my teenage years. 

All complex women...have you noticed? Perhaps I can break the mold with a little French music. I have also only just discovered Spotify this weekend. (I know, I know, I'm sure I must be living in an alternate universe or something..) How amazing! All that music...as obscure as you like...for free!  As well as your cheesetastic Café-de-Paris-type-fare I'm also feeling a bit of MC Solar and Zebda coming on. Yoyoyo! I'm also flicking through the photographs from our time in Paris for un peu d'inspiration and will really try my very best to bring a bit of gay Pareee to rainy Manchester, for one month at least... *sigh*