18 September 2022
13 July 2022
With the temperature rising outside, we’ve compiled a list of books that feature hot weather or heatwaves here at the American Library in Paris this July. […]
2 July 2022
Following the landmark overturning of Roe v Wade, take a look at our reading suggestions on the topic of reproductive rights in the USA.
29 June 2022
The Young Authors Fiction Festival concluded with a grand celebration on Friday 10 June. The event, which was held in two stages, was hosted by the […]
20 June 2022
15 June 2022
This June in our Members’ Lounge, we’re showcasing some exciting titles that have been translated from French into English in recent years, from fiction and poetry, […]
1 June 2022
Every June, Gay Pride is celebrated in many parts of the world to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, to recognize and raise […]
10 April 2022
Sunday 10 April saw the first round of the 2022 French Presidential election, with voters across France’s 101 départments heading to the polls to vote for […]
29 March 2022
At the 10th Annual Literary Reaping, teens traveled through District 12, to the ruins of apocalyptic Chicago, then all the way to 1980s Iran to test their YA Literature knowledge!
29 March 2022
By Claire Hargreaves Kwame Alexander, New York Times-bestselling author, poet, publisher, and previous American Library speaker in 2018, returned to the Library on Thursday 17 March […]
12 March 2022
by Pallas-Amenah Morgan On a cloudy Saturday morning, the sound of drums, tambourines, maracas and horns could be heard coming from the Children’s Library at The […]
16 February 2022
Words have power, and poetry has been an art form used to inspire some of the greatest movements in history. This February, Children’s and Teens’ Services […]
24 January 2022
Burns Night Burns Night is celebrated in Scotland on or around 25 January. It is a yearly commemoration of the life of the bard (poet) Robert […]
26 March 2021
The Library encourages young authors, ages 5-18, from all over the greater Paris area to use their imaginations and prepare to submit an original story in […]
16 March 2021
Selecting books for yourself or to share with a child should be a joyful task, although it can often be daunting. With the recent expansion of […]
23 February 2021
24 February 2021 Last week, we welcomed author and artist Lilianne Milgrom to a Zoom edition of our “Evenings with an Author” series. Programs Manager Catherine […]
1 February 2021
1 February 2021 In advance of her Evening with an Author program at the American Library (Wednesday 24 February 19h30 Central European Time), Programs Manager Catherine Olien connected […]
4 December 2020
Looking for the perfect present for the bookworm in your life? Here are gift ideas to satisfy readers of all ages. Suggestions include items from the […]
24 November 2020
We know many of you are wondering what to read with your children right now as you navigate new routines, new restrictions to daily life, and […]
5 November 2020
On Thursday 29 October, we hosted a wonderful panel of acclaimed authors to discuss reading. Diane Stamm generously developed this list for us following the event, […]
17 June 2020
The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction Festival (YAFF), that aims to strengthen community among English-speakers in […]
5 June 2020
Dear friend of the Library, As the world reels from and mourns the horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and as we […]
3 June 2020
“[T]he mission of the Library—to educate, welcome and respect all perspectives, convene safe and productive conversations, and offer opportunity to all—directly combats divisiveness, ignorance, hate, and […]
20 March 2020
It’s creative writing season again! The Library encourages young authors ages 5-18 to sharpen their pencils (or put their fingers to the keyboard) and submit an […]
15 March 2020
Dear Library supporter and friend, In accordance with official recommendations concerning libraries and cultural institutions, the American Library in Paris is closed until further notice. All our online […]
14 March 2020
In accordance with official recommendations concerning libraries and cultural institutions, the American Library is closed until further notice. All our online resources remain available to members. […]
13 March 2020
Dear Library supporter and friend, As the world faces considerable challenges related to the coronavirus, the American Library continues to monitor the situation closely. As a […]
11 March 2020
The American Library is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and following guidelines and recommendations published by public health organizations such as the French Ministry of Health, […]
2 March 2020
This month, Library volunteer Mike Duffy visited the Musée Bourdelle for a dive into the dark, swirling 19th century psyche of sculptor and ceramicist Niels Hansen […]
16 February 2020
Below is the wonderful story Run by Liam Ross, that won 1st place for 6th Grade/ 6ème in the 2019 Young Authors Fiction Festival. We will […]
4 February 2020
The Library is pleased to present the Paris Culture Pick for the month of February, curated, researched, and written by volunteer Mike Duffy. As always, […]
1 December 2019
Below is the wonderful story by Maria Giulia Larcinese, that won 1st place for 5th Grade/ CM2 in the 2019 Young Authors Fiction Festival. We will […]
28 November 2019
Forrest Alogna was recently named the Chairman of the Board of the American Library in Paris. Forrest is a partner at Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, a […]
26 November 2019
The holidays are just around the corner and that means lots of cooking and entertaining. The Library has an excellent selection of cooking and lifestyle magazines […]
26 November 2019
The editors of The Times Book Review choose the 10 best fiction and nonfiction titles this year. The Library has copies (and likely waitlists) for each […]
26 November 2019
The year is coming to an end, and so is the American Library in Paris 2019 Reading Challenge. On the Library staff, some of us have […]
20 November 2019
Do you need help answering the question “Red, green, or Christmas?” Are you interested in visiting the city with the third largest art market in the […]
17 November 2019
We invite you to read the story by Will Barry, that won 1st place for 4th Grade/ CM1 in the 2019 Young Authors Fiction Festival. […]
13 November 2019
Congratulations to Marc Weitzmann, the seventh winner of the American Library in Paris Book Award, for his thought-provoking examination, Hate: The Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism in […]
12 November 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of November, curated, researched and written by volunteer Mike Duffy. As always, we’ve selected […]
6 November 2019
We are very excited about the new books that have recently arrived at the Library, particularly these note-worthy nonfiction titles. Have a glance at our New […]
28 October 2019
The Library’s annual Halloween Extravaganza, which was held on Saturday 26 October, was a packed celebration, with over 500 Library members and guests attending four separate […]
24 October 2019
The American Library in Paris adheres to the American Library Association Freedom to Read statement as part of our general practices and collection development. Here is […]
18 October 2019
Halloween is approaching and at the Library we’ve curated a display of books we think will creep you out and get you in the holiday spirit. […]
15 October 2019
Would you like to learn something about the history of Croatia? Or you need a recommendation of a Croatian writer? The best place to find answers […]
15 October 2019
The Booker Prize for Fiction was announced on 14 October 2019, with the 2019 prize shared between Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo. Atwood’s The Testaments, the […]
11 October 2019
The Nobel Prize in Literature was announced on 10 October 2019, with the 2018 prize going to Olga Tokarczuk and the 2019 prize to Peter Handke. […]
1 October 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of October, curated, researched and written by volunteer Mike Duffy. As always, we’ve selected […]
1 October 2019
Library staff loves these books, and we’re pretty sure you’ve probably have not heard of many of them. Here’s what Library staff had […]
15 September 2019
We invite you to read the story by Louise Harper, who won 1st place for 3rd Grade/ CE2 in the 2019 Young Authors Fiction Festival. We […]
13 September 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of September, curated, researched and written by volunteer Mike Duffy. As always, we’ve selected […]
13 September 2019
Library staff members read widely and all the time. We’re all mid-way in our Reading Challenge, so the pressure is on for reaching our reading goals. […]
7 September 2019
“What does the Teen Writing Group do?” is a questions we’re asked often in the Children’s and Teens’ Services Department. Each meeting does involve some writing, […]
3 September 2019
The French rentrée is translated literally as “the return” but in the Library’s Collections department, the rentrée is known as “the arrival.” Boxes of books ordered […]
1 September 2019
We invite you to read the story by Sophie Lou Chung, who won 1st place for 2nd Grade/ CE1 in the 2019 Young Authors Fiction Festival. […]
30 August 2019
On display at the Member Services Lounge is”Reading Rock and Roll”. Come and check them out.
