Welcome to Litsy!

It had me hooked. This is a wonderful piece of non-fiction that chronicles the development of the Paris Left-Bank intellectuals starting with the Nazi Occupation of Paris. After the war, the intellectuals and artists influenced the public and government through publications, demonstrations and debate. All this is played out on the world's political, artistic and intellectual stage. This is an accessible history of a fascinating time.

Poirier‘s fact-dump on post-war Paris - 1945-1949 - is more like a biography on Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, but without getting too close. It‘s so fact dense, that it practically lacks a narrative. Unfortunately it‘s compromised on audio by a terrible effort that make no distinction of tone or subject changes. It becomes monotonous facts. They‘re deadening at their worst, but hit strides of fascination. My last audiobook for 2022.

New audiobook - partially because Richard Wright is a subject, and partially because I found @batsy ‘s comment of interest on the book motivating. ☺️

Absolutely loved this thought provoking ,deeply evocative book. Can't recommend it enough. Full review here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4302473756

For the most part I really liked this. It was interesting to read about how Parisian artists dealt with the onset of war and the aftermath of it, and it was written in such a way it made you feel as though you were there. The last few chapters ran out of steam though and I was overwhelmed with names and anecdotes. I learned some things and enjoyed reading it but I was also glad I was done by the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The type of book that deserves to be read with a glass of wine 🍷

I had a sort out of my books the other day and I have a bookcase full of unread books 🙈 (I know you all can probably relate 😂) so I‘m making it my mission this year to read mostly from my own shelves. I asked my other half to pick one at random and this is the one he chose 👌

Today's book haul. I'm feeling pleased but rather guilty.

Absolutely loved this book and enjoyed devouring it. Felt like I came away with a real evocation of the period in time, the people involved and the city itself.

#TBRshelfie #LiteraryLuck

Going to aim for some non-fiction this month. I‘ve been slowly enjoying In The Restaurant - the problem with that book is because of it I have added MANY more books to my TBR.

#31DaysOfNonfiction

A gem of a book. Makes me miss my much beloved Paris!

Paris certainly was a #cityofdreams during the postwar rebirth, especially among the art community.
#septemberdanes

Great review in The Economist of Agnes Poirier‘s marvellous ‘Left Bank‘. They found it as delightful as I did. https://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21741126-inquiry-old-haunt-sartre-.... #leftbank #agnespoirier #simondebeauvoir #philosophy #jeanpaulsartre #existentialism

I just got part two of my Christmas present from my mom. This awesome book box from #ShakespeareandCompany

What a simply wonderful book. Informative and enlightening but also highly entertaining. Read my Goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39107971-left-bank. #agnespoirier #leftbank #paris #france #politics #philosophy #existentialism #journalism #secondworldwar #history #literature #jeanpaulsartre #simonedebeauvoir #albertcamus #thirdway #frenchhistory

Spotted this in Waterstones the other day and I want it 😍 was so tempted to buy it #itsashame I‘m on a book buying ban (trying to get through books I own & use the library a lot more) #aprella

Racing through this marvellous book almost too quickly. I am enjoying reading about the Left Bank renaissance but don‘t want to finish the book too soon. #agnespoirier #leftbank #philosophy #paris #1959s #existentialism #jeanpaulsartre #simonedebeauvoir #albertcamus #politics #book #books #bookstagram #currentlyreading #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #verocaffè #caffeine #coffeecompass #caffeneaddict #friernbarnet #blackcoffee

Just a few pages in and I am already captivated by this book about the cultural, philosophical and literary rebirth in post-War Paris. Best coffee so far this week, too. #agnespoirier #leftbank #book #books #currentlyreading #bookstagram #coffeecompass #verocaffe #friernbarnet #coffee #caffeine #caffeineaddict #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #wakeupandsmellthecoffee #wakeupandsmellthecoffin #philosophy #politics #paris

Tonight we received what is probably the last package we will get delivered to our ny apt... and it's bookmail, go figure 🤷🏻‍♀️