Le Canapé

Eagerly waiting in 2012… for now !

Alex — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:29:42 +0000

I’m including Cinder, even if I already read the book. For those who enjoy YA and original stories, this one is for you.

It’s cold outside

Alex — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:03:55 +0000

Currently reading…

Alex — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:21:48 +0000

Long weekend

Alex — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:59:27 +0000



Jura - La Givrine, originally uploaded by dibaer.

Going to the Swiss Jura for a long weekend. Finally ! Some snow and fresh air will do wonders. See you soon !

Best Books of 2011: the one I forgot

Alex — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:45:30 +0000

I can’t understand why I forgot to include it, especially because it now belongs in the favourite/comfort reads shelf. Love, love, LOVE how these two broken people are so perfect for each other. They are both far from perfect but you cannot help but to cheer up for them. Oh and it was the only first read of 2011 that I already reread twice.

High fashion, high art, high expectations – this is Pretty Woman for the twenty-first century Money makes the world go round – that’s what twenty-something Grace Reeves is learning. Stuck in a grind where everyone’s ahead apart from her, she’s partied out, disillusioned, and massively in debt. If she’s dumped by another rock-band wannabe, squashed by anyone else at her cut-throat fashion job, or chased by any more bailiffs, Grace suspects she’ll fall apart…

So when older, sexy and above all, wealthy art-dealer Vaughn appears, she’s intrigued against her will. Could she handle being a sugar daddy’s arm candy?

Soon Grace is thrown into a world of money and privilege, at Vaughn’s beck and call in return for thousands of pounds in luxurious gifts, priceless clothes – and cash. Where’s the line between acting the trophy girlfriend, and selling yourself for money?

And, more importantly: whatever happened to love?

Best books of 2011

Alex — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:29:46 +0000

Mistress of Revolution by Catherine Delors (historical fiction) : an historical gem highly recommended to all those who enjoy an enthralling and well researched story set during the French Revolution.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Grier (young adult): a book with an original historical fantasy world responsible for my many young adult reads this year.

Te DUFF by Kody Keplinger (young adult): a completely surprise and one of the most original YA I ever read.

Nevermore by Kelly Creach (young adult): Edgar Allan Poe. Enough said !

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (young adult): I heard so much about this book and since it was set in Paris, I simply had to read it. The author described Paris with such vivid details that made me be part of the story.

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh (paranormal / urban fantasy): Hawk. (no more comments )

The worst of 2011:

The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel (historical fiction): after years waiting for this book, buying it the release day and finding that the author made decisions in the opposite direction of what I was hoping for (I forgot about the repetitive voice !), it completely destroyed this series for me. I don’t know if there will be others, or spin-offs, but this was the last Auel I read.

Movies, movies and movies

Alex — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Lately I’ve been reading little (even when I try, I fell asleep 5 minutes after starting a page) and using my free time to go to the movies or watch something interesting in TV.

FAVOURITE MOVIES OF 2011

Tous les soleils

This must be my favourite movie of 2011. Simple but such a moving story of a widow father who doesn’t know how to deal with his 15th year old daughter. A real comfort movie which has already a spot in my favourite shelf.

This must be the place

I’m not normally a big fan of Sean Penn, but he certainly win me over with this role. Enjoyed every minute of it !

Mysteries of Lisbon

I heard so much about this movie (also made into a series) that I knew I had to watch it asap, especially when it’s adapted from a portuguese novel. A Raul Ruiz masterpiece !

The movies I can barely wait to see in 2012 (some were already released in another countries):

The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo

The Iron Lady

Albert Nobbs

Snowhite and the Huntsman

Long time no see

Alex — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:18:26 +0000

It’s been months since I actually post anything… Lack of time is the main reason of my absence, but slowly things are calming down and I find a few minutes here and there. Unfortunately, my readin time was also close to nothing and the same happened to my beloved period dramas. Everything waits in several piles and each time I look at them I feel the need to plunge into them. I’ve been missing my books and series for quite long.

This weekend I decided to re-watch Downton Abbey. The second season is about to be released in dvd and I wanted to refresh my memory before I get into it.

Also, I just started The Little Bride by Anna Solomon. The first pages are really tough but extremely poignant. I’m loving it so far !

When 16-year-old Minna Losk journeys from Odessa to America as a mail-order bride, she dreams of a young, wealthy husband, a handsome townhouse, and freedom from physical labor and pogroms. But her husband Max turns out to be twice her age, rigidly Orthodox, and living in a one-room sod hut in South Dakota with his two teenage sons. The country is desolate, the work treacherous. Most troubling, Minna finds herself increasingly attracted to her older stepson. As a brutal winter closes in, the family’s limits are tested, and Minna, drawing on strengths she barely knows she has, is forced to confront her despair, as well as her desire.

From the author’s website: http://www.annasolomon.com/book.php

My Secret Santa

Alex — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:12:13 +0000

I know I’m a bit late, Christmas was almost 2 weeks ago, but I still wanted to talk about my Secret Santa. This year I decided to participate in a Holiday Swap and I’m glad I did it. Not only did I get the highly recommended The Glass-Blowers by Daphne du Maurier and a beautiful notebook, but, most importantly, I meet someone who seems not only a generous person with a great sense of humor but she also has great taste in books. Boof, thank you so much for being my Santa!:)

While trying to take a photo of my gift, a naughty boy immediately came up to see what I was doing and, of course, he had to be in the picture…

Challenges for 2011

Alex — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:11:03 +0000

Even if I’m not very good at reading challenges (I always have lousy results), I’m going to chose 2-3 for 2011. Here are my first two choices:

Hosted by Historical Tapestry, I know for sure that I’ll chose the Severe Bookaholism (20 books) level. I won’t make a list, since I know from previous experiences that will never work with me.

Something entirely different and a genre I usually enjoy, this challenge is hosted by Book Chick City. I have to read 24 horror & urban fantasy novels… I think I can do it, the worst part for me is to write the reviews.