We're back on the Proust train. This episode covers the first chapter of Volume 3 - The Guermantes Way (Le Côté de Guermantes). We focus on the Dreyfus Affair and its role in French society at the time of Proust and today.

Kicking off 2024 with a BANGER of a book! This week we discuss the Nobel prize winning Annie Ernaux's The Years (Les Années). Spoiler alert - we loved it. Come listen to a better, more feminist Proustian collective memory exploration.

We're BACK! After a long hiatus, Les Bookworms are back with an episode reflecting on our Proustian journey or lack thereof (spoiler alert...c'mon not really). We also chat some of our favorite books from our break, books we are excited to read and some other literary moments that have sparked joy in the last few months. In the episode, we reference a new bilingual literary journal - Version Original - which you can order on their website or pick up in several bookstores across Paris. As...

This episode is a pull back and pause on the journey of reading the world's longest novel. We've officially completed the first two volumes of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. We look at the volume as a whole and discuss a few issues we've had with the text so far. We also discuss why people consider this classic on of the greatest of all times and if we would recommend reading it. Happy reading! For more from Les Bookworms Pod, check out our Instagram @lesbookwormspod or our blog:...

This week on Les Bookworms Pod features two Paris memoirs that we enjoyed reading: Paris on Air by Oliver Gee and No. 91/92: notes on a Parisian commute by Lauren Elkin. Two short reads that transport you directly to the heart of Paris. Both stories touch on the experience of living in Paris following the 2015 terrorist attacks, while also navigating personal insights and reflections of the daily experience of life as foreigners in Paris and France in general. We are longtime fans of both and...

Les Bookworms are back for 2023 with an update on Proust! The third check-in covers mainly the second part of Volume II - "À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs" (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower). This section was packed with very interesting and profound ideas on love and the construction of our identities by ourselves and others. No need to have read Proust to listen we give a 30 second recap of everything that is important. You can find a fuller episode description and other book...

On this episode of Les Bookworms Pod, we chat about two books that have been in our PAL (pile à lire aka TBR) for awhile. Each is written by women who love the City of Lights! Both books are relatively short and provide unique perspectives of Paris. The collection of short stories « There’s Only One Paris » snakes around each arrondissement and gives glimpses into the different lives of Parisians, activities and landmarks each district has to offer. « L’Origine » offers a personal perspective...

The second check-in on In Search of Lost Time covers part of the second volume - "À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs" (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower). Our reflections vary from women's choices and societal pressure at the turn of the 20th century as well as in today's modern society to the misalignment of our own idea of self and the identity we present to the world to searching for the author in the text of their novel. No need to have read Proust to listen we give a 30 second...

Les Bookworms take on more classics. This week Helen and Miranda give their takes on three French classics: François le Champi (Georges Sand), Le Père Goriot (Honoré de Balzac) and Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert). If you have ever been interested in reading French classics, this episode is for you! We give a brief summary before giving our thoughts on these famous classics. We also ask whether these books should continue to be passed down?  You can find a fuller episode...

Today's episode is a check-in on how the adventure of reading the world's longest novel - In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust - is going for each of us. Join us for this literary odyssey as we make our way through the 1 267 069 words in this novel with the lens of understanding why this book is known to be so rewarding and considered among the greatest of all time. Have no fear we aren't Proustian and are not attempting to provide literary criticism! If you've ever been curious about...

Kicking off Season 4 of Les Bookworms Pod by diving straight in to our newest adventure - tackling Marcel Proust. We discuss Alain de Botton's novel "How Proust Can Save Your Life" as a primer before diving head first in to "In Search of Lost Time".  You can find a fuller episode description and other book reviews on our blog: https://lesbookwormspod.wordpress.com For all our current reads and a dose of French living, check out our Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

What could be a better way to wrap Season 3 of the Les Bookworms Pod than being in the same room for the first time in 3 years? While there is no book this week, we chat all about what's changed, what's stayed the same here in France and the reverse culture shocks after being away for so long. We also finally let you in on what we have in store for Season 4, which is going to be a completely different season for us!  Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.wordpress.com  Instagram: @lesbookwormspod 

The Bookworms head to Burgundy this week to discuss not 1 but 3 books that take us into the heart of this winemaking region. We like our red and whites just like we love a good nonfiction as much as a historical novel. This week’s episode gives a brief introduction to the region, its wine, the tradition of the harvest and its history with references to “Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass” by Natalie MacLean, “My Grape Year” by Laura Bradbury and “The Lost...

