books ...

Can you believe we'll be in Paris in less than 2 weeks!!! I decided a have a lot of reading to do beforehand, so I went to the library yesterday and now have been on a crazy reading streak. I should be writing that paper or cleaning or something. So, since yesterday afternoon, I have read 2 books and am starting another.

Versaille was an interesting book but kind of cryptic and not what I expected. It described Versaille, all the rooms, etc. etc. in terms of the life of Marie Antoinette. Quite interesting. Made me feel a bit sorry for the poor Queen as well as very excited to see Versailles. I read all the history of the building on the official Versailles web page as well.

I also read The Sun Also Rises, possibly my first Hemingway, but maybe not. I didn't particularly like it. First thing I did when I woke up this morning was check out SparkNotes and try to figure out why this book was famous and if I was missing something. The dialogue was definately more modern than books that came before it. I liked it much bettter than Great Gatsby (I enjoyed the style much more) but they both are novels that seem centered around debauchery (on a side note - none of the kids I tutor know this ward ... they all think it means like virtuous).

I am also reading this book called something like Olympia, Paris in the age of Manet or something like that. I have read tons of books about artists lately, so I was pretty familiar with Manet's life to being with. At first I was not so impressed with Manet's paintings, but I have to admit they are really growing on me, now. I really enjoy them and am thinking about going to the Museum of Fine Arts again to check out the Manet's that are there. I haven't been to the museum in so long, it will be good to make one last stop before I go. Speaking of which, Katsu and I really need to go see the Fogg art museum and I am still bummed we didn't get time to go to the MOMA. Another day, I guess.

Well, I really better work on that paper or clean or something (especially since bookclub is at my house).