Paris in July -- Première mise à jour

Paris in July -- Première Mise à Jour -- First Update

We are a third of the way through the month. Here is what I've been doing for the Paris is July Challenge:

Books:

1. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Though Fawcett writes in English, her characters in the book live in Montreal and speak French. Occasionally they have to do business in English or have trouble with the French/English translation. The narrator of the audiobook had one of those nice French accents, too. I'll claim it for the month. 

2. The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Stranger is an important classic book in the absurdist style. Camus, a Frenchman, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. The audiobook I listened to was translated by Matthew Ward. His translation is thought to be much closer to Camus' intent than the first (previous) translation we all read in high school. Look for my review this week.

3. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

This classic was my CC Spin book of the Spring. Click on the title for my review.

Movie:

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

I read the book last July and we watched the movie last night starring Lesley Manville. I loved it!

Music:

1. I've been listening to a lot of classical music lately as part of the musical project associated with the book Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day of the Year by Burton-Hill. Every time I come across a French composer I add the selection to my Classical Paris in July playlist on Spotify, which I started last year. Help yourself. France has contributed so much wonderful music to the world over the years.

2. I have started listening to the opera "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein is an American composer and the opera was written in English, but the story is by Voltaire, the famous French philosopher. I've noticed that the Paris in July read-along is Candide this year. Perhaps you'd like to listen to the opera while you read the book? Here's the Spotify list.

Sports:

I haven't made myself get up early enough to watch the Tour du France yet this year but I have been watching a lot of World Cup. I truly believe that France will win it all this year. They are so strong with Kylian Mbappé leading the charge.

-Anne