Paris now. Weather fine...

[ellenkushner]

....for ducks.

Bizarre day all day - missed alarm in Amsterdam this morning, and were awakened by taxi phoning to say it was here to take us to the train station. Miraculously, we made the train, and got to Paris in time to make it to our rental apartment and then to the Sorbonne to catch the end of Maud's dissertation defense. The panel of 5 distinguished professors (all women!) then left the room. When they returned, everyone rose. They announced that they were awarding her a Doctorate with Honors. Applause. I was very moved. (But disappointed that there were no Funny Hats. I was expecting funny hats. Or robes. Nada. Rien.)

On our way out the door to the Sorbonne, the bike (motorbike) messenger from Calmann Levy arrived with the new French edition of Swordspoint, A la Pointe de l'Epee. I made myself wait to open it. (In the Cour d'Honneur of the Sorbonne, actually, I've just realized. Gad.) So worth it. So gorgeous. And I can even understand most of it! I am supposed to pick a passage to read aloud (yes, in French) for the journal Liberation's website on Monday. I cannot imagine how I will do the voices in French. I guess we'll find out.

I've also just found out that the Opera is doing a ballet of Les Enfants du Paradis (in Ellen's all time top 3 favorite movies), and I probably won't be able to go. There are, however, video clips on the website, and now that I've watched them I'm not entirely sure I'd want to. Part of what makes the movie for me is the language. And the ballet folk are so faithfully copying the very particular body language of the film actors . . . In the end, probably more of a curiosity than a great artistic experience. ??

I've also just found out that I will be doing a signing in Paris after all: this Monday night, 1800H, Librairie Scylla (12eme). I cannot imagine that autopope will turn up again, as he did in Amsterdam. But who knows?

Comments

[tattermuffin.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhhhh, I miss Paris SO much!!

If you get a chance, there's a small Turkish sandwich shop on Rue des Ecoles in the Latin Quarter - it's right across the street from the Hotel Familial. The sammiches are fabulous (um, if you eat lamb) and the staff are super friendly.

If you go, tell them the two women from America who were there last October still want them to open a store in San Jose California. *grin*

[jaidit.livejournal.com]

Nothing silly about the doctoral award? Darn.

Go to Padova. They know how to award a degree. (And remind me to post pictures one of these days.)

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Hm. Congrats on getting the French edition. A reviewer friend received a copy ages ago, I've seen it out in the shops, but haven't yet been sent my contributor copies.

Obviously, now that the job is done, I'm not longer a going concern...

Typical...

[(Anonymous)]

...I grouch, and on the very same day, the books arrive at last. Should have grouched sooner! -- Mantichore (couldn't log in!)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

So glad you got them!

So can you recommend a 10-minute passage for me to read for "Liberation" on Monday? I was thinking of the first chapter, maybe.

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that would be very nice, since it's lyrical and lush, and sets up the whole book quite nicely. I can't think of another passage which could be excerpted without needing some elaboration on the characters. The play could work, but it would hard (and a pity) to chop it down to the desired size.