May 16, 2011

Paris in July - 2011

For the second year Tamara from Thyme For Tea and I have decided to come together to host "Paris in July" a month long blogging experience to celebrate our love of all things French and Parisian. We had such a great time last year we can't wait to do it all over again!

For those of you who participated last year the guidelines for the event will be pretty much the same (Tamara and I reserve the right to throw in some surprises here and there1). Paris in July will run from the 1st - 31st July 2011 and the aim of the month is to celebrate our French experiences through reading, watching, listening to, observing, cooking and eating all things French.

Tamara will actually be in France during July this year so she will be able to take us to the heart of things with her posts. Some welcome words from Tamara;

I'm so excited to be joining Karen again in co-hosting the 2011 Paris in July event. This year I will be the French Correspondent, actually on location in France for the month of July. While this will make for interesting administrative arrangements, I am committed to fulfilling my part of co-hosting in this, our second year of Paris in July. My travel plans include some time in Paris, then actually riding my bike along with the Tour de France through the Pyrenees and the Alps from July 11 - 24th then I will be in Montpellier for two weeks attending an intensive French language program. This means I will be able to post on regional cuisine, art, culture and local history and geography. I will also be able to investigate or research any questions participants choose to send me during the month... Imagine what fun we can have with that!

There will be no rules or targets in terms of how much you need to do or complete in order to be a part of Paris in July - just blog about anything French and you can join in. Some ideas for the month 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 (lucky Tamara!)

- Or anything else French inspired you can think of...

If you are interested in being a part of this experience leave a comment on this post and we will put together a side bar showing all of the participants. There will be weekly French themed prizes during the month for which we will randomly draw the winners from all the French themed posts of that week that link back to us. We will be writing weekly wrap up posts for you to link your posts to.

We have designed a couple of images to represent our Paris in July experience so feel free to add these to your blog if you are joining us. We will write posts leading up to the start of Paris in July to give you some ideas about what you might like to include and to share the books, films, music etc... that we are planning to experience ourselves during the month.

Looking forward to travelling to Paris with you in July!


88 comments:

verity said...

That sounds fun - my fiance is also riding in the Tour De France so I shall have to see if I can participate in any way!

Marg said...

Yay, I was just wondering the other day if you were going to do this again this year! Hopefully I didn't manage to use up all my ideas last year!

I am in!

Sabrina said...

I'm in! Again. Thanks for hosting it again.

Kelly said...

Fun! I am so doing this :) Going to be lots of fun!

http://kellysfranceblog.blogspot.com

Audra said...

How wonderful! I'd love to participate -- I have a Francoise Sagan I'm dying to read, plus some hist fic from the French Revolution in my review queue. And I'm woefully behind on my Paris: The Luminous Years reading challenge so this will inspire me to cover as much as I can!

Nadia said...

Yay! I was actually going to email you and ask if you would be doing this fun challenge again. I'm so excited! I've actually been buying books to read for this challenge, so I'll definitely be ready to dive in come July 1st! Can't wait to start!!

Kristen said...

This sounds like a lot of fun! And I bought quite a few French/Parisian themed novels at a book sale last week!

JoAnn said...

Hurray!! I was hoping this would be an annual event... count me in.

Ellie said...

I'm sure I've got a Gallic books supplement somewhere and it's a great excuse to watch Amelie, drink wine and eat yummy food so count me in!

I wonder if I can arrange a day trip to France...

Irene Palfy said...

Oh - I love this idea! May I post on several blogs? (like my book blog, my film blog..) Or do I have to concentrate on one blog (I think I could manage that..) ;")

Anyhow: this sounds amazing! (And tasty..)

I am visiting via Thinking out loud.

Have a nice day!

Anbolyn said...

I'd love to participate this year! I think I'll read a few French novels and try a few French recipes.

Anonymous said...

I have a stack if books I didn't quite get to last year, so I'm definitely in again.

Rikki said...

I have seen various posts last time and was wondering whether this would take place again. So, this time, I'm in. What a fun event! I love the idea.

raidergirl3 said...

I'm going to try this again. I read and watched a variety of genres last year.