30 August 2019
Here is a list of 100 Books to Read Before You Grow Up as recommended by the Children’s and Teens’ Services Department at The American Library […]
20 August 2019
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPErA7NZISM[/embedyt] Libraries (and librarians) are inexhaustible sources of inspiration. These are represented in books (Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose), films (The Public, directed by […]
2 August 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of August, curated, researched and written by Library member services staff David Gonçalves and […]
19 July 2019
Six titles have been selected as finalists for the 2019 American Library in Paris Book Award: a novel set in Occupied France, a culinary primer on […]
19 July 2019
My name is Brianna Gibson and I was the summer Advancement Intern here at the American Library in Paris. My duties include marketing and communications tasks. […]
16 July 2019
As you can predict, Library staff members are avid readers. We even challenge ourselves internally on how many books we will read in a year and […]
12 July 2019
Summer is a great time to dive into books, whether you’re at the beach or in the city. The Library staff has a great list of […]
8 July 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of July, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. For July, the […]
1 July 2019
We all probably remember the first book(s) that made us into readers. For many it might be a single memorable book that made us fall in […]
1 July 2019
We invite you to read the story by Milo Tanaka, who won 1st place for Kindergarten/Grande Section & 1st Grade/ CP in the 2019 Young Authors […]
25 June 2019
Dear magazine readers, The summer is here – time when we go on vacation to rest, sleep, enjoy and/or do only the things we really want […]
19 June 2019
The Young Authors Fiction Festival 2019 culminated with a celebration event on Friday 14 June at the American Library in Paris. Over 200 people attended the […]
17 June 2019
The Library has the top 20 Summer “It Books” from the last 50 years as recently selected by The New York Times. According to the article, […]
17 June 2019
This is the seventh year of the American Library in Paris Book Award, recognizing the most distinguished books of the year, in English, about France. In […]
14 June 2019
The Library is pleased to be in partnership with AmCham France for their Summer Party, which will take place on 20 June 2019, from 18:30 at […]
12 June 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of June, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. June Culture Picks […]
28 May 2019
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbZ7dM8agU[/embedyt] The 2019 Champs-Élysées Film Festival takes place from 18-25 June and showcasing the best of American and French independent film to a wide […]
28 May 2019
The Library recently welcomed a team of researchers from Hope College as part of a Paris Stories/Mellon Grand Challenges project. The team included Hannah Jones, English […]
26 May 2019
The Library’s 2019 Gala Dinner honoree and keynote speaker is renowned novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator Martin Amis. As the author of fourteen novels, several collections […]
25 May 2019
The Library celebrated its 99th birthday with a special gathering on Tuesday 21 May 2019. To further commemorate this occasion, the staff collected ninety-nine facts about […]
16 May 2019
The word “manifesto” brings to mind scandalous political documents of the 19th and 20th centuries, but our “Modern Manifestos” book display at the Library takes a […]
14 May 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of May, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. May Culture Picks […]
13 May 2019
The Library interviewed poet Eléna Rivera, who is currently a poet-in-residence at the Trelex Art Residency, on how she came to know the Library, what treasures […]
9 May 2019
We are a few months into our 2019 American Library in Paris Reading Challenge on Goodreads, which is open to anyone who would like to join. […]
30 April 2019
The Members Lounge at the Library is the perfect place to read, have a coffee, talk with a friend (quietly), and browse our wonderful book displays […]
26 April 2019
The winners of the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes were announced at Columbia University in New York City on 15 April 2019.The Library has all of the winners […]
26 April 2019
We recently interviewed the Library’s 2019 spring Visiting Fellow, Ian Leslie, on his time at the Library, his current project, and his highlights of Paris. Tell […]
14 April 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of April, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. April in Paris, […]
9 April 2019
The Library is pleased to partner with Météore Films to promote the French cinematic release of documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s Monrovia, Indiana, beginning on 24 April […]
9 April 2019
We recently interviewed the Library’s fall 2018 Visiting Fellow, Hala Alyan, on her time at the Library. Hala had an evening event on 10 October 2018 […]
27 March 2019
The Library’s strategic partnerships manager Pauline Lemasson recently interviewed the Library’s “volunteer” Volunteer Coordinator Danielle Typinski on what brought her to Paris, how she found out […]
26 March 2019
The Library is now subscribed to a couple of new magazines with a wide range of topics – environment, politics, news for children and book reviews. […]
25 March 2019
In this post, bibliophile volunteer Olga Ospina presents the account of the transition that The Guardian and newspapers in general had to go through with the […]
13 March 2019
The 2019 Salon du Livre will open on 15 March and continue over the weekend. To commemorate this important literary event, France Culture did a timely […]
12 March 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of March, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. March Culture Picks […]
11 March 2019
Three distinguished American writers have agreed to serve as the jury for the 2019 American Library in Paris Book Award. Alice Kaplan, who will chair this […]
8 March 2019
Books penned by former American Library in Paris staff members are currently exhibited in the Turner Commons, as part of a larger display commemorating International Women’s […]
22 February 2019
If you think about it, we actually don’t really need any cookbooks in the age of […]
18 February 2019
The books that I present in this blog advocate for the creation of public spaces that generate a place for social connection, community building and civic […]
12 February 2019
The Library’s strategic partnerships manager Pauline Lemasson recently interviewed Penelope Fletcher, owner of the recently reopened The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore, about her thoughts on bookselling, how she […]
4 February 2019
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of February, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. T. S. Eliot […]
4 February 2019
It should come as no surprise that staff members of the American Library in Paris are avid readers. We are constantly sharing our favorite books and […]
28 January 2019
We’ve compiled the top circulating books of 2018 across all genres, including the children’s and teen collection. We are heartened to see that amongst the top […]
15 January 2019
In this article, I introduce some books translated into English recently. A modern take on Frankenstein, a story about friendship, a story about loneliness and a […]
3 January 2019
Two very different 19th Century approaches to life along with an exhibition tracing 5,000 years of art and design in Latin America are highlighted in this […]
18 December 2018
We know a lot of book lovers, and that it can be tough to chose the right gift book for a voracious reader. Whether you’re shopping […]
17 December 2018
In this blog I introduce 4 recent novels: a modern take on King Lear, a novel about homosexuality in Ireland throughout many years, the National Book […]
5 December 2018
It’s that time of year… best book lists are coming out! Here are our most checked-out and top-circulating books across all adult collections: The Adventures of […]
5 December 2018
Two extraordinary photographers: European Martine Franck and American Dorothea Lange, both concerned with the plight of those who are poor, isolated, marginalized, both of whom took […]
12 November 2018
This month’s Culture Picks by Mike Duffy give us an excellent sense of the pivotal role Picasso played as Paris embraced the Modern Art movement. Mike […]
12 November 2018
Greek myths remain relevant as we always relate to the themes that make these stories universal, passing down lessons from one generation to the next. In […]
15 October 2018
Travel books picked by volunteer Olga Ospina Library volunteer Olga Ospina is a true bibliophile, reading more books in a week than most do in […]
9 October 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of September, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
25 September 2018
Hala Alyan’s Salt Houses reviewed by Strategic Partnerships Manager Pauline Lemasson Back in July, the Library’s first Writer-in-Residence Viet Thanh Nguyen spoke about being a refugee […]
18 September 2018
Two Library Visiting Fellows win the 2018 Dayton Literary Peace Prize The 2018 Dayton Literary Peace Prize winners have been announced and both winners are/were […]
5 September 2018
Festival America in Paris (and the Library) If you’re looking to be immersed in a vibrant international literary community in Paris, look no further: From […]
3 September 2018
A literary interview with bibliophile volunteer Olga Ospina When and where do you enjoy reading? I love reading in the living room when I’m alone, […]
3 September 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of September, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. September is famous […]
9 August 2018
5 Literary Hotspots in Paris For generations, artists, writers, and musicians alike have called Paris their home. Unfortunately, while you may not be able to hop […]
3 August 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of August, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. August in Paris […]
25 July 2018
An American (Homeless) in Paris reviewed by Assistant Collections Librarian Bojan Kupirovic Woooooow, what a wonderful book! I’m not even sure if I can describe all […]
17 July 2018
10 July 2018
The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah Former Library programs manager Ann Mah has just published her latest book, The Lost Vintage, which has been nominated for […]
6 July 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of July, curated, researched and written by Library volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
29 June 2018
Essential Reads by Viet Thanh Nguyen On Wednesday 4 July, the American Library in Paris will welcome Viet Thanh Nguyen to talk about his edited collection […]
26 June 2018
Passing the baton… A note from outgoing director Jeff Hawkins For the last year or so, I’ve had the honor to be the director of the American […]
20 June 2018
Thanks to the Library volunteers! The Library celebrated its valuable and committed corps of volunteers at a reception on Thursday 14 June in the lower level […]
18 June 2018
2018 Young Authors Fiction Festival Celebration The Celebration for the 2018 Young Authors Fiction Festival was held at the Library on Friday 15 June. This year […]
4 June 2018
Hope College Summer Archive Project at the Library The Library recently welcomed a team of researchers from Hope College as part of a Paris Stories/Mellon Grand Challenges […]
29 May 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of June, thanks to the arduous research of volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
24 May 2018
Interview with Agnès Poirier Programs manager Grant Rosenberg interviews journalist Agnès Poirier about her earliest memories using a library, how she got into writing about the […]
15 May 2018
Discount code for the 2018 Champs-Élysées Film Festival The Champs-Élysées Film Festival celebrates its sixth anniversary from 12-29 June with the purpose of bringing the best of […]
4 May 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of May, thanks to the arduous research of volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
27 April 2018
Dance performances recommended by Library Visiting Fellow Vanessa Manko Library Visiting Fellow Vanessa Manko shares her recommendations for dance performances in Paris. ANNE TERESA DE KEERSMAEKER […]
26 April 2018
