In April, I had the chance to spend a couple of weeks in France, during which I attended the Paris Book Festival. For any book lover, it’s a special occasion: for three days, publishers, writers, and readers gather beneath the glass roof of the Grand Palais. This year, the atmosphere felt particularly tense, with ongoing turmoil surrounding Éditions Grasset, one of France’s most prestigious publishing houses. Yet many school groups wandered through the aisles seemingly oblivious to the controversy, far more interested in finding the latest volume of Mortelle Adèle than in literary politics.
The visit of the French president added to the chaos. Large sections of the venue were temporarily closed off so he could meet writers and publishers. By the time the area reopened, moving from one stand to another had become an obstacle course, weaving through crowds of excited children racing between displays while trying to browse the latest releases.
Beyond the scandals and the general agitation, there is also growing concern in France about the state of the publishing industry as a whole. Book sales have been slowing down, and Gibert — a cornerstone of the French book world for more than a century — has recently filed for bankruptcy protection. For anyone who has ever spent time wandering through a Gibert bookstore, the news comes as a shock. These stores are famous for their endless shelves of affordable books, where you can find almost anything at remarkably low prices. For generations, they have been an essential refuge for broke students, avid readers, and compulsive book buyers alike.
But Paris remains a vibrant city, and when the melancholy starts to feel overwhelming, joy is never more than a few metro stops away. The spring is bringing a particularly rich selection of art exhibitions: Matisse, Martin Parr, Lee Miller… This season is also the perfect time to take a stroll along the Seine while listening to the sounds of the city or an audiobook. As the French Library gets ready to host Violaine Huisman on May 12th, I used some of my time in France to listen to Monuments of Paris. In her new novel, the author tells the story of her father, Denis Huisman, “an iconoclast, an unclassifiable, flamboyant, Balzacian character,” and her grandfather, Georges Huisman, a man shaped by the meritocratic ideals of the French Republic.
From the Palais de l’Élysée to le Festival de Cannes, this novel is an eventful dive into the 20th century and its darkest events. There’s something special about walking through the settings of a book you’re reading or listening to. It offers a unique perspective that no one else can give you. If you are interested in joining us for the author talk, feel free to sign up by clicking here.
The visit of the French president added to the chaos. Large sections of the venue were temporarily closed off so he could meet writers and publishers. By the time the area reopened, moving from one stand to another had become an obstacle course, weaving through crowds of excited children racing between displays while trying to browse the latest releases.
Beyond the scandals and the general agitation, there is also growing concern in France about the state of the publishing industry as a whole. Book sales have been slowing down, and Gibert — a cornerstone of the French book world for more than a century — has recently filed for bankruptcy protection. For anyone who has ever spent time wandering through a Gibert bookstore, the news comes as a shock. These stores are famous for their endless shelves of affordable books, where you can find almost anything at remarkably low prices. For generations, they have been an essential refuge for broke students, avid readers, and compulsive book buyers alike.
But Paris remains a vibrant city, and when the melancholy starts to feel overwhelming, joy is never more than a few metro stops away. The spring is bringing a particularly rich selection of art exhibitions: Matisse, Martin Parr, Lee Miller… This season is also the perfect time to take a stroll along the Seine while listening to the sounds of the city or an audiobook. As the French Library gets ready to host Violaine Huisman on May 12th, I used some of my time in France to listen to Monuments of Paris. In her new novel, the author tells the story of her father, Denis Huisman, “an iconoclast, an unclassifiable, flamboyant, Balzacian character,” and her grandfather, Georges Huisman, a man shaped by the meritocratic ideals of the French Republic.
From the Palais de l’Élysée to le Festival de Cannes, this novel is an eventful dive into the 20th century and its darkest events. There’s something special about walking through the settings of a book you’re reading or listening to. It offers a unique perspective that no one else can give you. If you are interested in joining us for the author talk, feel free to sign up by clicking here.
Benoit Landon
Librarian
After studying journalism in France, Benoit began his career in Paris where he lived and worked for over a decade. In 2018, he crossed the Atlantic for a research project on a typewriter he bought at a flea market. He ended up in Hartford, Connecticut, where he met his wife by accident. Many administrative forms later, he settled in Greater Boston. As an avid reader, Benoit is delighted to be surrounded by books and to stay in touch with the French culture he loves. Come say hello at the circulation desk!
