‘Middle England’ by Jonathan Coe – just published to positive reviews – features an unusual location in its pages: 
Book-in-Bar. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Book In Bar’
Celebrating 100 Years of Votes for Women at Book in Bar
Posted in Book, Event, tagged Aix-en-Provence, Book In Bar on March 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »
In the UK, 2018 is the centenary of winning Votes for Women: the suffrage campaign finally won through! Women over 30 (or at least the great majority of them) finally won the right to vote in parliamentary elections; women over the age of 21 had to wait until 1928 to gain full equal voting rights with men.
Suffragists relied on constitutional tactics (keeping within the law), while suffragettes took militant action, often resulting in imprisonment.
Next week, British academic Jill Liddington will be at Book in Bar in Aix giving what will no doubt be an impassioned account of this struggle: Jill was Reader in Gender History at Leeds University and is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. She specialises in the actions of women in the north of England, often working class and somewhat side lined by historians in favour of better-known activists in London. Her book ‘Rebel Girls’ profiles some of these courageous northern women.
Her book, ‘Histoire des suffragistes radicales’, was published here in France last month.
This is a free talk – not to be missed!
For Bouches-du-Rhone Bookworms….
Posted in Book, Event, tagged AAGP, Book In Bar on March 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Some news on the literary front.
The AAGP (Anglo-American Group of Provence) are having their annual booksale on April 6th – from 9:30 to 3:30 at the Maison des Associations (behind the Mairie Annexe at Pont de l’Arc). They always have a huge range of books, at very low prices and say they need lots of buyers to give them good new homes. Repatriating families donate their libraries for resale and there are usually good children’s books. Free tea and coffee – and you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of this sale.
Meanwhile Book In Bar has announced its forthcoming events, a little in the future but useful to have details so we can read the authors first. On Friday April 5th, 17:30 Beverley Naidoo will be at the bookshop, talking about her work. She was born in South Africe and then educated in England where she reflected on her early experiences in her book ‘Journey to Jo’burg’. On Saturday 8th June at 17:00 British novelist Jonathan Coe is the guest writer. He has published a series of successful novels – his latest ‘The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim‘ finds narrative interest in a journey along UK’s M40 and brings us a modern Everyman. More about him on www.jonathancoewriter.com.If you read Cloud Atlas, which was a hit with our book-group, you may like to see the film version. I was unsure as it’s such a challenging narrative, but I heard a review panel on BBC Radio and all three people had not wanted to see it…and then thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s in VO alternating with the French version at the Cézanne.
More inspiration for reading can be had from Aix-based blogger Claire http://clairemca.wordpress.com/author/clairemca/ who reads and recommends at a phenomenal rate. Café Penguin also has a lively newsletter which brings info and discussions on their latest publications: http://newsletters.penguin.co.uk/go.asp?/bPEN001/mHHJH53F/uVG3KC/xX74853F
Reading List for Book-in-Bar
Posted in Book, Event, tagged Aix-en-Provence, Book In Bar on September 3, 2012| 2 Comments »
I think we are lucky in Aix to have such a good English-language bookshop, especially when independent bookshops seem to be having a hard time. Book-in-Bar have a number of author-readings throughout the year and also run their own book discussion group. Here is their agenda:
Saturday, Ian McEwen……………………………27 Sept
State of Wonder, Ann Patchett…………………25 Oct
Invisible, Paul Auster……………………………..29 Nov
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald…………20 Dec
Cat’s Table, Michael Ondaatje……………………31 Jan
Montana, Larry Watson…………………………..28 Feb.
For bookworms….
Posted in Book, Event, tagged Aix-en-Provence, Andrew Miller, Book In Bar, Joseph Boyden, Les Invalides, Pure on May 14, 2012| 1 Comment »
or, as the French call us, les rats du bibliotheque. Unpleasant animals, worms and rats, but a serendipitous lead-in to my recommendation of ‘Pure’ by Andrew Miller. 
Skip it if you are not strong of stomach, but if you are, prepare for a dazzling immersion into 18th century Paris. A young engineer from Normandy has been given the unenviable task of clearing the ancient cemetery of Les Invalides where the bodies have stacked up to such an extent that they are oozing into the cellars of the nearby houses. It’s an unlikely topic for a novel but you quickly get drawn into the characters, the narrative and the history of Les Halles. It won the 2011 Costa Book of the Year – and I couldn’t put it down.