The American Library in Paris was created in part as a memorial to a young American poet, Alan Seeger, who wrote the well-known poem “I Have […]
23 April 2018
Interview with Library Visiting Fellow Vanessa Manko Programs manager Grant Rosenberg interviews the Library Visiting Fellow Vanessa Manko about her upcoming novel tentatively entitled A Question […]
10 April 2018
Bojan Kupirović, Assistant Collections Librarian, talks about his first experience at a library, the books he’s reading now, and the kind of reader he was as […]
5 April 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of April, thanks to the arduous research of volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
9 March 2018
Writing Inspiration for YAFF The deadline for the Young Authors Fiction Festival (YAFF) is fast approaching on Friday 30 March 2018 at 22h00. For writing inspiration, […]
9 March 2018
Word for Word performs Lucia Berlin The Library and École Jeannine Manuel are proud to present the annual production of Word for Word on Monday 9 […]
3 March 2018
The Library is pleased to present the Culture Picks for the month of March, thanks to the arduous research of volunteer Mike Duffy. Our Picks this […]
28 February 2018
Recommended readings for Julia Mickenberg’s event On Wednesday 7 March, the Library welcomes Professor Julia L. Mickenberg who will present her book, American Girls in Red Russia: […]
25 February 2018
Kids and teens review books Name: Leah Age: 12 Book title: Rapunzel’s Revenge Author: Shannon and Dean Hale Review: It is original and cool, there is adventure […]
14 February 2018
By the Book: Library Assistant/Book Award Coordinator Alexandra Vangsnes Alexandra Vangsnes, Library Assistant and Book Award Coordinator, talks about getting her first library card, some of […]
12 February 2018
There are many cultural events to attend in the city during the month of February, including a fantastic exhibition on Dutch artists who painted in Paris […]
31 January 2018
By the Book: Programs Manager Grant Rosenberg Grant Rosenberg, programs manager at the Library, talks about his first memory at a library, his favorite reads, and […]
31 January 2018
An Interview with Alice Feiring Author Alice Feiring will speak at the Library on Wednesday 7 February at 19h30 about natural and biodynamic wines and how […]
17 January 2018
Happy New Year! January in Paris means short days and as of late, lots of rain and cold temperatures. Thankfully, there are many reasons to go […]
30 November 2017
2017 is coming to a close, but Paris’s cultural offerings haven’t slowed down yet! Here are three current exhibitions that have caught our eye, along with […]
20 November 2017
New books we’re thankful for Many new titles have been added to the Library collection this past month, and there’s many that we are thankful […]
18 November 2017
An Interview with Michael Harlan Turkell Author Michael Harlan Turkell will be speaking at the Library about his book Acid Trip: Travels in the World of […]
16 November 2017
Kids and teens review books Name: InesAge: 9Book title: Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsAuthor: J.K. RowlingReview: I love the books. They’re exciting, fun, and funny. […]
13 November 2017
An Interview with Callan Wink Author Callan Wink will be speaking at the Library about his book Dog Run Moon on Tuesday 14 November at 19h30. What […]
10 November 2017
From mid-January through the end of March, visiting fellow James Verini will conduct a six-session writing workshop focused on longform magazine writing. He will instruct students […]
6 November 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. As the days get […]
30 October 2017
Looking for a good read for Halloween? Looking for a scary read for Halloween (or anytime)? Here are some of our spookiest tales in our collection […]
23 October 2017
Spine-tingling tales for chilly autumn nights As days get shorter and nights become colder, it’s the best time of the year to stay in and curl […]
17 October 2017
This past summer, Kate Slotover of The Book Club Review podcast came to the Library and interviewed the leader of our Proust book group, Morgan Thomas. […]
16 October 2017
Interview with Adam Begley Author Adam Begley returns to the Library to talk about his book The Great Nadar: The Man Behind the Camera on […]
12 October 2017
2017 Man Booker Prize shortlist The Library has the six titles shortlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 17 […]
6 October 2017
Fall 2017 Library visiting fellow James Verini Journalist James Verini is the Library’s Visiting Fellow for October and will do a couple of programs at the […]
28 September 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. As the days get […]
28 September 2017
This year the Library ran Summer Reading Challenges for Children, Teens and Adults from 24 June – 10 September. The Finale Party on 16 September saw […]
27 September 2017
Fall 2017 Library visiting fellow James Verini The Library is pleased to welcome our fall 2017 Library visiting fellow, journalist James Verini. He has written extensively […]
20 September 2017
On Sunday 17 September the Library celebrated Roald Dahl’s birthday (the author was born on September 13), with a themed workshop celebrating all things Dahl! Assistant […]
19 September 2017
An Interview with Peter Sokolowski Programs Manager Grant Rosenberg interviews Peter Sokolowski, lexicographer at Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Peter will be speaking at the Library on […]
15 September 2017
The 2017 Fall Open House & Neighborhood Crawl The Library’s annual Fall Open House is a great way to discover all that we have to […]
14 September 2017
Ex Libris, the Library’s quarterly newsletter, is now available. Pick up a copy in the Members’ Lounge and read about the Library’s activities over the summer […]
7 September 2017
Now that you’re back from vacation and summer is coming to an end, why not chase away the rentrée blues by visiting a Parisian museum? These […]
18 August 2017
We hope you’re enjoying your summer reading! Here at the Library, we’ve heard from a few young members who would like to recommend some titles they’ve […]
14 August 2017
The Library learned of the passing of John Godfrey Morris at 100 two weeks ago. He had spoken at the Library many times, and was a […]
10 August 2017
Our Birds of Paris Children’s program on Saturday 22 July featured information about 9 different bird species that reside in our city […]
24 July 2017
An Interview with Matt Black One of our amazing volunteers is Matt Black. Matt, who has been a Library member for 10 years, supports the Library […]
10 July 2017
The Library has refreshed its OverDrive e-book collection with 100 new titles you can take with you on vacation. We’ve selected the best in recent fiction […]
4 July 2017
The 2017 Library Book Award Shortlist The finalists for the 2017 American Library in Paris Book Award, recognizing the most distinguished English-language book of year about […]
30 June 2017
The new director of the American Library in Paris is Jeffrey Hawkins, a seasoned American diplomat now serving as the United States Ambassador to the Central […]
27 June 2017
The Library recently hosted a presentation of Susan Suleiman’s new book, The Némirovsky Question. Telling the tale of a family disseminated after having suffered the horrors […]
27 June 2017
So You Think You Can Spell? Emily Seftel won the first-ever “So You Think You Can Spell” contest at the Library. Elizabeth Taft placed second while […]
19 June 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. June is the start […]
9 June 2017
And the 2017 YAFF winners are… The 2017 Young Authors Fiction Festival culminated with a celebration event on Friday 2 June 2017 at the American Library […]
6 June 2017
An Interview with Susan Suleiman Author Susan Suleiman will speak about her new book The Némirovsky Question at the Library on Wednesday 7 June at 19h30. When did […]
2 June 2017
An Interview with Chris Dickon Author Chris Dickon will speak about his new biography A Rendezvous With Death: Alan Seeger in Poetry, at War at a […]
26 May 2017
An Interview with Cara Connelly What’s your favorite writing trick to get the ideas flowing? I used to panic when I reached a point in a […]
22 May 2017
An Interview with James Kirchick Journalist James Kirchick wil be speaking at the Library on Tuesday 30 May about his book The End of Europe: Dictators, […]
13 May 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. May is officially “do as […]
10 May 2017
An Interview of Clarence Tokley The Library is a very busy place! We have so much going on and have some incredible volunteers that help us […]
4 May 2017
What’s behind the new Paris? Library staff recently asked Lindsey Tramuta, the creator of Lost in Cheeseland and the author of The New Paris: The People, […]
25 April 2017
The American influence on French libraries As an American living in France, I take it for granted that my local French public library is set up […]
18 April 2017
Visiting Fellow Jacqueline Woodson has written a reflection for the Library on her time in Paris so far and her speaking engagements here. A Moment, […]
17 April 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. Spring has arrived in Paris! […]
10 April 2017
Commemorating the centennial of the U.S. entry into WWI and the ALA Library War Service With the centennial of the U.S. entry into WWI on 6 […]
6 April 2017
Viet Thanh Nguyen by the book Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen shared the books he’s reading now and those he enjoyed as a child in […]
3 April 2017
Thanks for a great 2017 YAFF! The deadline for the 2017 Young Authors Fiction Festival is now passed. This year’s YAFF had one of the largest […]
29 March 2017
2016 YAFF 3rd Place story by Sienna Frederic (5th grade/CM2) The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction […]
29 March 2017
2016 YAFF 1st Place story by Sami Merad (1st grade/CP) The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction […]
27 March 2017
A message from the Director I want to share with the extended family of the American Library in Paris the news that I will be stepping […]
17 March 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. For March, we’ve selected exhibitions […]
12 March 2017
2016 YAFF 3rd Place story by Thomas Ravel (3rd grade/CE2) The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction […]
12 March 2017
2016 YAFF 1st Place story by James Taoutaou (6th grade/6ème) The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction […]
9 March 2017
Journalist James Traub, who speaks at the Library on Tuesday March 14, has written an op-ed about the subject he will discuss, Europe’s refugee crisis. Click […]
3 March 2017
The story of Richard and Mildred Loving Loving, now in theatres, tells the incredible true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a Virginia couple who […]
28 February 2017
Some great new cookbooks just in time for dinner! Many of the new cookbooks at the Library were written from a very personal perspective. Ina Garten’s […]
24 February 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. The cold weather means we’re […]
18 February 2017
Writing tips & tricks to help you submit for the Young Authors Fiction Festival It’s creative writing season again! The Library encourages young authors all over […]
14 February 2017
New books that the Library staff can’t wait to read Among the new books that will be on the shelves shortly after a few of our […]
9 February 2017
Library teen member featured in 90-Second Newbery Film Festival One of our very Library teen members, Ezra Richardson, made a short stop-motion film called “The Wright […]
9 January 2017
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. January is a good month […]
3 January 2017
Marlene Dietrich’s Marginalia Megan Mayhew Bergman, the Library’s Visiting Fellow last spring, recently wrote an article in The New Yorker about the Library’s collection of books […]
20 December 2016
The 10 Best Books of 2016 The New York Times Book Review editors have selected their 10 best books of 2016, and the Library is pleased […]
8 December 2016
John Morris’s event at the Library has been postponed, but The New York Times has published a wonderful interview-profile and slideshow marking his 100th birthday on December […]
8 December 2016
“The Dean of Black Paris” James A. Emanuel, the distinguished African-American poet, lived and wrote in Paris from the 1980s until his death in 2013. He […]
2 December 2016
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. December in Paris is of […]
8 November 2016
Thank you for a great Halloween! This year the Library welcomed hundreds of guests for our annual Halloween Extravaganza on 29 October! Eric the Magician and […]