Karen K. said...

I'm in! I have tons of books about France or by French authors that I want to read, plus lots of French movies I want to watch. I'm definitely reading Germinal by Emile Zola which is the July pick for my IRL Classics Group (we chose it for July in honor of Bastille Day). I also want to read My Life in France by Julia Child and I have lots more that would work as well.

sakura said...

I've just come back from Paris and have lots of books to read! I really enjoyed participating last year so I'm really glad you're doing it again!

Tamara said...

I think I'll sign up for this :) Sounds like fun!

Tamara said...

Seriously - Thanks everyone for showing your support and signing up so fast. We're really keen to see where this years journey takes us. See you soon.

Danielle said...

This sounds like fun--if it's only a matter of one book I might just have to join in. I have a travel book by Carol Drinkwater that would fit nicely and as it is on my list of books to read this year....I just read Paris Wife, so it has put my in a very French mood!

Jesse said...

This sounds great! I LOVE Paris! Although this event may break my heart just a bit... I get a little heartsick whenever I think about NOT being in Paris :( Lol

Joan Hunter Dunn said...

oh yes please... I did enjoy Paris in July last year. I bought a Colette in a charity shop last month thinking it might happen again. Thank you for organising this again.

Unknown said...

I once spent part of July in Paris.

Count me in.

Caroline said...

I read about your event on A Work in Progress and since Paris is my hometown, although I don't live there anymore, I feel like participating. Hopefully it will not make me too homesick. In any case this sounds like a really great event and I like it that there are so many things that will be shared.
Thank you for a great idea.

nomadreader said...

Fun! I'll start saving a few French-based novels and films for July reviews:-)

Karen said...

Hi Verity - It sounds like you and Tamara will have a lot in common with the riding! Great to have you with us.

Hi Marg - Wonder no more - we are back!

Hi Sabrina - great to have you back!

Hi Kelly - welcome to the fun! It sounds like your blog will be perfect for this.

Hi Audra - It sounds like you have some very serious reading to keep you going - looking forward to hearing all about it.

Hi Nadia - glad you are looking forward to this one - what books do have waiting already??

Hi Kristen - it sounds like that book sale came at just the right time!

Hi JoAnn - we're so glad you're glad - great to have you back!

Hi Ellie - If you can arrange a day trip to Paris I will be SO jealous!

Hi Irene - you can post on as many blogs as you like - have fun with it is our motto!

Hi Anbolyn - I'm already looking forward to hearing about your French cooking...

Hi fleurfisher - I'm the same, I really don't need to get anymore French books but I'm sure that won't stop me!

Hi Rikki - We hope you enjoy joining in with us!

Hi raidergirl3 - so great to have you back with us this year!

Hi Karen - it sounds lilke you have some great options to choose from. I also have My Life In France waiting for me...

Hi sakura - I hope you will share some of the moments from your recent trip with us...

Hi T - You had better be signing up!!!

Hi Danielle - I read The Paris Wife not that long ago too - a great read.

Hi JP - I think I know what you mean. I have only been to Paris once but I fell completely in love.

Hi Joan - so great to see that you will be back with us this year!

Hi C.B. James - looking forward to hearing about your French experiences!

Hi Caroline - I hope we won't make you too homesick - it will be great to have you with us!

Hi nomadreader - Great! Thanks for joining in.

Anonymous said...

Hi
Nice event.
Caroline told me about it
I won't join you, I'm French, that would be cheating.
Have fun and thanks for the enthousiasm about my country. (I wonder why foreigner are so attracted by the Tour de France,it's so boring)

Unknown said...

What a brilliant idea! Paris is where my heart is so I am THERE.

Audrey said...

Yes, thank you from me too. Looking forward to Paris in July, encore une fois!

Bybee said...

I'm in!

Nari @ The Novel World said...

This sounds like so much fun! I am such a Francophile. My husband and I will be going to a French Festival in Santa Barbara in July, so this is perfect timing. =)

Karen said...

Hi bookaroundthecorner - I don't think it is cheating to join in at all just because you are French!!

Hi Relishx - I think a lot of us feel the same way about where our hearts are! Great to have you on board.

