I was visiting family near Washington D. Jennifer has been running the store since , but I somehow learned of it only in June. The store comprises two rooms, one for adults and one for children. Jennifer reports that they carry distinct titles. Nearly all of them are in French, with a smattering of English-language books on French subjects. The collection for adults includes contemporary and classical novels of all stripes literature, mysteries, romance, thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi ; an assortment of B.
There are also juvenile B. Bonjour Books sells books online as well as in the store, but I had plenty of space in my suitcase so I was free to stock up then and there. I picked out a few titles that piqued my interest and then asked Jennifer to recommend three or for more. She walked me through her favorites, chatting away in French with me the whole time. Here are the new additions to my fall reading list:.
I was intensely curious about how a French bookstore could operate in America in the modern day, when so much of the book trade is now done through online merchants. Before turning the conversation to that subject I volunteered that I had started a French theater company in Boston and Jennifer was delighted to learn of our efforts and eager to learn how it came to pass. So we spent some 45 minutes swapping stories about creating small enterprises in America that cater to francophone audiences, and about the differences between for-profit and non-profit businesses.
Jennifer was wonderfully forthcoming about her experiences, and gave me some good ideas for ways to develop the French Theater Project. With so many titles in stock, I can get new French books for less money and much sooner than ordering them myself from overseas. Happy Independence Day to one and all! No celebrations here, but I will partake in the French festivities 10 days from now.
I woke up to a wonderful email offering me a volunteer post at the Festival Avignon! The job came about through a combination of being in the right place at the right time and being relentlessly outgoing. Last year in Avignon I hatched the crazy idea of trying to bring a French play to perform in Boston.
