Summer is Sizzling: Lisons Ensemble!
20 Jun 2017 recommendation
Summer Reading List 2017
As much as I love hanging out by the beach and playing volleyball, nothing compares to relaxing with a good book in the summer sun. The only challenge is finding the right thing to read before the Chicago cold returns. Luckily, the Brown Médiathèque has chosen a dozen books that are the perfect companion for the season. Some are fast-paced romances that will fit in your hectic schedule; others will give your mind a workout on days when you’re not feeling the gym.
Below are some of my favorites from the selection.
Fiction (en français)
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Que serais-je sans toi? by Guillaume Musso
The concept of Musso’s novel is far from simple, so a sentence-long summary can’t do it justice. It goes like this: Gabrielle, an American woman, is the daughter of a world-famous art thief. Her father, Archibald, is on the run from a young Parisian cop named Martin. The Frenchman just so happens to be Gabrielle’s first love. Their short affair ended fifteen years prior to the novel’s events, but feelings still remain for both of them.
As you might guess from the summary above, Que serais-je sans toi? is a light-hearted story. If you are looking for a philosophical treatise, this isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking to pass time while waiting for the A/C to be fixed, this book is worth checking out.
Biography (in English)
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Émilie du Châtelet: Daring Genius of the Enlightenment by Judith P. Zinsser
Zinsser’s biography covers the subject of our June salon event, Émilie du Châtelet. As Émilie was a woman of many interests, readers will easily find something in common with her. I, for one, was intrigued with her Discours sur le bonheur, a series of writings on the meaning of happiness. Others may be interested in her translation of Newton, which remains one of the most used editions in the francophone world. And, indeed, she did have torrid affairs with men like Voltaire, so her personal life reads like a soap opera.
Non-Fiction (in English)
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The Streets of Paris: A Guide to the City of Light Following in the Footsteps of Famous Parisians Throughout History by Susan Cahill
It’s hard to walk around Paris without thinking of the figures who have been there before you. After all, something as nondescript as a corner café could have been your favorite writer’s hang-out spot. Streets of Paris was written with this phenomenon in mind. Susan Cahill takes you on a tour through the capital, bringing with her luminaries like Madame Curie and Edith Piaf. With this guide, you can be in Le Marais and Lincoln Park at the same time.
If any of these titles are to your liking, stop by the médiathèque on the second floor of the Alliance.
Bonne lecture!
Ethan Safron