Paris In July: A Favorite Book

I love "The Red Notebook."

This very fast read by Antoine Laurain is just a delightful story about a Parisian man who finds the purse of a woman who has been mugged, her ID stolen. But the other items in the purse provide clues that fascinate him and he becomes determined to find her to return the bag.

It's all so simple. Yet so wonderful.

Blogger Lynne of Irish Garden House introduced me to this book and I'm curious to read others by Laurain.

A bit about the author -- he has written several novels, including "The Portrait" and the acclaimed "The President's Hat." But he's also a screenwriter, journalist and has a passion for art (and antique key collecting) that once led him to working in the Parisian antiques business.

For more about him, visit his website HERE.

Or check out this article in The Guardian.

Although I haven't finished either of them yet, I'll also throw in "so far, so excellent!" reviews for two other books with a Paris theme.

"Remembrance of Things Paris: Sixty Years of Writing from Gourmet Magazine" is an outstanding collection of articles from the one-time great cooking magazine, Gourmet, by a number of writers. Topics cover not only food but a visit to House of Dior, a visit to Cartier, and more. I'm about half through it and it is a book to savor, with wonderful writing that covers Paris from the war years and beyond.

The other is "The Alice Network." This is a fiction book by Kate Quinn. Two women come together in 1947. One is a nineteen-year-old American searching for her cousin who disappeared in France in World War II. The other is a wreck of a woman who was a spy in World War I who ends up helping her. Again, about half through and captivated as the journey through France for clues continues.

But first, find a copy of "The Red Notebook." And sit back and savor!

This post is part of Paris in July -- a fun blog party hosted by Tamara of Thyme for Tea. You can find more links to books, films, photos, travel notes, food, art and more -- all related to France -- HERE.

Postcards from the Lake: Appreciating All that is Summer

Our lake holiday has settled in with long, beautiful days, long swims in the only slightly cool water and dinner from the grill -- chicken and pork chops, pasta salad, fruit salad, corn on the cob and loads of sweet Michigan cherries. All good. Just about all of them ending with a beautiful sunset.

My walks bring a lovely landscape. This garden (actually photographed earlier; I'll do an update!) is particularly lovely and well tended.

I loved the planter this woman's mom made for her -- covering mailbox with stone. Now it has some greenery peeking out of the top.

And I always check out the Little Free Library. On one walk, I met the "librarian" who tends it. I have a few contributions to make on one of my sojourns!

My cousin Jack came for the day. He lives in China but spends a couple of months here in the summer and it was good to catch up with him.

Rick's been practicing, providing a lovely soundtrack!

I've been painting and reading and recently proofed a copy of an upcoming book called "Red Jacket" for my friend and writer Richard Lassin. He hopes to have it on Amazon in the next month or two and I found it a very satisfying read. It's a story that combines the history of Michigan's Copper Country with some suspense, mystery, danger, past lives and romance. I'll have more on this when it's ready to read for all!

Our first visit and time together here with Rick has been all too short and combined with tasks (tackling the weedy beach and raking pine needles) but it has also been a good one. Easy and breezy!

After all,  when you days begin to slow down with this...

...and end like this...

...what's not to love?

Postcards from the Lake: Settling In

My happy place.

No, I didn't mess with color or filters on this.

Just another night (or couple of nights in Paradise.)

The Duckster family does their nightly duck-rotabtics out in front of the house.

Then they settle down and head to their evening nesting.

Lizzie and I settled into cottage life. She, checking out her surroundings...

...me, taking daily walks ...

...getting ready to plant...

...and painting.

So far, four watercolors done (or nearly. I fuss). This one is Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, and a copy, more or less from another painting. I claim no originality, only whatever technique I have.

This is from one of my photos -- Martha's VIneyard.

And done. Unless I go put another wash or two of shadow on it. (Yes, I fuss.)

There's work to be done. I've been raking pine needles, weeding the beach and must call to have this partially uprooted tree removed before it falls on something.

But all good. And even better, because now Rick is here. Settling in...

...and life is good.

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Paris In July: Paris in Black and White

Sometimes I get so "into" a color photograph and there's so much to see that I actually miss something. So, here is a tour of Paris in black and white.

Stravinsky Fountain 

 

Opera Garnier

 

Interior, Opera Garnier

 

Opera Garnier Auditorium

 

Parisian Courtyard, Marais

 

Paris Apartment View,  Marais

Notre Dame

 

Gargoyles, Notre Dame

 

The Seine

 

Medici Fountain, Jardin du Luxembourg

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower detail 

Tuileries Cart

Tuileries Sailboat

Montmartre Street

 

Sacre Coeur

 

Montmartre Cemetery Cat, Waiting for her Next Life

 

Champagne in Montmartre

La Patisserie

Hidden in a Courtyard, Marais

 

 Thanks for joining me for Paris in July. Visit Tamara for links to more Paris and French-themed posts!

Linking with: Paris In July   /  Pink Saturday  /   Let's Add Sprinkles