Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse

 

“Happy 🦃 Thanksgiving ”, Brigitte, my bouquiniste said to me. I’d momentarily forgotten. When she lived in the states, the ex-pats would be invited to THREE Thanksgivings 🦃🦃🦃 in one day!

Yesterday I went to opening day of the annual children’s book 📚 fair in Montreuil and its FREE !

BiblioMania – Salon du livre, papiers anciens et toutes collections

Yesterday rather late, I ran over to Bibliomania a book and paper show.

Its on through Sunday till 6pm. Do you suffer from bibliomania? Though it’s not obligatory. Bibliomania can be a symptom of obsessive–compulsive disorder which involves the collecting or even hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. Who doesn’t like to rummage through old books and paper ephemera? There used to be a great flea market in New York for paper ephemera at 26th street.

Stuff was at ridiculous prices too. But Antique Road Show changed that forever.

Old children’s books, artist’s books, 

Folded paper, ads, posters. 

A plethora of enticing things to admire.

Like this Victorian paper fan held together with velvet ribbon 🎀 

I loved this big printed sketchbook of 1900’s illustrator, Sem. He did the menus at Maxim’s and they still use his artwork.

I definitely suffer from a mania for old art supplies. 

Fortunately in most cases, though this traveling watercolor set looks awfully pretty, its likely no longer useful. Maybe they never were. But what a charming box. 

Speaking of traveling…has anyone been to Annecy(Venice of France)? I  I’m going next weekend. I’ve decided I must see more of France on the weekends. All suggestions and for nearby Geneva, Chambery etc. are welcome. I know zip about the Alpes. 

There are always plenty of travel books at these events, novels and otherwise. I managed to escape without buying anything somehow or other. 

Of course outside nearby at Gibert Jeune an old Eiffel Tower book beckoned. 

Time to paint more Eiffel Towers. Coming home that night ET was flashing at me 😊

Amélie Nothomb, Salon du Livre

On Friday I went to the annual March 4-day SALON DU LIVRE at convention center, Porte de Versailles (ligne 12). Attending any festival in Paris on the first day is a very good idea. Crowds are manageable and free bookmarks, bags and catalogs are readily available.

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...

There is no Angelina at SALON DU LIVRE, which closes on Monday. A hot chocolate would go well with book browsing. Thank you for reading and sharing Parisbreakfasts. Subscription letters 💌maps and watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋 from Paris🐻 Xxx

Salon du Livre 2014

Sunday I made it to the 4-day annual Salon du Livre held in massive pavilion #1 at Porte de Versailles - a yearly reminder of how much the French love books.

I was captivated by a special exhibition of the work of French women illustrators.
 

I wasn't alone.
 

This new comic book/bandes dessignée, Jeune Fille en Dior written and illustrated by Annie Goetzinger can be found all over town in the best bookstores.
 

The detailed, fluid illustrations perfectly capture the creation of Dior's 'New Look'. The tiny pulled-in waistlines and full swingy skirts just after the war must have been a breath of fresh air for women the world over who had suffered such deprivation during1939-1945.
 

The main character, Clara, becomes a model at Dior. You see the backroom goings on at the top couture maison pre-show.

The book is in the much loved French format of a BD or bandes dessinée/comic book but for adults. I hope they translate this one for us.
 

Watch a short film (in French) of the artist, Annie Goetzinger at work discussing her intent to capture a lost time. Remember the fabulous Miss Dior exhibit at the Grand Palais? This book dovetails perfectly filling in behind-the-scene blanks on 20, Ave Montaigne at Maison Dior
 

Flammarion has a new book out on French icon Marguerite Duras
 

Kids 18 & under get in free at the Salon, so Sundays in particular are always overrun with kidlets. Adults pay 10€ for a 4-day entry.
 

So many childrens books.
 

So many children.
 

Avidly reading where ever you walk. It's a delight. And building future readers as well.
 

Tintin is always present. Here his red jeep on display.
 

This is for the public. Not a trade-only show. Every book on display is for sale.
 

Of course there is the Square Culinaire Tons and tons of cookbooks in every format. Does the yellow Trish Deseine book look familiar?
 

So many how-tos

And the chefs on hand who wrote them.
 

The essential accompaniment to book browsing - macarons.
 

I got very excited by, Cafe Society, which came out in 2010 in the US.
 

The illustrations/collages by the Baron de Cabrol from his scrapbook (1948) are fantastic.
 

He perfectly recorded the ambience of the times during 1920s - 60s.
 

The photography too is magnificent. Wallace Simpson looking soigné.
 

Elsa Schiaparelli wearing her famous shoe-hat beside a Dali sculpture.
 

Charming & simple elegant sketches from the Baron's scrapbook in Cafe Societé couldn't
 

Remind me of illustrations by Jean-Philippe Delhomme now on display poster-size in boulevard Saint Germain for Louis Vuitton. What do you think?