Conclusion of Paris in July

So, we have reached the end of Paris in July and it has been rather fun!

Here is the round up of the various posts that I have published.

• Getting Started - Paris in July 
• Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo (post 1)
• Strangers in a Strange Land Belgian Refugees 1914-1918
• Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo (post 2)
• Memories of Renoir, Monet & Piaf
• Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo (post 3)
• Franco - British Exhibition London 1908
• The Siren of Paris by David Leroy - an Excerpt

Paris in July was hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

You can see a list of all participants for Paris in July HERE

The Siren of Paris by David Leroy

Amazon Summary

In German occupied Paris, a group of unlikely people join in collaboration to smuggle Allied airman south to Spain. One of those intrepid heroes happens to be American. The Siren of Paris, the debut work of historical fiction by David LeRoy, tells a searing story of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and war that brings to vivid life the shimmering City of Lights during its darkest hours during World War II.

The story starts in 1939, when Marc Tolbert, the French-born son of a prominent American family, takes off for Paris to follow his dream of becoming an artist. Marc’s life soon sparkles in the ex-pat scene in Paris. His new friend Dora introduces him to a circle that includes the famous Sylvia Beach, owner of the bookstore Shakespeare & Company; and he accepts a job with William Bullitt, US ambassador to France. At art school, he finds himself further enchanted by the alluring model Marie.

Marc’s Parisian reverie, however, is soon clouded over by the increasing threat from Germany. As Americans scramble to escape Paris, he finds himself trapped by the war, and nearly meets his fate on the disastrous day of June 17, 1940, aboard the RMS Lancastria. Upon returning to Paris, his fate grows more troubled still, as he smuggles Allied airman through the American Hospital to the Paris Resistance underground, until a profound betrayal leads him into the hands of the Gestapo and onto Buchenwald.

Rigorously researched and vibrant in historical detail, The Siren of Paris reimagines one of history’s most turbulent times through the prism of an American abroad in Europe’s most harrowing days. Poignant, gripping, and thought-provoking, The Siren of Paris mines the human dilemma of revenge versus forgiveness, and vividly captures the conflicted state of survival.

Excerpt:

     Marc decided to walk home instead of taking the Metro. He approached one of the main boulevards that led from the east train station. All along the road, people carried whatever baggage they could manage. A few were injured. Marc stood on the side of the street and watched as they passed. At first he was going to cross over, but then decided to join the crowd and walk for a bit. He knew after a few moments where they were going. He could overhear them speaking among themselves in French or Dutch. After crossing the Seine, and walking a few more blocks, 

     Marc briefly lost track of time. It had not been long, maybe only twenty minutes or so. The crowds grew denser. There was less room to walk on the sidewalks or even the street. In another block, he could see the façade of the station in front of him. He did not walk any further, and instead turned around. He walked against the crowds coming down the street, turning his back to the south train station with a horde of people before it. A herd of goats being led by a peasant farmer did not faze him, because livestock had now become common in Paris. After another thirty or so minutes, he stood in the street below his apartment. Bricks crushed a car on the other side of the street. People took what they could from the building. Marc stood in shock, as he looked directly up into the parlor room of his fourth-floor flat. He made his way in through the door and up the marble staircase as others were coming down. Marc opened the door to his apartment, and the evening breeze gently flapped the drawing he’d done of Marie back in early December. 

     He turned over the armoire, pulled out the clothes, and packed his bags. He found the keys that Nigel and Dora had given him. The bowl’s rose-colored glass lay shattered on the floor. He stuffed the francs from Dora into his jacket. Marc felt cold and detached as he gathered his belongings. He fully accepted the loss of the wall to the outside street below. It did not bother him at all that he was not sure where he was going to stay. He had two sets of keys, after all, for two other Parisian apartments. They could not have got all of them, he thought to himself. Nothing could take his mind off the crowds at the south station. The desperate voices, the stares of the other refugees looking to flee the city, echoed in his mind. Before he left the apartment, he looked around. He saw the drawing again on the wall, and remembered with a small laugh what the instructor had said. “This is what you came to France for, Marc.”

(LeRoy, David. The Siren Of Paris)

David Leroy did extensive research on the German occupation of France for his debut novel The Siren of Paris. This historical novel follows the journey of one American from medical student, to artist, to political prisoner at Buchenwald Concentration Camp during World War Two.