Hi Audrey - great to have you with us!

Hi Bybee - so glad you are with us!

Hi Nari - It sounds like it is a great time of year to host this event!

Anonymous said...

I'd like to give it a crack - please tell me more :)

Irene Palfy said...

Hi!

So, I am in, too.

With these blogs:

books: All that glistens could be old -> http://allthatglistensisnotold.blogspot.com/

films: And then they start to sparkle ->
http://andthentheystartsprkling.blogspot.com/

and maybe anything else: Not sophisticated ->
http://some-special-treasures.blogspot.com/

This will be fun!! :")

Karen said...

Hi Gondal-girl - We would love to have you join us! Basically you can participate by reading, listening to, watching, cooking etc... anything French related and blogging about during the month of July.

Hi Irene - thanks for letting me know your blog addresses!

bibliolathas said...

I'd love to do this: "Bibliolathas" (http://bookforgetter.blogspot.com/)

Karen said...

Hi Bibliolathas - so great to have you with us for this!

Her Royal Orangeness said...

Oh, this sounds très fantastique! I look forward to participating.

Sandra said...

I like this idea. Sign me up, I'm looking through my shelves for French reads now.

Jeanie said...

Very excited again about participating in Paris In July! I'll sign up with http://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com -- and I'll let you know if I sign up on my book blog, too!

Thanks for hosting again -- met some nice bloggers last time!

sawcat said...

This sounds really fun. I'd love to participate. I'm envious of Tamara for her upcoming trip there.

gabrielreads said...

Great idea! I'm definitely in. I'm a huge Francophile, despite having never been to France. I'll be posting about this right away.

Packabook Travel Novels said...

Hi - I'd love to take part!
Suzi

Cat said...

Sounds fun - I look forward to participating!

Brenda G. Spalding said...

I also posted on Thyme for Tea. What a great idea!! Love it! What is the weather like in Paris so I pack the right outfits!!

I am going to find some delicious French recipes and I can't wait to sit outside one of the posh cafes and sip on my tea with a good book!

Oolala!
www.curlingupwithagoodbook.com :0)

Molly said...

How exciting! I will actually be in Paris at the end of July - and this challenge will really help me to prepare for the trip.

Tracey said...

This is a lovely theme and one I can't resist. I will join you - thank you both for hosting!

Karen said...

Hi Her Royal Orangeness, Sandra, Jeanie, Sarah, Gabriel, Suzi, Cat, Brenda, Molly and Tracey - it is so great to have you all join us - I will ass your blog links to the Paris in July list right now!

Chat Noir said...

Oh this was so much fun last year.......has it been 12 months already? So many things to read, to see, to eat, to indulge in (like a l-o-n-g bubble bath with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate). Oops, losing the plot a little there!! Count me in please.

Tami said...

I'm in! This sounds like fun. I received Julia Child's glorious cookbooks as a gift over a year ago and so far I've only tried 3 recipes. I will probably focus mostly on food, but will also look for books with an appropriate setting or story. Thanks for hosting.

Tami said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LL said...

Oh hey... I will most definitely be participating in this event and can't believe that I didn't hear of it til now! I am a complete francophile and still totally ache for my summer in France. I'm a little sad because I did a bookish spots of Paris blog series in May - I should have saved it for this month! Oh well. Definitely looking forward to participating.

Ellie said...

I'm going to start following all the blogs taking part soon. I'm really looking forward to it. Is it July yet?!

Mel u said...

Count me in for my second year-This year my theme will be short stories by French Nobel Prize Winners

kelly said...

Just found your blog and this sounds so fun! Count me in!

Karen said...

Hi Sara, Chat Noir, Tami, L.L., Mel and Kelly - so great to have you with us - not long to go now!!
L.L. - can you please let me know your blog address so that I can add you to the list.

LL said...

Oops, sorry about that.
http://thestorygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com

Karen said...

Thanks L.L!

Louise said...

This is SO me. I love Paris. Have only been lucky enough to visit twice- the second time was last year (June/July) and lives on so strongly in my memory. I'll be staying up late to watch the Tour in July. So a cultural program will be a perfect partner!

