Weekend Reading #1
Weekend Reading
It's Friday! That means it's time to take a break from the hustle and bustle, and maybe even dive into some good reading. Looking for your next read? Here's some suggestions!
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Forever Paris cover
Forever Paris: 25 Walks in the Footsteps of Chanel, Hemingway, Picasso, and More: Bargain Alert! I just picked up this little hardcover Paris guide on deep discount (regularly $14.95, currently $6.60). It features 25 themed walks that allow you to see Paris through the eyes of famous residents and visitors like Audrey Hepburn, Claude Monet, Yves St Laurent, and Marie Antoinette. I haven't received my copy yet, but from the preview, it looks like for each person there is a two page biography followed by a one page outline and a full page map of their themed walk. It looks to be nice bite sized chunks of information for first-time Parisian tourists, and a new way to experience the city for long-time visitors.
Victoria book
Victoria: The Heart and Mind of a Young Queen (Official Companion to the Masterpiece Presentation on PBS): I just finished watching Season Three of Victoria, and I wish I had known about this book when I started watching the series last year! Written by Helen Rappaport (the show's historical consultant), the book is based on the volumes of personal writings that Victoria left behind. This is definitely high on my must-read list!
"Tulip Fever": Dutch painting behind the new film with Alicia Vickander and Christoph Waltz: I stumbled on this piece while looking for some information about the history behind the movie "Tulip Fever". This lengthy article from ARTHIVE is a step-by-step breakdown of the film and its artistic references and how they compare to the work of real Dutch artists of the period. It's very educational about Dutch art of the 17th century, featuring Rembrandt and lesser-known contemporaries. One word of warning, however: Watch the movie first, since the article contains detailed spoilers!
Titles of Bach Chorales, As Translated By My Niece After One Semester Of German: This quick read is an oldie but goodie that comes from internet humor site McSweeney's. If you've taken some German yourself, it's a fun little challenge to see if you can do better than the author's niece. (I'm embarrassed to say my two years didn't serve me much better than his niece's one semester.) And even if you haven't taken any German, it's still a read that is good for a giggle.