You can purchase The Siren of Paris in Kindle e-book format from 

Amazon (US) -- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0088CA098 

Amazon (UK)  -- http://www.amazon.co.uk/B0088CA098/

and learn more about this author and novel at http://www.thesirenofparis.com/

For more information about this virtual book tour, please visit -- http://bookpromotionservices.com/2012/05/22/siren-of-paris-tour/

Taking part in Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea

Stay tuned for an author interview and a book review.

Franco - British Exhibition, held in London England in 1908

I love to collect commemorative things. It really all started when we bought our late Victorian house and we wanted to decorate the house with some plates and alike from the Victorian age. We then spotted some plates and saucers that were made to commemorate the Jubilees of 1887 & 1897 for Queen Victoria and suddenly an obsession was born. Gradually we acquired small items that were produced to celebrate a particular event and this postcard is one of those items. 

Produced for the Franco - British Exhibition, held in London England in 1908.

Notice, how the sender has fixed the stamp to the front of the card, rather than the back.

Taking part in Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

Carrying on from last week's post  and an post from last Monday - this is another joint weekend cooking and Paris in July post

The author reveals that she leaves London to undertake a course at a well known cooking school in Paris. From that she learns that food and meals in general are a enjoyed and timely affair and not rushed.

The book reveals the use of local shops, family run grocers, bakers, deli's and butcher's. Shops that have almost disappeared from the UK high streets in favour of the large, non de-script supermarket chains we have here. What local stores there are need to be supported especially in a recession!

The recipes contained within the book, might be seen as easy run of the mill cooking, with a bit of a twist and whilst I might not cook any within the Paris in July month, I think I will give a few of them a whirl!

Each recipe is shared with a small background to it, with a hint and tip and a colour picture with little snippets of French culture and photographs of people and places in Paris.

The book layout is easy to follow with the recipe and instruction on one page and the photograph on the opposite. Recipes are presented in sections

1. Everyday Cooking
2. Snack time
3. Summer picnics
4. Aperitifs
5. Dinner with friends and family
6. Sweet Treats
7. French basics
8. Cook's notes
9. Paris addresses
10. Index of recipes

A great book and I really enjoyed reading it and noting a few recipes down. I am not sure that I would use it sufficiently to warrant purchasing my own copy, although I am very, very tempted!

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Paris in July 1 - 31 July 2012

Memories of Renior, Monet and Piaf

Back in the Summer of 1985 I visited the Hayward Gallery in London to see the Renoir Exhibition. I do still have a selection of postcards and the exhibition guide from that visit 27 years ago.

I phoned the friend last night who came with me to that exhibition and asked if she remembered. She dug deep into her memory pocket and said she did. We had a wander down memory lane and I mentioned that I still had the items I purchased that day. I could not recall what she had purchased and asked if she could remember. She could and tells me that it is on the rear of her bathroom door, and chuckles that I can not recall it. The poster has always lived on the rear of her bathroom door of the various houses she has lived in.

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette 1876

Just as we were closing our conversation with a promise of speaking next week I was suddenly asked if I remembered going to the Monet Exhibition. For a moment I did not recall then suddenly remembered that we had planned to go somewhere else and stumbled across the event by accident. 

Here is a picture of my favourite Monet.

Water Lilies, 1920–1926

We carried on chatting for a bit and by the way of a parting shot, she mentioned a project we had worked on many years ago about Edith Piaf.

Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

Carrying on from last week's post  I thought that I would share a further recipe from this delightful book.

Despite the fact that it is July and apparently a UK summers day it is miserable, chilly and wet, or at least it is in my part of the UK. So that means comfort food looks good on the menu.







Nids de tartiflette (Cheese and Potato nests) - Page 37

1 tablespoon soft butter
500g waxy potatoes eg Maris Peer or Charlotte
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 bay leaf
200g of cubed bacon
100ml of dry white wine
250g piece of Reblochon Cheese cubed.