11 October 2016
The Library welcomes Doug Dechow and Anna Leahy The Library is pleased to welcome our Visiting Fellows Doug Dechow and Anna Leahy, both from Chapman University, […]
29 August 2016
We’re open! All of us at the Library are delighted to report that the renovations are complete (or very nearly!) and our doors are once again […]
4 July 2016
What Library staff is reading and recommending With the Library closed for renovation, the Library staff, like many of our members, gathered many books that they […]
4 July 2016
“Rendezvous with Death” one hundred years later The American Library in Paris marked a significant anniversary yesterday with commemorations surrounding American volunteers in France early in the […]
22 June 2016
Awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the Andrew Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal are the UK’s oldest and most […]
14 June 2016
Libraries we love to work in (while ours is being renovated) While the Library is being renovated, the staff had to get creative about finding other […]
9 June 2016
And the 2016 YAFF winners are… The 2016 Young Authors Fiction Festival culminated with a celebration event on Friday 3 June 2016 at the American Church […]
19 April 2016
Renewing the American Library in Paris The impending renovation of the Library’s premises has evolved over three years of conversation and planning, and drawing and choosing, […]
8 April 2016
Megan Mayhew Bergman on natural farming and sustainability Join Library Visiting Fellow Megan Mayhew Bergman on Wednesday 20 April at 10h00 in a discussion about the […]
5 April 2016
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. This month, we recommend the […]
14 March 2016
What Library staff is reading and recommending Here are some book recommendations from the Libary staff and volunteers. For more staff recommendations, check regularly our display […]
8 March 2016
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month, including a new Los Angeles-themed […]
26 February 2016
New books have arrived! The arrival of new books at the Library is always highly anticipated. Our recent additions in both fiction and non-fiction center on […]
23 February 2016
Library staff on To Kill a Mockingbird The Library staff honors the legacy of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird by telling the stories of […]
9 February 2016
2015 YAFF winning story by Else Nye (7th grade/5ème) The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction Festival […]
5 February 2016
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the “most distinguished American picture book for children” by the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of […]
3 February 2016
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. Here are our Culture Picks […]
1 February 2016
Books for the James A. Emanuel exhibition The Library is pleased to present a collection of books and poetry in conjunction with the exhibition Black Man […]
29 January 2016
Jury named for 2016 Book Award Three distinguished writers, two of them past winners of the American Library in Paris Book Award, have agreed to serve […]
19 January 2016
New titles for your reading pleasure The new year is well on its way, but it’s early enough for keeping up on those new resolutions. We […]
13 January 2016
David Bowie’s Top Reads David Bowie’s list of his top 100 books was published in 2013 and includes some banned classics (1984, Lolita, A Clockwork Orange, […]
4 January 2016
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. Despite all that has happened […]
7 December 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. Despite all that has happened […]
5 December 2015
The 10 Best Books of 2015 The New York Times Book Review editors have selected their 10 best books of 2015, and the Library is pleased […]
3 December 2015
Some books we are enjoying right now Here are some book recommendations from the Libary staff and volunteers to start off your holiday season. For more […]
23 November 2015
Thanksgiving at Café de Mars For Americans living in Paris, it’s hard to tell that Thanksgiving is coming up real soon. There aren’t any big turkeys (yet) […]
20 November 2015
The secret life of librarians Circulation assistant Eric Hengesbaugh recently returned from a vacation trip to California under unexpected conditions. An avid mountain climber, Eric sustained […]
17 November 2015
In response to the tragic events in Paris this past weekend, the Library staff has asked crisis counselor Keri Hicks for permission to repost these tips […]
16 November 2015
Dear friends and members of the American Library: Like all Parisians, the expatriates and others who make up our Library community are feeling shock and grief […]
10 November 2015
Thank you for a great Halloween! This year the Library welcomed hundreds of guests for our annual Halloween Extravaganza on 31 October! Eric the Macigian, Matt […]
3 November 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. The month of November is […]
26 October 2015
New cookbooks to savor… As the days get shorter and cooler, our thoughts turn to the pending holiday season and all the cooking and entertaining that […]
26 October 2015
New cookbooks to savor… As the days get shorter and cooler, our thoughts turn to the pending holiday season and all the cooking and entertaining that […]
14 October 2015
A Library cameo in the new Sebastian Faulks The latest novel by Sebastian Faulks, Where My Heart Used to Beat, has a narrator who passes through […]
5 October 2015
On writing Lolita Vladimir Nabokov wrote his famous novel as he was touring the U.S. with his wife Véra to research butterflies in their natural environment. […]
30 September 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. These events include exhibitions, performances, […]
29 September 2015
Great new mysteries and thriller titles The Library is thrilled to welcome these new titles of mystery coming very soon to our collection. You can place […]
29 September 2015
A MacArthur “genius” grant to Ta-Nehisi Coates Congratulations to the Library’s winter 2015 Visiting Fellow, Ta-Nehisi Coates, for winning one of the coveted MacArthur Foundation “genius” […]
28 September 2015
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2015 Shortlist The Man Booker Prize promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the very best book of the year. […]
14 September 2015
Great new fiction titles The Library is thrilled to welcome these new titles of fiction coming very soon to our collection. You can place a request […]
6 September 2015
Great new graphic novels The Library has recently acquired some great new graphic novels, just in time for la rentrée! Come check them out in the […]
1 September 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city for the month of September. These events […]
24 August 2015
William Jay Smith (1918-2015) The American Library in Paris has lost a great friend of long standing, the celebrated American poet and part-time Parisian William Jay […]
17 August 2015
Summer shorts Summer days will soon be coming to an end, and the time to read that long novel or biography may become more scarce. We […]
30 July 2015
The 2015 American Library in Paris Book Award Shortlist Five books have been selected for the 2015 American Library in Paris Book Award. They are: The […]
30 July 2015
Some books we are enjoying right now Here are some book recommendations from the Libary staff and volunteer to take with you on your summer holidays. […]
23 June 2015
10 Book Challenge for Teens The Library is organizing a 10 Book Challenge for our teens as part of the Summer Reading Program. From 20 June […]
18 June 2015
Twelve exciting new titles published this year Here’s a list of hot new books that have recently been or will soon be entered into the Library […]
3 June 2015
And the 2015 YAFF winners are… The 2015 Young Authors Fiction Festival culminated with a celebration event on Friday 5 June 2015. Over 220 people attended the […]
3 June 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. These events include exhibitions, performances, […]
1 June 2015
Books becoming movies It’s been said that 2015 was a great year for movie adaptations from books. From Still Alice (by Lisa Genova) to The Mortdecai […]
20 May 2015
The American Library in Paris was founded on 20 May 1920 with a core collection of books sent over by the American Library Association Library War […]
6 May 2015
The American Library in Paris is pleased to share our selection of cultural events going on in the city each month. These events include exhibitions, performances, […]
29 April 2015
Our Teen Author Smash was a success! OK we might be a bit biased but we think everyone who attended enjoyed the evening. Our staff, volunteers […]
17 April 2015
Some books we are enjoying right now Surrounded by books all day, Library staff and volunteers are always reading. After being asked countless times what books […]
3 April 2015
Reading nominees of the 2015 International Man Booker Prize In anticipation for the announcement of the 2015 Man Booker International Prize, the Library has put together […]
2 April 2015
To hoard or to tidy up…that is the question Browsing in the Library can lead to serendipitous discoveries, as can working in the Library. In the […]
27 March 2015
Reading Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman The Library will welcome two distinguished American novelists, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, as the guests of honor and speakers […]
20 March 2015
2015 Paris Spelling Bee Twenty-one finalists from the fourth to sixth grades (CM1-6ème) competed in the seventh annual Paris Spelling Bee at the American Library in […]
10 March 2015
Malcolm X in the stacks It’s been 50 years since Malcolm X was assassinated on 21 February 1965. On this occasion, France Ô created a documentary […]
24 February 2015
Teenage Authors There are many authors who wrote in their teens. Check out what they wrote! In the Forests of the Night (1999) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes […]
16 February 2015
Enjoying books about … books At the Library, we’re a community of bibliophiles. What better way to honor our shared passion than highlighting books in our […]
12 February 2015
Sweets for the sweet… Everyone seems to have a different opinion about how best to spend Valentine’s Day. There are certainly enough prix-fixe menus for this […]
2 February 2015
Writing tips & tricks to help you submit for the Young Authors Fiction Festival It’s creative writing season again! The Library encourages young authors all over […]
19 January 2015
Dare to have a dream: books to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. To honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy on his birthday, we have put together […]
9 January 2015
15 new books we can’t wait to read in 2015 (part 2) Here is a short list of the books (part 2 of 2) that we […]
6 January 2015
15 new books we can’t wait to read in 2015 (part 1) To get you started on a year of excellent reads, the Library has just […]
4 December 2014
Top 20 most circulated books in 2014 The year is coming to a close, and we look back at the top 20 most circulated books in […]
27 November 2014
Books we are most thankful for We are thankful for many things in our lives and as we work surrounded by books everyday, we are of […]
20 November 2014
In search of culinary inspirations for the holiday table Food plays an essential part of holiday celebrations. Whether you plan on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or […]
13 November 2014
4 November 2014
An Officer and a Spy wins 2014 Book Award An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris, is the winner of the second annual American Library […]
27 October 2014
Galettete Pérougienne by Mimi Thorisson This is a wonderful speciality from the medieval town of Pérouges, near Lyon, made from a lemony yeasted brioche dough that […]
26 October 2014
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL. In this nine-part writing workshop for Library members we will look at story structure and characterization, as well as stylistic […]
25 October 2014
A review of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is first and foremost a good story. I was hooked from page one. Nick and […]
22 October 2014
Remembering Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014) “I have always felt my role as a designer is to do the very best I can for a woman […]
13 October 2014
Alexander Lobrano and Clothilde Dusoulier talk about French food and more… Food writers and bloggers Alexander Lobrano and Clothilde Dusoulier met with Library staff at Hotel […]
25 September 2014