To get lots of good suggestions on what to read next, have a look at http://clairemca.wordpress.com. Claire is an Aix-based writer who has set herself the challenge of reading a book each week this year. She reviews them very honestly as she goes – and gives all her followers, bookworms or les rats, interesting ideas which often have a French-flavour – like her recommendation this week. Have a look!
And finally – meet an author. Book-in-Bar (rue Joseph Cabassol, Aix) have invited Joseph Boyden, a Canadian novelist, to talk about his work. I haven’t left you much time for this one – it’s tomorrow May 15th at 17.30 – but his books are on sale at the event and his talk will hopefully motivate lots of new readers. I like Book-in-Bar’s author events – it’s good to hear the writers reading from their own works and in such a relaxed setting.
Readings at Book In Bar
Posted in Book, Event, tagged Aix-en-Provence, Book In Bar, Doublas Kennedy, Veronica Cecil on April 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Last month I went to the reading of ‘Black Rock’ at Book In Bar – I hadn’t heard of the author before so it was a revelation. Not only did I really enjoy the book but the writer was interesting and her reading was engrossing.
So I’m looking forward to discovering another new author on Saturday 28th April at 5:30pm when Veronica Cecil reads from Drums on the Night Air. She was twenty-five when her husband was offered a job in the Congo.
“Filled with enthusiasm, the couple set off for an African adventure. Very soon, however, Veronica realised that life in the Congo was not what she had imagined. Food shortages were an everyday occurrence; and flickers of violence were starting to erupt everywhere. Six months later Veronica and her family were sent to Elizabetha. But paradise didn’t last. Civil war broke out, and the rebels captured the neighbouring town of Stanleyville and took all the whites hostage. Despite the fact that Veronica was on the verge of giving birth, she had to be evacuated. Leaving her husband, she and her son began on a two-day journey through the jungle. But on the plane back to Leopoldville, the first labour pains began…”
Another date for the diary – Friday, the 8th of June – 1:00pm – Book In Bar will welcome Douglas Kennedy, author of the Pursuit of Happiness, Leaving the World, and The Moment. I know he is famous judging by the number of his books in airports – but I haven’t tried any yet.
Time to get reading!
In Praise of Parsnips !
Posted in Food, tagged Book In Bar, Christmas crackers, English Bubble, parsnips on December 6, 2011| 4 Comments »
Parsnips – where would the British Christmas be without them?
It’s a shame the French aren’t into them – they really are missing a treat. They are available now at OK Primeur which is a large fruit and veg shop alongside the DN7 at the Pont des Trois Sautets, just after the road ducks under the A8. They are wonderful par-boiled and then roasted in a little oil and honey – or cooked, roughly mashed, mixed with seasoning and cream, topped with some breadcrumbs and grated cheese and voila – a tasty parsnip gratin.
Of course our Christmas tables need Christmas crackers – Book In Bar in rue Joseph Cabassol has a good supply of boxes. Finally an excellent source of British goodies for hungry expats is English Bubble. Caroline not only organises activities and courses for children and adults, but also has a ‘Corner Shop’. Here you can stock up on marmite, digestive and ginger biscuits, bisto, HP sauce, suet, PG Tips tea, golden syrup and British sweets and crisps. Details on www.englishbubble.fr.
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Art in the South of France; the inside story
The South of France. Enchanted by the deep blue of the Mediterranean, the olive trees, poppies, irises and that dazzling light, artists found their creativity flourished under the hot sun. My new book takes you on a journey visiting museums and galleries as well as artists’ studios and their favourite painting spots. From Van Gogh in Arles, to Signac in Saint-Tropez; from Cézanne in Aix, over to Nice for Renoir and Matisse, the story unfolds of artists who knew each other and painted together in the warm south. Prepare too to meet colourful local artists who captured their beloved Provence for us to enjoy.
Buy: in Book-in-Bar, Aix, or online. Please click here: /art-in-the-south-of-france-the-inside-story/paperback/product-23586102.html
Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story
My first book tells the story of this fascinating town and introduces .some of the characters who have lived here. With a focus on people rather than buildings, history is unravelled through anecdotes with lots of suggestions of what to see when you visit. Available from lulu.com - /aix-en-provence-the-inside-story
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