Cette semaine est la dernière épisode de notre série politique. Nous discutons le livre « Présentes » par Lauren Bastide (2020) et nous nous posons la même question qu’elle: quelle place pour les femmes? Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod >>>son propre podcast s’appelle « La Poudre »

With the French presidential elections just around the corner, this 4-part series covers the basics of the political system. Part 3 - French Political Parties breaks down France's multi-party system and identifies some of the 2022 presidential hopefuls.  Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

With the French presidential elections just around the corner, this 4-part series covers the basics of the political system. Part 2 - French Politics 101 is an introduction to France's political system, the V République and highlights on the presidents.  Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

With the French presidential elections just around the corner, this 4-part series covers the basics of the political system. Part 1 - What is a Parliamentary System? is a political primer for future episodes discussing the complexities of the French system and the political stage for the upcoming election in France.  Our parliamentarian-in-resident, Miranda walks us through the answers and the fundamental aspects of Canadian parliament while providing comparisons to other political systems....

This week's episode explores the graphic novel - Le Piano Oriental by Zeina Abirached. She tells a story through imagery and words, weaving together a dual narrative of her grandfather in 1960s Beirut and herself in Paris several decades later. Her grandfather's piano is central to understanding how language, culture and code switching play a role in her own life.  Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

Bienvenue au Canada ! Bien que les francophones québécois soient les plus connus, le Canada regorge d’autres groupes francophones comme les franco-ontariens. Avec notre invitée Brigitte, nous parlons du bilinguisme et de la culture Franco-Ontarienne. Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

How many francophone groups live in Canada? Have you heard of Franco-Ontarian day? This week we answer these questions and more with our special guest - Brigitte! Join us for an interesting discussion on what it’s like growing up bilingual in Canada and no she isn’t from Quebec ! Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram: @lesbookwormspod

This week we break down A Year in the M***e by Stephen Clarke (2006), which was originally published under the pen name Paul West (the protagonist in the book). The book explores Clarke's own experiences of moving to Paris and figuring out the city, the people and the French culture. Written as a comedic representation, Clarke offers a Anglo-male perspective of an often repeated story of landing in the City of Lights and finding a home. Blog: https://lesbookwormspod.com/ Instagram:...

Cette semaine nous introduisons un nouveau genre pour Les Bookworms Pod – la bande dessinée. Cette BD est une autobiographie de Kei Lam qui présente son enfance en France. Elle raconte sa vie et son expérience d’immigration. C’est une histoire touchante avec les illustrations incroyables ! Blog : https://lesbookwormspod.wordpress.com/ Instagram : @lesbookwormspodCette semaine nous introduisons un nouveau genre pour Les Bookworms Pod – la bande dessinée. Cette BD est une autobiographie de...

What exactly is TAPIF? How does it work? And what books should you read before arriving in France? This episode explores the program that brought us together. We discuss the basics of the program, provide a bit of advice for current/future assistants or to anyone moving abroad for the first time as well as a few take-aways from our experience as English teaching assistants in France. If you want more concrete information on how you can pursue this opportunity, check out the TAPIF site...

Coucou! Today marks 1 whole year of Les Bookworms Podcast! We are so proud and humbled by the last year and we have loved sharing our love of books and the francophonie with you all.  In this episode, we look back on the the last year of content and reflect on what we want for Season 3, coming soon! Instagram: @lesbookwormspod Blog: lesbookwormspod.wordpress.com Email: [email protected]