A “tres fun” book “90+ Ways You Know You’re Becoming French” delightfully captures some of the quirky things that make the French… French. People who have lived here awhile will get a chuckle recognizing themselves and how living in France has changed them.
This cute little book that fits in the palm of your hand was inspired by an article “20 Ways You Know You’re Becoming French” that originally appeared in FUSAC Magazine. The article was a big hit and inspired the author Shari Leslie Segal to make it into a book teaming up with publisher Lisa Vanden Bos and illustrator Judit Halász. Continue reading “On Becoming French”
The subtitle “Life, Death and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris” sets the tone for Tilar Mazzeo’s new book, “The Hôtel on Place Vendôme.” Written in a breezy, gossipy style this book is a fun read. Her previous books include “The Widow Clicquot” and “The Secret of Chanel No. 5.” Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of World War II, the book is the captivating history of Paris’s world-famous Hôtel Ritz—a tale of glamour, opulence, and celebrity; dangerous liaisons, espionage and resistance 
Q While working in Brest, I met a Frenchman. Things deepened over the few months I was there, but when an interesting job opened up at our Paris headquarters and I asked my boyfriend to commit to the relationship despite the distance, he refused… so I broke things off completely, even though he offered to stay friends. Since arriving I’ve been very depressed about the breakup, and wonder if I fell into some kind of cross-cultural trap. 
Q I have been married to a Frenchman for ten years. From the get-go, I have had a huge problem with my mother-in-law who was disappointed that her son married a Yankee and has never tried to hide her disdain for me and for my country. Whatever I do or say comes under her critical scrutiny – how I dress myself and the kids, how I set the table, how I speak French, my choice of au pairs, the children’s schooling… Both my father-in-law and my husband kow-tow to her as I see it, and neither of them steps up to the plate for me. My relationship with the latter has suffered as a result. I’m at the end of my rope and am hoping for some tips for dealing with her. 
Q My French boyfriend and I are fighting over how to spend summer holidays. We have planned a 10-day camping trip in Wyoming, but I intend to stay in the US on my own for an extra week to visit some former college classmates in California. My boyfriend insists that he should come with me, even though he knows none of these people and speaks very little English. He gets very upset when I explain that I want to do this without him, saying that such a plan is not good for our couple, that I am being selfish, and that if I really loved him, I’d want him along. In my opinion, his lack of understanding shows not only the limits of his caring, but also a lack of appreciation of all I do in France to adapt to his culture… 
“There are things in your life that only you will see, stories that only you will hear. If you don’t tell them or write them down, if you don’t make the picture, these things will not be seen, these things will not be heard,” says the photographer and teacher Emmet Gowin. One can imagine him saying such a thing to his photo students at Princeton University where he taught for 36 years. Gown through his teaching and work is one of today’s most influential living photographers. 
A new book of short stories “French Kisses” by David Poe draws on his thirty years living the expatriate life in France. His well crafted stories have the taste of a mature wine. He is clearly someone who knows the culture here and is a man who knows what you get living a life abroad… and also what one gives up with such a life. 
One of the summer pleasures of Paris is having a drink at an outdoor cafe terrace. “Paris Terrasses, Outdoor Dining in Paris” published just in time for the season is a new 2014 updated bilingual guide to Paris’ outdoor dining gems ranging from terraces on rooftops such as “Les Ombres” decorated by the archtect Jean Nouvel at the Musee Branly with its stunning view of the Eiffel Tower to more intimate settings such as the inner terrace at the Entrepot, a multicultural venue with live music, theater and home of Paris’ legendary art movie house. 
Paris’ Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) with a salute to British photographer Martin Parr gave him carte blanche to photograph Paris. For two years he pictured la vie parisienne with his trade mark style from tourists on the Champs Elysee to Bastille Day to Paris Plage to a day in the life of the Goutte d’Or neighborhood. 
Back in 1989 Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography exhibition “A Perfect Moment” was cancelled by the Corcoran Gallery in Washington due to pressure from conservative politicians. His homo-erotic and S&M pictures at the time fueled a national debate over public funding for the arts. Some of these controversial pictures and approximately 200 other images spanning his career from the early 1970’s until his death at 42 of AIDS are currently part of a large retrospective of his work exhibited at Paris’ Grand Palais .