Banned Books Week: Celebrate the freedom to read The freedom to not only to choose what we read, but also to select from a full array […]
30 August 2014
The most anticipated books for Fall 2014 With the rentrée littéraire in full swing, it’s time to trade in our summer reads for fall’s most anticipated books. […]
17 July 2014
In memory of Nadine Gordimer (1923-2014) Nobel prize-winning South African writer Nadine Gordimer passed on 13 July 2014 at the age of 90. She was an outspoken […]
4 July 2014
The nominees are here! The Teens’ Top Ten is a “teen choice” list, where teens nominate 25 of their favorite books of the previous year and […]
30 June 2014
The Future of Libraries The 2014 ALA Annual Conference continues at a relentless pace, with concurrent speaker sessions, poster sessions, informal discussions, and author signings with […]
28 June 2014
The 2014 American Library Association Annual Meeting Library staff members Pauline Lemasson and Celeste Rhoads are reporting from the 2014 ALA Annual Conference, which officially kicked […]
15 June 2014
Summer is a MixtapeTeen Summer Reading Club 2014 As part of the Summer is a Mixtape Teen Reading Club 2014, Celeste Rhoads, the Children and Young […]
14 June 2014
Rock ‘n’ ReadSummer Reading Club 2014 As part of the Rock ‘n’ Read Summer Reading Club 2014, Celeste Rhoads, the Children and Young Adults’ Services manager, […]
10 June 2014
And the 2014 YAFF winners are… The 2014 Young Authors Fiction Festival culminated with a celebration event on Friday 6 June 2014. Over 240 people attended […]
10 June 2014
Researching America in 1914 I enjoy history generally, but especially obscure history, the story of the underdog and the forgotten. So it was very exciting […]
5 June 2014
The Julia Child fascination Julia Child Rules is the fourth and final installment in what has been dubbed my “Kick Ass Women” series — a […]
29 May 2014
In Memory of Maya Angelou (1928-2014) Maya Angelou, whose landmark 1969 book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings — an unsparing account of growing […]
19 May 2014
Paris Before Haussmann I decided to write How Paris Became Paris for two reasons. In the first place, I wanted to set the record straight. […]
16 May 2014
Translating Welcome to the Free Zone Translators will read a book “with more care than anybody else, more demandingly, more enquiringly” writes Daniel Hahn in […]
18 April 2014
Gabriel García Márquez remembered The literary titan and Nobel Prize recipient Gabriel García Márquez passed away in Mexico City on Thursday 17 April 2014 at the […]
31 March 2014
David Lebovitz was interviewed by Library staff members Grant Rosenberg and Pauline Lemasson in his beautifully renovated Paris kitchen. What follows are excerpts of his remarks. […]
27 March 2014
Why Zona Gale? People often ask us, “Who’s the author of your next story?” With In Friendship, which performs this Thursday 27 March and Friday 28 […]
25 March 2014
Reza Aslan was interviewed by Library staff members Grant Rosenberg and Pauline Lemasson before his talk. What follows are excerpts of his remarks. What is your […]
17 March 2014
What do you think are the most important steps to handwriting success? Many children, eager to begin writing and drawing, develop unusual grasping patterns because their […]
2 March 2014
Repairing and unrepairing books Captain Louis H. Cohn, owner of The House of Books, a New York bookshop specializing in modern first editions, once loaned Ernest […]
1 March 2014
Young authors all over the greater Paris area are writing furiously in preparation for the 2014 Young Authors’ Fiction Festival (YAFF), co-sponsored by Time Traveler Tours […]
27 February 2014
Fans of fashion For those who can’t make it to the catwalks during the 2014 Paris Fashion Week, the Library can provide inspiration for your […]
20 February 2014
Young authors all over the greater Paris area are sharpening their pencils and collecting story nuggets in their writing journals in preparation for the 2014 Young […]
6 February 2014
Young authors all over the greater Paris area are sharpening their pencils and collecting story nuggets in their writing journals in preparation for the 2014 Young […]
5 February 2014
On Monday 27 January the American Library Association announced the winners of the most prestigious awards for American children’s books: the Newbery and Caldecott medals, which […]
31 January 2014
Reading and Eating in Paris For me, the only thing better than eating in Paris is reading in Paris. Happily for us Anglophones, the City […]
27 January 2014
The Other Stories of GIs in France After Liberation As I sat in the tiny room of a local archive in Le Havre, […]
20 January 2014
On writing about French identity, shared culture and immigration In my scholarly work I became interested some time ago in the way […]
15 January 2014
Ever wondered what books get checked out the most at the American Library in Paris? Well, our circulation staff and librarians have compiled a list of […]
16 December 2013
The list of books below are some of the finest books we’ve read this past year. Not all were published in 2013, so it’s not quite […]
11 December 2013
Why graphic novels matter As part of the Library’s exhibit Art as Story: Celebrating the Graphic Novel, currently on display through 2 February 2014, we […]
3 December 2013
The three panelist of our December 11th evening program give a brief sense of the origins of their novels and the concept of storytelling: On Theory […]
2 December 2013
Vietnam: Different dreams, same footsteps Following are excerpts from remarks by Fredrik Logevall upon receiving the 2013 American Library in Paris Book Award for Embers […]
23 November 2013
Celebrating Thanksgiving à la Parisienne With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we imagine that many of the Library’s American members and guests are finalizing their plans […]
18 November 2013
Reflections of a Visiting Fellow In a world where so much research can be done by Google, where the online connections are so vast and […]
25 October 2013
On Writing About Expatriates My book Moving Matters began as a reflection on my own experience of living in France, Morocco, the USA […]
17 October 2013
What is la rentrée littéraire? In France the first weeks of September are of course synonymous with la rentrée – the end of […]
13 October 2013
Written and illustrated by Molly Idle Reviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Kristen Crans Meet Flora. Meet the Flamingo. Now watch them dance. At first awkward, separate, […]
4 October 2013
Remembering Yousuf Karsh The Château Laurier Hotel, where the studio was on the 6th floor, and where the Karshes had their apartment. On […]
30 September 2013
Deconstructing Le Corbusier Le Corbusier is widely recognized in Europe as one of the founding fathers of 20th century modern architecture. […]
26 September 2013
Anthony Flint, the recipient of the first American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship, will take up residence at the Library September 30 for several weeks of […]
23 September 2013
The American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship was created in 2013 to nurture and sustain a heritage as old as the Library itself – deepening French-American […]
17 September 2013
Exploring the History of Photography I was in college when I first saw a glass photographic negative. Boxes of them had […]
24 July 2013
You’ll often hear us signing the alphabet song at Story Hour, but did you know we had a whole Story Hour theme on ABCs and 123s? […]
22 July 2013
If you heard roaring in the Children’s Library recently, your ears weren’t deceiving you. It was our Story Hour about dinosaurs! Eager participants aged 3-5 got […]
4 July 2013
“It was the absolute silence, nature completely indifferent to the city, desert under the streets and the road, and, circling the streets, the desert just waiting […]
24 June 2013
This year the Library is hosting three separate summer reading clubs – for children, teens and adults. Stop by anytime after 22 June to sign up […]
22 June 2013
The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction Festival, in collaboration with the Society of Children’s Book Writers […]
17 June 2013
Lan Samantha Chang teaching a class at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop What is your overall philosophy for teaching writing? What advice do […]
3 June 2013
The Legacy of the Second Empire in Paris Today Those of us who live in Paris are reminded daily of the city’s […]
29 April 2013
Pissarro’s Places covers many of the cities, villages, and rural areas where Camille Pissarro painted. But one chapter had to be cut –one with a unique […]
29 April 2013
Emily Dickinson has haunted my life — her poems, her persona, all the tales abouther solitude. Ever since I discovered her in the seventh grade, […]
16 April 2013
Paris, City of Shadows I visited Paris for the first time when I was a twenty-year-old college student. I can close […]
6 April 2013
Les Enfants du Paradis: An Appreciation of a Landmark Film in the History of French Cinema I have always been enamored of French […]
26 March 2013
A Tale of Two Gardens: New York’s High Line & Its Parisian Muse, the Promenade Plantée Photo by Annik La Farge I’m headed to […]
11 February 2013
For many the Vietnam War is no more than history. For those of us for whom it is a vivid memory, the 45th anniversary […]
10 December 2012
Here at the American Library, we’re struck by how many books are being published about France every day and by how many of their authors would […]
22 November 2012
Just in time for Thanksgiving, we’d like to announce the winner of our first (Halloween-themed) photo contest: Gracie Dobson as Apple Dumplin’. As told to us by Gracie’s […]
18 November 2012
by Karolina Stefanski The American Library in Paris’ Wednesday, November 14th Evening with an Author proved to be a memorable event. The European launch of Dr. […]
14 November 2012
How to Draw Princesses and Ballerinas and How to Draw Fairies and Mermaids Published by Usborne Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Carole Black Usborne has published […]
11 November 2012
By Carmen Bugan What does a children’s story have to do with secret police documents evidencing someone’s crime against a regime? And what does the story […]
9 November 2012
Rocket Learns to Read by Tad Hills Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer, Carole Black Rocket Writes a Story is Tad Hills’ second story about Rocket, a […]
1 November 2012
DYSTOPI-WHAT!? If you liked The Hunger Games, you should check out some of the other dystopian novels found upstairs on the Teen Mezzanine. Divergent by Veronica […]
29 October 2012
By Donna Zilkha Director of College and International Services at Aristotle Circle When I lived in France, most expats, including fellow ALP board members, would talk […]
28 October 2012
We’re having our first photo contest ever! Since it’s Halloween this week, we want to know what ghouls and goblins are reading. Take a picture of […]
10 October 2012
A little over a month ago, a very curious young patron asked for all the books we have in the Children’s Library about hamsters. “I’m going […]
2 October 2012
Anne Korkeakivi is the author of An Unexpected Guest. She has published widely in short fiction journals, newspapers, and magazines, and her debut novel has been […]
1 October 2012
No time is busier in the life of the American Library than the rentrée. September is the busiest month of the year for new members and […]
24 September 2012
What’s your favorite food memory from the markets of Paris? Maybe yours is as recent as this morning, or last Thursday, or perhaps decades ago. My […]
19 September 2012
Artist Interview with Ann Bruce Henaff What inspired you to start making livres-objects – or book-shaped objects? I discovered book-shaped objects in one of Suzanne Manns’ […]
10 July 2012
The Library is pleased to interview photographer Sabine Jaccard about her Art on View: All the world’s a stage exhibition now at the Library through September 2, […]
30 June 2012
This summer the American Library will be rectifying a longstanding peculiarity in the way its book collections are physically arranged. For years, even decades, the Library’s […]
25 June 2012
Christopher Tilghman is the author of two collections of stories and three novels, the most recent of which is The Right-Hand Shore. He will speak at […]
23 June 2012
Caroline Preston is the author of four novels and lives with her husband, the writer Christopher Tilghman, in Charlottesville, Virginia. They will be reading at The […]
21 June 2012
Now that school is coming to an end, you’ve finally time to pick up a fun read and head to the beach/park/airport. We’ve got a few […]
