The French read. A lot. Real books. You see them on the Metro reading large books. And they're not prepping for veterinary school exams either. They read a lot of Belgian novelist AMÉLIE NOTHOMB.
Such long book-signing lines for Amélie Nothomb at publisher stand, Albin Michel. I did a little research. I've certainly seen her beautiful Japanese Noh mask-like face in book shop windows. Irresistible to paint. But I'd never read anything or so I thought. Fabienne-Claire Nothomb, better known by her pen name Amélie Nothomb, is a Belgian Francophone novelist. Part of her childhood was spent in Asia. A prolific author, since the publication of her first novel Hygiene and the Assassin in 1992, at the age of twenty six, she has published a book a year. Wikipedia.
Turns out I was wrong. Netflix for while made available her captivating, FEAR AND TREMBLING. The opening papragraph on AMAZON.
And the Youtube trailer. You can watch TOKYO FIANCÉE too.
The Salon du Livre is a giant international book store open to the public. You see attendees leaving with bags and bags of books. Signed books. Very nice free shopping bags are given out but I'm set from the Salon de l'Agriculture a few weeks ago.
Small publishers with unusual designed books are in there next to the big guys. If you see something of interest, grab it. The French rarely reprint back titles. You won't find it next year.
The range of exciting children's books is endless. Illustrations are superb and sophisticated.No subject is taboo.
Kids 18 and under attend free. A love for books is encouraged from the get-go. Maybe that's why the French are so precise, articulate and vocal about the use of their language. Hmmm...
J’aime beaucoup Amélie Nothomb, j’ai lu presque tous ses livres !
ReplyDeleteMerci pour le lien sur YouTube
J'adore cette film..
DeleteI'll look into her..almost ..un peu..Catherine Deneuve in your portrait of her.Oh I bet she would love it Carol.I adore mine.Adore.
ReplyDeleteChildren's books are so pretty..I could look at all the covers..here only Noah is a reader..and honestly it's his mom..who was relentless..being a K teacher she made sure he was read to in her tummey and now 10 yrs later he has quite a book collection..truth be told she loves books too.
Love the Angelina aquarelle..
Catherine Deneuve? But Nothomb has a very dramatic face. Maybe a little bit...
DeleteI want to go to this event next year! Again, an arresting portrait! You captured her perfectly. Four small lines for a nose and it is exquisite! Mon Dieu, Carol!
ReplyDeleteSometimes one has flashes of inspiration...
DeleteAmelie is an inspired writer
Very nice (the hot chocolate looked good enough to drink!!)...have you any recommendations re Amelie's books?
ReplyDeleteOnly the 2 above mentioned and I saw them as films...
DeleteI will seek them out too Kathryn
She's won top prizes and has great reviews
Sounds like an interesting author. I shall look her up. I love book shopping but also read on my kindle as it's very small and easy to carry plus so easy to just buy a book online. Looks like an amazing book selection at Salon de Livre - did you buy anything?
ReplyDeleteGreat paintings as always!