Thursday, January 7, 2010

heaven on earth

Librarie Galignani, Paris

P.P.S. I forgot to mention that I am onto my fourth/fifth book. After Foreign Tongue - which I loved except for the slightly disappointing ending - I started on another French novel, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which I received as a Christmas present from my lovely father-in-law (I say father-in-law, but what I really mean is my longterm boyfriend's father; father-in-law is easier). It is very funny and interesting - but as it happened, I was about one-quarter of my way through when I discovered what is probably now one of my favourite places in the world, Librarie Galignani (a librarie is a bookstore in French) on the rue de Rivoli, as I was walking home from the Louvre. And, of course, I couldn't help but to buy a few more books (although how I will fit them into my suitcase, I have no idea), including Elizabeth Gilbert's newly released Committed, which I just had to start straight away and, of course, I am now captivated. I started Eat, Pray, Love with an unfairly cynical attitude, but then I reached the Bali chapter (after skipping most of the India chapter, sorry Liz) and I fell in adoring love with her writing style, worldview and Liz herself. I don't agree with everything she says but I so relish reading her cogent arguments and ideas. She also makes a very compelling case for legalising gay marriage - as does this New York Senator, Diane J. Savino:

To quote a wise man (Josh Thomas, comedian): "If you don't like the idea of gay marriage then don't marry a gay. It really is that simple".

NB: I discovered the video via Jason Mraz's blog Freshness Factor Five Thousand which I read regularly for his insightful thoughts and inspiration :)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am in love with that bookstore!