19 June 2012
The Village Voice bookshop held a memorial on Saturday evening, anticipating thestore’s closure on July 31. In her address to the sea of writers, readers, and […]
18 June 2012
Gerry Dryansky, the longtime Senior European person for Condé Traveler and author of six novels—three of which with his wife, Joanne– has been living and writing […]
11 June 2012
The American Library in Paris is proud to be the organizer of the Young Authors Fiction Festival, in collaboration with the Society of Children’s Book Writers […]
6 June 2012
Avis Cardella is the author of ‘Spent: Memoirs of a Shopping Addict’. She has written over 200 feature articles, essays and news stories for British Vogue, […]
22 May 2012
Laurel Zuckerman is the editor of Best Paris Stories, a new anthology of short stories about our fair city. She is the author of Sorbonne Confidential […]
11 May 2012
Paris book lovers will be chagrined to hear the news that The Village Voice Bookshop will close its doors on July 31. In a letter to […]
9 May 2012
John, Paul, George & Ben: Written and illustrated by Lane Smith Reviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Kristen Crans If you are looking for a fun and […]
9 May 2012
Me…Jane, Written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnellReviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Kristen Crans Budding young scientists who are drawn into the exploration and discovery of naturewill […]
7 May 2012
David V. Herlihy is the author of The Lost Cyclist and Bicycle: The History, winner of the 2004 Award for Excellence in the History of Science. […]
1 May 2012
Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Carole Black Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid […]
30 April 2012
A Jesuit Sleuth in 17th Century Paris Paris has long been famous as the home of expatriots. Sometimes, as I write my Charles du Luc historical […]
20 April 2012
Let the Lorax help you introduce your kids to being green, while Lane Smith reminds us just how wonderful nature can be. Scroll down for a […]
18 April 2012
Ling and Ting, by Grace Lin Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Sarah Grandin Ling and Ting are twin girls, but as the subtitle of the book […]
10 April 2012
Born in Paris, Lily Tuck is the author of four previous novels: Interviewing Matisse, or the Woman Who Died Standing Up; The Woman Who Walked on Water; Siam, […]
3 April 2012
Marilyn Waite has worked, studied and researched in over eight countries across four continents. She has implemented water and sanitation projects in rural Madagascar, led task […]
21 March 2012
Cinemas are full of adaptations right now. We’ve got some recommendations of books that have recently been adapted for the big screen. Whether or not you’ll […]
20 March 2012
From the Library History Buff Blog: Saturday, 3 March 2012 We are fast approaching the 95th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I (April 6, […]
7 March 2012
Check out a few of the new releases that have just arrived in the Children’s Library. These beautifully illustrated picture books are perfect to keep you […]
18 February 2012
February is Black History Month in the US. Take this opportunity to explore the civil rights movement and black history with your kids using some great […]
13 February 2012
Denyse Beaulieu is an author and translator based in Paris. She writes a bilingual blog on scent. Her book The Perfume Lover: A Personal History of […]
10 February 2012
This year, the American Library in Paris participated for the first time ever in the Letters About Literature contest created by the Library of Congress. The […]
7 February 2012
Robert Camuto is a career American journalist who moved to the South of France in 2001 and started snooping around cellars and vineyards to write about […]
31 January 2012
Fernanda Eberstadt is the American expatriate author of five acclaimed novels, Isaac and His Devils, Low Tide, When the Sons of Heaven Meet the Daughters of […]
24 January 2012
Little Rat Makes Music, by Monika Bang-Campbell, Illustrated by Molly Bang Reviewed by Liz Gomes Little Rat wants to learn how to play the violin and […]
23 January 2012
Sophie Hardach wrote her novel The Registrar’s Manual for Detecting Forced Marriages while working as a journalist for Reuters in Paris. Originally inspired by the fragments […]
18 January 2012
Arthur Phillips was born in Minneapolis and educated at Harvard. He has been a child actor, a jazz musician, a speechwriter, and a five-time Jeopardy! champion. […]
18 January 2012
Ghostgirl, written by Tonya Hurley Recommended by Children’s Library volunteer Christel Prestige Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, she is desperate to be popular to […]
11 January 2012
Cherie Burns is the author of Searching for Beauty–The Life of Millicent Rogers, the first comprehensive biography of the Standard Oil heiress and fashion icon. Raised […]
3 January 2012
We look forward to welcoming prize-winning novelist Lionel Shriver on Wednesday 11 January at 19h30. In this essay, Shriver talks about how it feels to have […]
21 December 2011
Written by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Carole Black Edwina tries to find ways to provide for her growing family after […]
21 December 2011
Just a gentle reminder that the American Library is closed on December 24th and 25th as well as December 31 and January 1st. Wishing everyone happy […]
20 December 2011
by Derwood Hunsdale-Talbot 1. Wakefield Chandelier I bring you the Wakefield Chandelier as inspiration. Perhaps you are a blacksmith on the side and need a new […]
19 December 2011
Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso… The Stein Family 5 October 2011 – 16 January 2012 An exhibition organized by the Rmn-Grand Palais, the San Francisco Museum of Modern […]
14 December 2011
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Charlotte Bia. Pretty Little Liars is the first book in a series of novels for […]
13 December 2011
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar…Understanding Philosophy through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein On Bullshit and On Truth by Harry G. Frankfurt […]
8 December 2011
Cats, Cats, Cats! written by Lesléa Newman illustrated by Erika Oller Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer: Christel Prestidge This is a charming, loving, warming and fuzzy […]
3 December 2011
Great new books are added to our collection every day. Check out some of our latest additions in the New Books section! Test your knowledge of […]
1 December 2011
Salting the Ocean, with poems selected by Naomi Shihab Nye Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Marcia Lèbre Salting the Ocean is a collection of 100 poems […]
24 November 2011
Thanksgiving is here! This American holiday celebrated on the third Thursday of each November is a chance to remind ourselves about all of the great things […]
23 November 2011
These great kid’s books (new in the Children’s Library) will help you introduce your child to yoga and movement. The ABCs of Yoga, Written by Teresa […]
21 November 2011
Katy Masuga received a PhD in 2007 at the University of Washington in Comparative Literature with a joint PhD in Literary Theory and Criticism. Her published […]
18 November 2011
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Reviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Alex Toutounji On his first day of seventh grade in 1967 , Holling Hoodhood, […]
14 November 2011
We look forward to welcoming David Downie to the Library on Wednesday 16 November at 19h30 as a part of our discussion of Paris on the […]
9 November 2011
This year we had over 200 people attend our annual Halloween party and another 100 people took tours through our haunted maze. We couldn’t have organized […]
9 November 2011
The fourth book in the Inheritance Cycle has just arrived at the Library! Inheritance, the fourth installment following Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr, was just released yesterday. […]
7 November 2011
Penelope Rowlands was raised in London and New York and has lived intermittently in Paris. A journalist and critic, she has contributed to Vogue, the Wall […]
3 November 2011
Did a Dinosaur Drink this Water? by Robert E. Wells Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Elizabeth Harkins In this colorfully illustrated tale, we are invited to […]
31 October 2011
Born in the U.S.A.; university in London; first job in Hong Kong; wedding in France; career on the computer. Welcome to the ordinary life of a […]
28 October 2011
Halloween is almost here! We’ve got our pumpkins carved, and our costumes are ready for the Library’s festivities tomorrow, but you may still be looking for […]
27 October 2011
Text by Robert Coupe, design and paper engineering by Andy Mansfield Reviewed by Children’s Department volunteer Carole Black Ancient Egypt is crammed with true to life […]
25 October 2011
Written by Jill Kargman & Sadie Kargman, Illustrated by Christine Davenier Reviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Kristen Crans Have you ever had a best friend? The […]
24 October 2011
Interested in writing a novel but aren’t sure where to start? November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and the writers at NaNoWriMo have some great […]
15 October 2011
Selected and reviewed by Children’s Library intern Alana Juric 1. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle: Meg and Charles Wallace Murry as well as their friend Calvin […]
11 October 2011
Reviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Carole Black Fans of Bob Barner’s books Walk the Dog and Dem Bones will enjoy the authors latest book, Animal Baths, […]
10 October 2011
We are delighted to invite bestselling cookbook author Joan Nathan to the Library on Wednesday 19 October at 19h30. She will present her latest book, Quiches, […]
7 October 2011
Anne Marsella is the award-winning author of four books, most recently The Baby of Belleville, a novel about life, love, and motherhood in Paris. Today, she […]
30 September 2011
Retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, Illustrated by Michael AustinReviewed by Children’s Library Volunteer Kristen Crans Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha is a beautiful cockroach living in Havanna, […]
29 September 2011
(Jennifer Huxta and her vintage Polaroid)) Thanks to all of you who participated in our Instant Images photography workshop with professional photographer and poet Jennifer Huxta. […]
28 September 2011
Have a listen to the American Jazz Trio playing at the Library Open House Sunday evening. Phil Crawford, Adrien Dearnell, and Oliver Griffith played a sublime […]
26 September 2011
We are thrilled to invite travel writers Ann Mah and Lisa Pasold to talk about how they move from their experiences to the page on Tuesday […]
24 September 2011
Wilhe’mina Miles After the Stork Night by Dorothy Carter, illustrated by Harvey Stevenson Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Carole Black Eight year old Wilhe’mina’s father has […]
21 September 2011
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell. “Just once this year, I want someone to look at me and think, ‘Hey, that Janie Gorman’s pretty […]
19 September 2011
We are thrilled to welcome Tatiana de Rosnay, who will present her latest book Rose, on Thursday22 September at 19h30 and hope to see you here. […]
15 September 2011
Wow, what excellent creations the teens came up with at the Library during our Cupcake Decorating Teen Night last Friday! There was chocolate to dip things […]
13 September 2011
Great digital expectations, from The Economist Digitisation may have came late to book publishing, but it is transforming the business in short order Sep 10th 2011 […]
7 September 2011
Nothing by Janne Teller (translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken) When Pierre Anthon declares that life has no meaning and leaves school to live in […]
6 September 2011
The Cornell Reading Project comes to the American Library! Join us in discussing this year’s pick, E.L. Doctorow’s Homer and Langley, a fictionalized account of the […]
3 September 2011
Cleopatra and Her Asp by Margaret Simpson Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Colleen Olson Having just watched the Rome Series, I was intrigued by the life […]
30 August 2011
Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau is the Director of the English-language Library in Angers (ELLIA). The library is the largest English-language library in western France, containing more than 32,000 […]
20 August 2011
Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes Reviewed by Children’s Library volunteer Carole Black Little White Rabbit is curious about the world around him, ready for his […]
