Desert Island Books by Camille

Welcome to the "Desert Island Book" radio program

Today I will present a summary of the interview between journalist Julien and our guest Camille.

Initially, the journalist asked Camille a few questions about herself.

Her name is Camille, she was born on June 14th 1995, she's sexteen and she lives in Bourg la reine. She told Julien that she likes reading occasionally, watching TV, ans going out with her friends. She also sayd : "I don't know what I don't like".
She has juste a little brother
Camille has traveled a lot, she already has been to London, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Roma.
She has chosen "L" because she would like to be in Info-graphist and because she didn't like Mathematics.

Next, the journalist asked Camille about her favourite book ever.

Camille has chosen "The Ants" By Bernar Weber. She likes a passage about the theory on divinity.
She said : " We are to ants what god is to us".
She could go to a Desert Island with this book only, because it's like a her Bible ...

Desert Island Books by Rim

Desert Island Books is a famous radio program in which a person is asked about his taste in literature, the books he/she likes, but most important which one would he/she take to a desert island.

Our first guest is Rim, a high school student of sixteen and a half, living in Bagneux (near Paris) and fond of books and cinema. She accepted to answer a few questions about her likes and dislikes in literature and of course the main one: "What book would you take on a desert Island".

The first question, a classic one, was "What is you favourite book ever?", which she answered without any doubts "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, a romantic story but also a critic of the society from that century and women's condition. Then she enumerated her favourite writers: Jane Austen, The Brontë Sisters, Elizabeth Gaskell, Oscar Wilde, Leon Tolstoï and Charles Dickens. The journalist also asked her about the kind of stories that she usually read: " Most of the time realistic and romantic stories, but I also like a little bit of fantasy, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings". Her favourite place to read is her room, because it's calm and she feels like she can really get involved in the storyline. Finally she explained that she would take "Pride and Prejudice" to a Desert Island, because she loves the characters and even if they are from a completely different time she can totally relate to them and it's also a story she knows she's never gonna be tired of.

Desert Island Books by Sophie

Maël Permal is from Fontenay-aux-Roses, close to Paris. She likes hanging out with her friends in Paris and is keen on cinema. If she had to choose between all the books she read, she would take The Stranger by Albert Camus away on a desert island.
The Stranger is the story of an unknown character who goes to jail after killing a man. Maël read it during the summer holidays and loved it. What really caught her attention was the character's conception of life : "It is so special. He's a lonely guy : to his mind, being alone allows us to think about humanity." This vision of loneliness is adapted to the context of a desert island. Besides, Maël really identified with the main character. After reading it, she talked about it with her friends who were also thrilled by Camus' book. "I would recommend it to anyone. It is a fabulous experience" she said. Unfortunately, Maël hasn't read other books by Camus : "But I'd love to read The Plague, Caligula and Sisyphe's Myth."
As the interview ended, we asked Maël for a last word : "As Schopenhauer would say : "The one who does not like being alone does not like freedom either, because we are only free when we are alone"."

Desert Island Books by Maël

Marie Sandra, a young student was interviewed by Sophie for the show "Desert Island Books". She is sixteen years old, she's from Cachan, a suburb next to Paris. She likes going to the cinema, reading, playing the piano and she used to play the guitar and the harp.
The first book that she read was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She reads romantic books because for her everything can be possible with that kind of books. You can dream or escape from reality.
If she had to go to a desert island she would take the Half-Brother by Laars Saabye Christensen, a Norwegian writer. She discovered it at a book exhibition called "Le Salon du Livre". She saw the cover, read the back cover and loved the topic.
The book is about two half-brothers. The older one is not really a good example for the little onebecause he's doing a lot of bad things. The little brother is really sad and worried because of that. The book is realistic, they don't show that they love each other but it's beautiful. You can also find yourself in the characters.
Of course Marie Sandra recommands it to everybody because it's easy to read and it is a moving story.

" Desert Island Books" by Cécile

Cécile, a student was interviewed in the programme " Desert Island Books". She likes dancing, cats, Art, going out with friends and reading books.

She think her parents and her grandparents encourage her to be interested in books, in accordance with her age. Her preferences are Romantism, Symbolism and the absurde.

She chose "Les Fleurs du Mal" de Charles Baudelaire because, if she must go to a desert island with one book only, she would read the poems again and again. In one world the book is for her enchantment, bewitching. She said the book is : "the beautiful rest of the genius Baudelaire, of his boheme life, with loves and angers". She said she she finds in the poems a wonderful poetry, a emotion, and she loves it.

Manhattan / Rhapsody in Blue

Here is the opening scene of Manhattan by Woody Allen, that we watched in class. Enjoy!
Now listen to Rhapsody in Blue, written by George Gershwin in 1924. It is one of the most popular American pieces of concert music. 

Victorian culture at the Musée d'Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay is holding a series of events on Victorian Britain. Don't miss the promising exhibition on the Aesthetic Movement: Beauté, morale et volupté dans l'angleterre d'Oscar Wilde
Works by famous Victorian artists such as Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti or Aubrey Beardsley will be on show.

 The Golden Stairs, Edward Burne-Jones, 1880

From September 13th to January 15th.

Literary events in Parisian bookshops

Remember to check out regularly the websites of two Parisian bookshops selling books in English.
 Shakespeare and Company
WH Smith
They regularly hold events like public readings and public interviews of authors promoting their latest work.
Unfortunately, such events are usually scheduled on week days, which may be a bit of a problem for hard-working students like you!

Women in Pop Art

At the Taglialatella Gallery (Paris 3), discover the exhibition Women in Pop Art which seems quite interesting. It deals with the way women are represented in the works of renowned Pop Art artists like Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann.

 Bedroom Face with Lichtenstein by Tom Wesselmann, 1994.

Until October 18th, Taglialatella Gallery, 10, rue de Picardie (Paris 3)

So London!

The department store "Le Bon Marché" in Paris is hosting an exhibition on British fashion and pop culture: So London! Don't miss the photographs of Martin Parr, and the exhibition dedicated to the Pop icon Bryan Ferry.

Until October 15th at the Bon marché, 24, rue de Sèvres (Paris 7)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Reading Circle, our class blog.

1. Here, you will give your opinion on texts you read in class and/or outside school.
2. You will share information on authors studied in class.
3. You will also be able to display the tasks carried out in class.
4. Finally, this class blog will enable you to find or share information on cultural events related to the English-speaking world in Paris and around.