France
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The Last Book I Loved: The Hours
Depression has a peculiar texture: sometimes, rather than sadness, it is an emotional flatline; the sneaking suspicion that you are play-acting.
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Hunting for the Little Prince
Stalking the real boy who inspired the legendary prince in Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s classic book.
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Mavis Gallant and Monsieur Le Verbe
Alors, Mademoiselle, have you noticed how we French, unlike our Anglo-Saxon friends, use all the muscles in our face and mouth when speaking? Raise your upper lip toward your nose. When performed correctly, this action will cause the nostrils to…
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“There are two things you don’t throw out in France – bread and books”
The New York Times reported yesterday on the notable difference between independent bookstores in France, and their struggling American counterparts. The article describes the way in which government intervention and price fixing for French-language books has buoyed printed literature in…
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Death of an Author
Edouard Levé’s Suicide, a slim, declarative, idea-driven novel, is daring and raw, and packed full of rewards for any reader willing to take a wide step outside of the American mainstream.
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Pump-up Poetry
How do you pump up before a game? Cheer? Chant? Talk some smack to the rival team? Or…do you read poetry? Bruno Biri, the coach of the French women’s national soccer team, finds his source of inspiration in literature, poetry…
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French Faux Pas
A twenty year-old French law that sought to keep the news media from promoting commercial enterprises is being newly reinforced. This means that using “Facebook” and “Twitter” on air is strictly forbidden. This seems like a good way to stave…
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Politics Sunday
“All of the prostitutes are against the reopening of the brothels.” The French sex workers’ union takes a surprising stance. (Well, maybe not that surprising if you think about it.) (via TMN) Now Arizona is going to start targeting illegal immigrant…
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The Rumpus Sunday Book Blog Roundup
The book blogs are full of awesome this week. You should read them. How to write to an editor: “I have given your request for evidence 23 hours of thought, the proper number of hours to come up with the…