19 August 2011
The small, independently owned bookstore is staging a modest rebirth amid a killer economy By Neely Tucker, for The Washington Post The brick-and-mortar bookstore is, like […]
16 August 2011
George Orwell published his autobiographical book Down and Out in Paris and London in 1933. Have things changed since then? On the trail of George Orwell’s […]
12 August 2011
Performer and producer Severin came to host a Teen Night at the Library this past winter and the results were fantastic. Below is a song by […]
8 August 2011
The Library is open! Come see our new space. Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to six p.m. Please note that we are closed […]
28 July 2011
It’s been a wild ride, but the renovation is nearly finished and we look forward to welcoming our members to see the remodeled Library on Tuesday, […]
14 July 2011
10 July 2011
Il faut en profiter. Looking back on my ten months in Paris and my two months working at the American Library, I have come to realize […]
3 July 2011
28 June 2011
Tama Carroll’s passion with film started at a very early age, and culminated in a double major in Film and Cultural Anthropology (US) and a Masters […]
20 June 2011
The Library is pleased to interview Caroline de Margerie, Conseiller d’Etat and author of the new biography, ‘American Lady: Une reporter en gants blancs,’ which has […]
13 June 2011
Each year, the Library is fortunate to have interns from American universities. We all felt very lucky to have Briana Haymon with us. In this essay, […]
6 June 2011
We look forward to welcoming Dinaw Mengestu back to the Library on Wednesday 8 June at 19h30. We hope that you will enjoy this interview in […]
30 May 2011
Judith Merians serves as a consultant to independent film producers in structuring their film projects, securing film financing and distribution, and developing film production companies. She […]
13 May 2011
On Thursday 17 May at 19h30, we look forward to welcoming Ambassador Stapleton to the Library to discuss his book Where Liberty Dwells. His co-author Louise […]
9 May 2011
On Wednesday 11 May at 19h30, Scott M. Weber, Director-General, of Interpeace, one of the world’s largest peacebuilding organizations will take us on a ‘behind the […]
2 May 2011
Paris is the place for people who love prose and art. Every night, there are events for the Anglophone community. Unsure of what to do this […]
29 April 2011
We look forward to welcoming the author Joe Ashby Porter to the Library on Wednesday, May 4 at 19h30 and hope to see you there. In […]
20 April 2011
Richard Prince. American Prayer. Libraries are more than books! Check out this great new exhibition at the French National Library at their François-Mitterrand site, from 29 […]
15 April 2011
On 4 May at 19h30, the Library will have the pleasure of hosting Joe Ashby Porter for a presentation called The Two Mr. Porters: The Scholar […]
11 April 2011
Marie de Hennezel is an author and psychologist. Her book The Warmth of the Heart Prevents the Body from Rusting has sold over 100,000 copies in […]
8 April 2011
Michel Porro/Getty ImagesPedestrians walk past the main building of the New York Public Library. But will they be going in to check out books in the […]
7 April 2011
Joe Klein is TIME’s political columnist . His weekly column, “In the Arena,” covers national and international affairs. In 2004 he won the National Headliner Award […]
1 April 2011
The memoir James Jennifer Georgina illustrates author Jennifer Butler’s struggle of dealing with her husband’s alcoholism while trying to shield her daughter Georgina. The memoir is […]
21 March 2011
Most poets hope that their message might be conveyed to future generations—though perhaps not necessarily via the telephone. Mary Jo Salter’s A Phone Call to the […]
7 March 2011
We are thrilled to welcome Laura Furman back to the Library to discuss her new collection of short stories, the Mother Who Stayed. Recently appointed to […]
4 March 2011
We are thrilled to continue our Evenings with Gardens series! Join us Wednesday 9 March at 19h30 for an illustrated walk down the paths of gorgeous […]
28 February 2011
In addition to curating the display on New York Community Murals for the Library, Jane Weissman has led two workshops for children and teens this week. […]
28 February 2011
The Library is thrilled to welcome Tilar J. Mazzeo (pictured above). Tilar is the best-selling author of The Widow Clicquot, a biography of the woman behind the Veuve […]
23 February 2011
Scott Turow, who will be the Library’s featured gala dinner speaker on May 24, is known for writing legal-themed thrillers. But he writes often and insightfully […]
21 February 2011
Zoe Olivier, Julia Wilcox and Walker Mimms, interns from Bennington College, have volunteered at the Library during their winter break. They organized the Library’s periodicals collection, […]
17 February 2011
It’s Black History Month in the US, and we’re celebrating here at the library all month long. Come check out the expo by Jane Weissman – […]
16 February 2011
281 1 7560000 10692000 359410 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0“““““““““““ 5 1 1 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 […]
7 February 2011
Art Spiegelman, a Swedish-born American, won the Grand Prix at France’s Angouleme world comic strip festival. Spiegelman is best known as the creator of Maus, an […]
31 January 2011
Turner Classic Movies on John Baxter’s latest biography Von Sternberg. Belligerent and evasive, Josef von Sternberg (1894-1969) chose to ignore his out-of-wedlock birth in Austria, deprived […]
3 December 2010
Professor Peter Gibian will be with us on Wednesday, December 8th at 19h30 to talk about John Singer Sargent and his Portraits of Expatriate Experience. John […]
26 November 2010
281 1 7560000 10692000 359410 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0“““““““““““ 5 1 1 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 […]
19 November 2010
Ted Mooney is the author of is author Easy Travel to Other Planets (1981) , Traffic and Laughter (1990), and Singing into the Piano (1998). His […]
15 November 2010
281 1 7560000 10692000 359410 259 261 257 276 262 279 1 0“““““““““““ 5 1 1 285 282 1 False 0 0 0 0 -1 304800 […]
12 November 2010
Peter Gumbel, author of a best-selling essay about the French education system, “On achève bien les écoliers”, will be our guest on November 16, and will […]
11 November 2010
If you’re interested in what a great book editor sounds like and thinks about in 2010, you could not do better than reading this long interview […]
8 November 2010
On June 14, 1940, German tanks rolled into a silent and deserted Paris. Eight days later, a humbled France accepted defeat along with foreign occupation. The […]
3 November 2010
The British Library’s Ritblat Gallery is a treasure trove of manuscripts. Andrew Motion, chairman of the Booker Committee, explains its magic … From INTELLIGENT LIFE Magazine, […]
25 October 2010
Interested in writing a novel but aren’t sure where to start? November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and the writers at NaNoWriMo have some great […]
18 October 2010
Today’s guest blogger is Thomas E. Kennedy, author of In the Company of Angels, will be speaking at the Library on Wednesday, October 20th at 19h30. […]
14 October 2010
When discussing our favorite kids’ books, here at the American Library in Paris, there is always a variety of opinions. Dr. Seuss’ classic The Cat in […]
11 October 2010
When I initially emailed the ALP about my most recent book, Consequential Strangers–which focuses on the importance of acquaintances, I had an ulterior motive: Now that […]
20 September 2010
Festival America, the dynamic literary gathering that brings together 60 North American writers, kicks off this week — and the American Library in Paris is thrilled […]
7 September 2010
Have you ever wondered what circulating libraries in the 18th and 19th centuries were like? We have. (Then again, we do work in a library.) This […]
3 September 2010
The Library director’s peculiar (and occasionally regretted) choice of reading matter – and an invitation to share what you are reading. Hitch-22: A Memoir by Christopher […]
3 August 2010
It’s no secret that writers find Paris inspiring (Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Joyce would agree). And now, with the advent of the Paris Writers News Short Story […]
26 July 2010
Are libraries the new cultural zeitgeist? A post on NPR’s blog, entitled “Why The Next Big Pop-Culture Wave After Cupcakes Might Be Libraries” argues yes. As […]
20 July 2010
We blushed when we read this delightful blog post from writer Eric Heywood about the American Library in Paris, which appears today at Forbes.com. For those […]
12 July 2010
Harper Lee’s classic turns 50 this month, with much fanfare from publisher HarperCollins, who have created a special anniversary website to celebrate. The book — Harper […]
28 June 2010
Today’s guest blogger, Allan Massie, will be speaking at the Library on Wednesday, 30 June at 19h30. More years ago than I care to think I […]
21 June 2010
“The pheromone that attracts female mice to the odour of a particular male has been identified. Named ‘darcin’ by researchers writing in the open access journal […]
21 June 2010
Today’s guest blogger, screenwriter Diane Lake, will be speaking on the art of writing for the silver screen at the Library on Wednesday 23 June at […]
20 June 2010
The weird stationery of Mussolini, Ian Fleming, Charles Atlas, Dr. Seuss, Marlene Dietrich, and more … all collected by Letterheady. According to the rubric, “Letterheady is […]
19 June 2010
One of the most admirable and inventive and current library blogs around comes from the Seattle Public Library. Its Shelf Talk blog is a trove of […]
14 June 2010
Today’s guest blogger, Keri Walsh, is the editor of The Letters of Sylvia Beach, a collection of the Shakespeare & Co. doyenne’s correspondence. She’ll be speaking […]
12 June 2010
A few weeks ago the world lost one of its most original and unusual intellects, Martin Gardner, polymath and prankster and puzzler, the “Mathematical Games” columnist […]
10 June 2010
For some reason Browser can’t get enough of these withering remarks made by one author about another: Gore Vidal on John Updike: “Just another boring little […]
9 June 2010
Before the TV mini-series, there was the radio play. Happily, despite the advent of flat-screens, DVDs, DVRs and other innovations we don’t really understand, this form […]
7 June 2010
You may not think you would like to hear the following paragraph spoken aloud 1,300 times, or even once, but read on to change your mind: […]
6 June 2010
The time we spend on the internet is diminishing our power to concentrate, to pay attention. Nicholas Carr believes our contemporary on-line life threatens “a form […]
24 May 2010
A few new titles, as selected by Collections Librarian, Simon Gallo. The Invention of Paris: A History in Footsteps by Eric Hazan — A historically rich tour […]
19 May 2010
Ninety years ago today the American Library in Paris was incorporated. Some two million books had been sent from American libraries, through the Library War Service, […]
17 May 2010
Today’s guest bloggers, Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, will present their new translation of Simone de Beauvoir’s masterwork, The Second Sex, at the Library on 19 […]
6 May 2010
“If you’ve worked in publishing, you’ve heard the tired old maxim: Men Don’t Read. Try to acquire or sell a book aimed predominantly at men, and […]
2 May 2010
A rainy Sunday afternoon. Twilight of the vacances. A perfect time to stop by the Library to check out the magazines or study for exams or […]
29 April 2010
Time to pop a well-meaning bubble: All religions are basically the same. Stephen Pothero calls this “naive theological groupthink – call it Godthink –” perpetrated by […]
26 April 2010
Bestselling author Lisa See will present her new novel, Shanghai Girls, at the Library, Wednesday, April 29 at 19h30. Today she shares an essay that originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times, about the relationship between Los Angeles's Chinatown and her book.Almost all writers write about place. Los Angeles writers are no exception. Walter Mosley, Michael Jaime-Becerra and Janet Fitch, to name a few, capture the intimate details of very specific neighborhoods. Sometimes the sense of place is so strong that the natural topography, the streets and what's on them, become as fully realized as a living, breathing character. The neighborhood I write about is Chinatown. Yes, a lot of my novels take place in China, but those stories wouldn't -- couldn't -- have been written if not for Chinatown.