JPops said...

I just did a google search to see what I can do when I get to Paris and I happened to come across this site. This sounds like fun so I'm in.

Falaise said...

Hi,

I just found your site through Books and Chocolate. Please may I join in!

Betty said...

May Nonbloggers join? This sounds like fun. I don't have a blog, but I generally post my book reviews for challenges at Goodreads./bj

Anothercookiecrumbles said...

Count me in as well. Looking forward to it :-)

Karen said...

Hi Louise - welcome!

Hi JPops - are you able to let me know your blog address to add to the side bar?

Hi Falaise - great to have you joining us!

Hi Betty - of course you can join in - I just won't be able to add your link to the blog roll on the side bar.

Hi anothercookiecrumbles - so great to have you joining us!

Frances said...

I was trying to resist but it seems silly since I had such fun last year. Sign me up?

annell4 said...

What fun! I would love to go with you! Perfect!

Curvy Kitty said...

Count me in! I'll be reading French mystery novels

Mrs. Fry said...

Thanks for hosting this again! I am in! have two French classics lined up.

What do you think of Anabel?

Brenda
www.myspringsnow.blogspot.com

Lavish Bookshelf said...

Please sign me up! I'm so excited about this topic!

Mel u said...

I posted my first "Paris in July-2011" review today

"Ubo Roi" by Alfred Jarry-

Kathy at Food Lover's Odyssey said...

Hi! I stumbled upon your blog actually searching for information on Bastille Day festivals in CA. I love both books and France, but especially Paris. As it is already July, is it too late to sign up? I would love to be part of Paris in July.

Ted said...

Please count me in too, if it's not too late! It sounds like a lot of fun. I just returned from France, in fact, and have Pierre Michon's Small Lives on my TBR pile, so I will complete that for your event.

The Book Whisperer said...

I hope I'm not too late to join this? I'd love to join in - I am a huge francophile and have so many books set in France on my shelf so this is the perfect excuse :-)

Boof - The Book Whsiperer

Lynda said...

i'm in
http://holisticknitter.blogspot.com/2011/07/another-book-challenge-paris-in-july.html

Literary Chanteuse said...

Is this open to non bloggers? I love Paris and books about France! I spent some time in Paris/France a few years ago and would love to go back. I look forward to all the posts.

Connie said...

A little late, but just found out about this from A Novel Challenge. I am definitely in. Sounds like fun!

Mystica said...

Late to this! I have no way of reading French based novels or doing anything that will be part of this challenge but I am certainly following the blog posts as they are so enjoyable. Even reading Fodors book on Paris is so good.

Guy Savage said...

Not sure what I'll blog about--most likely a film

My film site is www.phoenixcinema.wordpress.com

katrinaholmes said...

I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, BidsGet.com

Mel u said...

Hi-I just posted on and linked back to you on short stories by Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus

Short stories by French Nobel Prize Winners

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I'm late to the party, but I plan on posting sometime this month! I am a total francophile so can't wait to write about Paris!

John Mutford said...

Hi there! While I won't be participating this time around (I'm hosting a Canadian Book Challenge and I'm quite busy with that at the moment), I am planning a trip to France in March and will definitely be checking in with the Paris in July participants for titles to read closer to my departure date. Do you know of many books set in Paris or France but written by Canadians?

Arti said...

Paris in July is a beautiful concept, thanks for hosting it. Count me in, even though I'm a bit late to sign up. I've just finished reading A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway and have posted a review on my blog Ripple Effects. I've also thrown in a few thoughts from the Woody Allen film "Midnight In Paris" too. I've also a review of it earlier. Thanks for counting me in!

http://rippleeffects.wordpress.com

Happy touring to all!

Lunch in Paris said...

This is such a fabulous idea - next year I'm in from the very beginning! For this year - there are some devastatingly attractive French tomatoes on my latest post from Provence. Bon appetit!

Alex (The Sleepless Reader) said...

Hello! I didn't register, but managed, in the nick it time, to post a review for Paris is July. Here it is: http://thesleeplessreader.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/13-rue-therese-by-elena-mauli-shapiro/

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