French Obsession: A Week in Which I Find I Have Acquired 22 Books on France and Read 0 Real Books
When I do something, I do it.
I'm doing France right now. I'm listening in the car to CDs that teach children French songs. I'm practicing French using apps on my iPhone. I'm requesting books from the library on France. I'm ordering books on Amazon on France. I'm listening to French music at home. I'm stockpiling French novels and children's books for next weekend's Readathon. I made a wiki for our trip and have been copying and pasting ideas there. Obsessed.
Don't laugh, but here is my French TBR:
Okay. I'm stopping here and not including all the where-to-go books and CDs and software and iPhone apps. Trust me. My French TBR is HUGE.
Now, here's what I actually read last week:
Three books in a week looks good, right?
But, looking more closely, I find that actually completed just two small children's picture books and one thin book, a book that's really a chapter in the M. F. K. Fisher collection, The Art of Eating.
And, I'm contemplating later this afternoon going through my 1001 Children's Books to Read and requesting all the French children's books I can find from the library. More books? Eek.
The problem is clear.
I...must...push...myself...away...from...this...computer....
But, before I go, what do you think? What should I read first?
Anything (Oh, please don't tell me!) that I missed?
What a fun idea to "do" a country in books. Of your pile, I've only read A Moveable Feast, but it was wonderful - so full of flavor. I suppose if I were doing France, I would reread the Madeline and Babar books! (and furthermore endeavor to procure a stuffed Babar to keep me company during the reading process!)
ReplyDeleteThere's some great stuff here. Do tell us how Proust and Hemingway turn out.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading! Bonne chance! My salon.
ReplyDeleteBonjour! J'adore toutes choses Francaise!
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading A Moveable Feast this month, too! Love the French reading theme...
ReplyDeleteCan't help but love a reader!
ReplyDeleteThe Clean White Page
What a wonderful idea to do all things French! You have a wonderful stack of books in keeping with your theme!
ReplyDeleteVery cool idea. I love it! And who ever said obsession was a bad thing? :)
ReplyDeleteI love Where's My Teddy! I love your immersion in your interest. At least we can live vicariously through you and your upcoming trip!
ReplyDeleteLoved Le Miz, but it is a long read! I read Tender is the Night, but can't remember what it was about, that was back in college.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post there Debbie. I of course share your obsession (and your travel plans), but sadly I don't think I can match your volume of planned reads. I am hoping that I can get to Paris to the Moon, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (planning on taking it with me as doorstop travel book), and Hemingway's Moveable Feast. I heard a story about that on the book show here this week, there is a new edition from 2009, revised by Hemingway's grandson Sean, and allegedly more the way Hemingway intended. Although he didn't actually intend for it to be published at all. A lot of the French kids books in 1001 seem to be quite difficult to obtain here, I'm hoping to pick up English versions whilst there. I've scheduled Madeline and Babar for us for May in preparation for my trip. I'm not quite sure how the wiki you've set up works, but I'm keen to share your building excitement.
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to read that I'm not the only one with a similar problem with books that just keep piling up!
Unfortunately, that means I don't have any advice to give you on how to solve it.
But let's admit it: we don't actually think it's a problem, do we? ;-)
Wow, you are really immersed in France! I hope that you get to enjoy some crepes as you go through all of these books.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to travel. My problem though-getting-away-from-the-computer. Sounds like a disease that is catching.
ReplyDeletewow thats alot of french books, go for the thicker ones first that what Id do
ReplyDeleteLove the reading theme! Thanks for providing me with such an awesome list of French books!
ReplyDeleteHello, nice to meet you. Many thanks for not only visiting but becoming a follower - the more, the merrier I always say. An interesting blog,I shall certainly be back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog courtesy of Blog Hop. Your list of French Books is interesting. Now subscribed!
ReplyDeleteI love it that you are reading French books. That's one language I am very much in love with, and I am still learning. I should take a leaf out of your book and do the same thing. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteHi, I love your blog and am also a follower. I have a couple of awards for you at:
ReplyDeletehttp://pbbookends.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-awards.html
1001 Children's Books? Oh say it isn't so! I'm a list maker and list user. So of course I'm going to have to go find this one and add hundreds of books to the list of those I want to read.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog by following a link from Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-Thon. I'm going to make it a point to check in on you every so often to see what you're reading.
Oh - I just love this theme idea!
ReplyDeleteI am actually hoping to go to Paris this summer as well, and the two sites that I absolutely must see are: Montmartre and the Musee d'Orsay!!
I look forward to your read-athon posts and see what you have finally decided to read over the weekend.
You don't want any other French book suggestions but have you considered The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barburry or Nan by Emile Zola? Maybe some existential reading from Sarte or Claudel (L'Anonce fait a Marie--Tidings Made to Mary?) is a good one. La Retour de Martin Guerre is another good one and that one has the benefit of also having a movie made of it. :-) ::evil grin::
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