I lived with my mother, Carolyn See, when I was growing up. We moved eight times before I turned 9, so Chinatown, where my paternal grandparents and my grandfather's brothers and sister worked in the family antiques store, became home base for me. To my eyes, Chinatown didn't change. More than that, my Chinese American relatives didn't move or change either. Rather, they were very much stuck in the past. It was a past that entranced me when I was a child; it's a past I long for every day, and one I got to write about in "Shanghai Girls."
25 April 2010
Really, really bad cover art for science fiction books, lovingly collected for your perusal, admiration, and ridicule.
25 April 2010
Those Americans born from the late 1930s to the mid-1940s, the pre-Boomers, have never had a “generation” to call their own. Richard Pells mourns this oversight […]
24 April 2010
“It feels ridiculous to be thinking about children’s books.” wrote Hans A. Rey, co-creator of Curious George, in September 1939. He and his wife and co-author […]
23 April 2010
Has the Library of America jumped the shark? When volumes on “Rushmore-sized” authors such as Melville, Twain, and Faulkner give way to volumes on H. P. […]
22 April 2010
Kindle or iPad. Apple vs. Google vs. Amazon. Will publishing — and bookstores, and libraries — perish? The diligent Ken Auletta tries to sort it all […]
21 April 2010
Here are a few of the newest books on our shelves, as recommended by Collections Librarian, Simon Gallo: Greece: A Jewish History by K.E. Fleming — […]
20 April 2010
Alas, we’ve been Eyjafjallajokull-ed. Due to the cat-ash-trophe caused by everyone’s favorite Icelandic volcano, our speaker, Peter Gibian, was unable to fly to Paris, and thus […]
19 April 2010
Peter Gibian of McGill University will present his talk “John Singer Sargent’s Traveling Culture: Portraits of Expatriate Experience” at the Library on Wednesday, April 21 at […]
15 April 2010
A tiny press, an unknown author, a compelling story carried to publication by word of mouth, and without a Facebook page! That’s how Paul Harding’s novel “Tinkers” […]
15 April 2010
‘Romeo and Juliet’ has been reinvented as opera, ballet, musical,and ice show. What next? “Such Tweet Sorrow,” a 4,000-tweet drama staged in real time (five weeks!), created by a […]
13 April 2010
What is broadly considered a major defeat for campaign finance reform may be a victory for free speech, in the contrarian analysis of the First Amendment […]
13 April 2010
Any Scrabble nuts out there? The shocking rumor that some proper nouns are now acceptable for play — a rumor later proved false — prompts a […]
12 April 2010
The Library has 120,000 books in its collection — and counting. Here are some intriguing new acquisitions, selected by our Collections Librarian, Simon Gallo: For the Soul […]
9 April 2010
If the American Library in Paris – or the internet – provides access to an online version of the information you seek, should the Library still […]
9 April 2010
The actress Emma Thompson, depressed after her first marriage broke up, chose Jane Austen for a therapist and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ for medicine. And it worked. […]
9 April 2010
Putting books in the right categories is not as easy as it used to be. “In our mashup-crazy, zombie-besotted culture, genre-bending is a trend that shows […]
6 April 2010
Today’s guest blogger, bestselling author Stephen Clarke, will be at the Library tomorrow at 19h30 to speak about his new book, 1000 Years of Annoying […]
4 April 2010
Does the launch of any commercial product merit the fawning, breathless attention being given the iPad? No, says Mark Potts, on his blog Recovering Journalist.
2 April 2010
It’s the season of literary awards. The PEN/FaulknerAward for Fiction has gone to Sherman Alexie for ‘War Dances.’ Read all about it. The four other finalists: […]
2 April 2010
It’s never a bad idea to save paper, and a better idea to get more out of your printer. PC World has come up with ten […]
1 April 2010
Do you remember the surprising news from the fast food world about the introduction of the left-handed Whopper? Or the Italian spaghetti harvest? Portable zip codes […]
30 March 2010
Virtually every great American historian of the postwar era has received the Bancroft Prize. The 2010 Bancroft Prizes have just been announced, and the winners are: […]
29 March 2010
Today’s guest blogger, biographer Veronica Buckley, will be at the Library on Wednesday, March 31 at 19h30 to speak about her new book The Secret Wife […]
26 March 2010
The work of American artists Childe Hassam, Richard Diebenkorn, John Singleton Copley, Dorothea Lange, John J. Audubon (born near Nantes), and Jacob Lawrence are on display […]
26 March 2010
The annual Salon du Livre at the Porte de Versailles, this one celebrating the last 30 years (the first salon was held in 1980), opens today […]
25 March 2010
“Will the American thriller go the way of the American automobile?” asks Alexander Narazyan in The Daily Beast. “Is it possible that the entire Anglo-American world […]
24 March 2010
What do these great writers have in common? Marcel Proust, Philip Larkin, Anne Tyler, Jorge Luis Borges, Madeleine l’Engle, Lewis Carroll, Archibald MacLeish, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas […]
23 March 2010
Today’s guest blogger, Paula Butturini, will present her memoir, Keeping the Feast: One Couple’s Story of Love, Food and Healing in Italy, at the Library tomorrow, […]
22 March 2010
Proclaiming that Moses himself was a revisionist, Christopher Hitchens offers a new and improved version of the Ten Commandments. As the Bible offers “three or four […]
21 March 2010
Paula Butturini, who will be speaking about her new memoir Wednesday evening at the Library, got a powerful rave in the New York Times Book Review […]
20 March 2010
Non-fiction gets no respect as literature. And it should. “The genre emits a whiff of the déclassé, served (especially in literature departments) with a garnish of […]
20 March 2010
Columnist David Brooks of the New York Times in an online chat session a couple of weeks ago on the decline of cultural discourse: “One of […]
18 March 2010
Rand Richards Cooper, writing on the op-edit page of the IHT yesterday, confronts a vexing contemporary social problem. Two responses are necessary: (1) Right on! (2) […]
17 March 2010
Michael Dirda, the Washington Post book critic and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for criticism, asks: “How is it that this small island has produced so […]
17 March 2010
Frances Gendlin, a writer who served on the board of trustees of the Library a few years ago, has been living more recently in Mexico – […]
15 March 2010
A note to our youth librarian, Helen Géhin, from Library member Brita Long: “I want to thank you again for organizing Kathryn Lasky’s visit the other […]
14 March 2010
Alice Kaplan’s memoir of her embrace of the French language, “French Lessons,” is a beloved classic. She has continued to write books of history that explore […]
14 March 2010
A great open house at the Library Saturday, with lots of newcomers looking around (and joining!), the children’s department alive with a book group and much […]
13 March 2010
“One doesn’t have to be a psycholinguist to obsess over pronouns,” writes Jessica Love in the spring issue of The American Scholar. But it surely helps. […]
11 March 2010
Two or three times a year the Library opens its doors to give those who don’t know us already a chance to look around and kick […]
9 March 2010
As the programs manager for the American Library in Paris, I’m used to organizing author talks, not giving them. But when I published my first novel last […]
8 March 2010
In a New York Times review of ‘This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All,” by Marylin Johnson, reviewer Pagan Kennedy writes […]
7 March 2010
Welcome to Browser, the new blog of the American Library in Paris. We hope these offerings – about books (and e-books), magazines, libraries, this Library, the […]
7 March 2010
Sunday 7 March, 12h58: Matthew and Jack Jourlait become the first customers for the Library’s new Sunday opening hours (13h00-19h00). Matthew (left) and Jack Jourlait stand […]