Jan 23, 2022

Sunday Salon: A New Book and an Old

 A new book and an old: 

Words to Make a Friend: A Story in Japanese and English, November 9, 2021, Random House Studio

This delightful bilingual picture book for children shows a Japanese girl and an American girl communicating in both languages while playing outdoors in the snow. Simple words and phrases by one girl in English are repeated in Japanese by the other girl. Lovely illustrations. 



Lovers at the Chameleon Club by Francine Prose was published in 2014 by Harper. I found the book again while paring down my home library, and because of the stunning cover and the topic, Paris in 1932, I now mean to read it!

The lives of selected athletes, socialites, writers, photographers in Paris from 1920 to the beginning of the war, 1932, have been researched and reimagined for fiction, their names changed in the book.

"Paris in the 1920s shimmers with excitement, dissipation, and freedom. It is a place of intoxicating ambition, passion, art, and discontent, where louche jazz venues like the Chameleon Club draw expats, artists, libertines, and parvenus looking to indulge their true selves." (book description)


What are you reading this week? 

Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated BookreviewerAlso,  It's Monday: What Are You ReadingMailbox Mondayand Sunday Salon  

27 comments:

  1. Words to Make a Friend sounds like a lovely book. I bet it is a good way to learn a little of a new language, too.

    I have Chameleon Club here. I'll see what you think, and, if you like it, maybe I'll pick it up in July for the Paris event.

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    1. July in Paris, just before the August holiday exodus. Sounds good even from an armchair.

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  2. What a lovely picture book and I love that it's bilingual.

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  3. Lovers at the Chameleon Club sounds like a good read. I like Paris in the old days when it was the center of the world.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Reading about it should put us right there!

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  4. Words to Make a Friend looks delightful

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Very cute book. Just wish there were more pages in the book. The illustrations are half of the fun of reading it to little ones.

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  5. Words to Make a Friend sounds like a wonderful children's book. Have a great weekend! https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/stacking-shelves-7sunday-post-4.html

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    1. I'm sending it to little relatives and hope they love it.

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  6. The Prose novel sounds really good. I'll try to remember it for Paris in July!

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    1. I keep hearing about Paris in July. I should join in!

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  7. The cover sold me on the book.

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  8. Love that description of PAris!

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    1. Paris in the 1920s - 1930 sounds so unique, even a little decadent!.

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  9. Words to Make a Friend does sound like a wonderful children's read.
    I find it fun to go through my TBR shelves and find something I had meant to read sooner.
    Happy Reading!

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    1. I have given away so many books that I probably would like to read now, sigh!

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  10. The bilingual book sounds so cute!
    Happy reading for this week.
    My post is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2022/01/23/sunday-post-50-1-23-2022/

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    1. Thge illustrations are well done and would appeal to children!

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  11. I'm always drawn to books set in Paris. Enjoy.

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    1. So am I. Armchair travel to Paris, here we come!

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  12. 'Words to Make a Friend' looks delightful and like a great book for kids! Pre-War Paris was a stunning place, I can imagine there are some fascinating stories waiting to be told there! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a lovely week :)
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

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    1. I can't wait to get into the book about the Chameleon Club!

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  13. Words to Make a Friend looks like an adorable read.

    Enjoy your books and your week.

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  14. I liked looking at the full page illustrations as much as reading the words and phrases in Japanese. Too bad there were not more of those.

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  15. Words to Make a Friend looks charming. I'm currently reading and enjoying Joan is Okay and looking forward to more good books this week. Happy reading.

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    1. I liked Joan is Okay too. A most unusual character. Happy reading week.

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I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

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