• Preheat the oven to 180 centigrade and brush a muffin tin with soft butter
• Peel the potatoes and use the Julienne blade on a mandoline to make thin matchsticks
• Put the onion, garlic, bay leaf and bacon into a non stick frying pan and cook until the bacon is golden
• Add the wine and reduce until a couple of tablespoons of juice remain
• Stir in the matchstick potatoes and take off the heat
• Remove the bay leaf and stir in the cubed cheese
• Divide the potato mix between the 6 holes of muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Preparation 30 minutes
Baking time 15-20 minutes

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Paris in July 1 - 31 July 2012

Strangers in a Strange Land Belgian Refugees 1914 - 1918

Written to accompany the exhibition of the same name located in the In Flanders Field Museum in Ieper this book tells the fascinating account of the people of Belgium.

Thousands of Belgians fled their homeland to avoid the occupation of German forces during the First World War. Many fled into the neighbouring countries such as France and The Netherlands who were, in accordance with policy at the time placing Belgians of fighting age into internment camps where they could be joined by their families. It was a matter of time before The Netherlands were simply out of room and France was no longer safe and so many thousands sailed across the Channel to the United Kingdom.

This book tells the story, initially with a series of chapters explaining the historical events and is accompanied by quotes from people who recalled the events. There are also some amazing photographs of not just Belgium, but also of France and the United Kingdom and of course the refugees.

Upon the end of the First World War many Belgians returned home and were ridiculed by fellow Belgians because they had not endured the occupation of the German forces and I was very aware of a similarity with a book I read about those who fled the Channel Islands for the United Kingdom in the Second World War.

A fascinating book, both in terms of written subject matter and photographic substance.

Paris in July  ~ 1 - 31st July

Taking part in War through the Generations and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea

Weekend Cooking - Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

I spotted this in the local library and thought it would be the ideal candidate book for both weekend cooking and Paris in July.

The author reveals that she leaves London to undertake a course at a well known cooking school in Paris. From that she learns that food and meals in general are a enjoyed and timely affair and not rushed.

The book reveals the use of local shops, family run grocers, bakers, deli's and butcher's. Shops that have almost disappeared from the UK high streets in favour of the large, non de-script supermarket chains we have here. What local stores there are need to be supported especially in a recession!

The recipes contained within the book, might be seen as easy run of the mill cooking, with a bit of a twist and whilst I might not cook any within the Paris in July month, I think I will give a few of them a whirl! I had planned to review this book for this week and then other books or posts for the rest of July, but I think that I am likely to share this book over several weeks of weekend cooking.

Each recipe is shared with a small background to it, with a hint and tip and a colour picture.

Poires Belle Helene (Beautiful Helen Pears) - Page 253

1.5 litres of cold water
1 vanilla pod
150g sugar
4 firm pears (eg William) peel with stalks still attached

• Pour the water into a large pan and split the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrap out the grains.
• Add the pod and grains to the water with the sugar and bring to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
• Add the pears and place a sheet of baking paper on top to keep them submerged and simmer for 20 minutes checking with a skewer or sharp knife if they are tender.
• Once cooked leave the pears in the syrup for at least several hours or over night so that they can absorb the vanilla.

Making the chocolate sauce
100g Dark or white chocolate finely chopped
100ml of double cream
3 cardamom pods crushed

• Put the chocolate into a bowl
• Bring the cream to the boil with the crushed cardamom pods and pour over the chocolate
• Leave to stand for a minute until the chocolate has melted
• Stir the sauce gently until smooth

• Remove the pears from the syrup standing them upright on individual plates
• Pour a generous helping of chocolate sauce over and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream

• Preparation time 20 minutes
• Resting time 2 hours  - overnight
• Cooking time 30 minutes

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Paris in July 1 - 31 July 2012

Paris in July 2012

Paris in July 1 - 31 July 2012

Paris in July is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea. I had contemplated joining in the fun, then decided against it. That was until I was in the local library and spotted a rather fun looking suitable candidate.

This looks rather an interesting read and I look forward to posting a review in due course. A quick glance and some the recipes look great, although I don't suspect that I will be cooking any of these soon.

For those of you that can not resist Karen has placed a Mr Linky HERE where you can sign up.

There is no specific rules in order to be a part of Paris in July - simply blog about anything French and you can join in.  Bookbath has given some ideas for the month which might include:

- Reading a French book - fiction or non-fiction

- Watching a French movie

- Listening to French music

- Cooking French food

- Experiencing French art, architecture or travel (or remembering travel experiences)