Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Paris in July 2021

Paris in July
hosted by Thyme for Tea
(details & signup)

Paris in July is an international blogging event that brings together lovers of Paris and all things French, for a Virtual visit to Paris through literature, film, theater, art, music, food, wine and memories.

Happy Bastille Day!

Celebrating the day with first post for Paris in July ;-)

VISIT:
Les Gourmands Bakery
SoMa district (here)
for yummy croissants

Maison Nico
Financial district (here)
for fantastic paté en croûte

PAIR UP: Paris Fashion Week pick and book coming in the Fall
From Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2021/2022 show (here)
photo by Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images
The Ladies of the Secret Circus
by Constance Sayers
Fantasy, Historical | Published: November 2021 | Goodreads

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family's strange and magical circus, it's the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother's journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations.


AUDIOBOOK:

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop
by Roselle Lim
Romance, Magical Realism, France, Paris | Goodreads | my rating: 5
feel good mix of Chinese culture, Paris,
matchmaking and special abilities

Zombie sighting:
Later that evening I awoke famished following a zombified sleep.
-chapter 8


Become enamored with the splendor of Paris in this heartwarming and delightful story about writing one’s own destiny and finding love along the way.

Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves.

Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.

The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is.


WATCH:

My 7 Favorite Classic Romantic Movies Set in Paris by Cine Gratia Cinema


Re-WATCH:
Amélie (2001)
Original title: Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Writers: Guillaume Laurant, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Stars: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz
Comedy, Romance, Paris | imdb | my rating: 5

Amélie is an innocent and naive girl in Paris with her own sense of justice. She decides to help those around her and, along the way, discovers love.

Loved this the first time around.

one of Amélie's simple pleasures
cracking crème brûlée with a spoon
spotted at the AMC Kabuki theatre
 
Imagination Designs
Images from: Lovelytocu