Jacqueline has been a big fan of Julien Clerc since she attended one of his concerts on her first trip to Paris in 1978, and she is very excited about his new CD, "Studio," a collection of romantic standards like "A Foggy Day in London," and "I Get Along Without You." "Sung in French in Julien's sexy style, it is sure to be my new favorite!" Visit his website at: http://www.julienclerc.com. Jacqueline also recommends:

Julien Clerc, Demanage, Acoustique & Electrique
A double CD with a great mélange of old and new songs.

Julien Clerc, Si J’Etais Elle
A delicious collection of romantic songs.

Lisa uses the following assortment in her dance classes to inspire her students to really get moving:

Les Chanson De Paris
A compilation of classics by Brisa Entertainment.

Happy Feet by 81/2 Souvenirs
Fun, upbeat jazzy quirky tunes.

Purple
A brother and sister team who compose unusual New Age music.

Sabsylma by Zap Mama
Really creative African style women’s singing group who rocks!

Sourire
One Step Forward
by Les Nubiens
"Sourire" is a lovely, sexy CD of music by two West African sisters who live in Paris. "One Step Forward," their new CD, is making the charts. Tip: see them live. They are tres energetique!

Prose Combat by MC Solaar
Rap music actually sounds good in French! MC’s voice is super soft delivered with a nice beat.

Any CD by the French group St. Germaine
Very hip dance beats that gets everyone moving.

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F i l m

Charade
To view great scenes of Paris, rent this Alfred Hitchcock thriller. Audrey Hepburn is a joy to behold in her Givenchy wardrobe, and Cary Grant ain't bad, either. A favorite scene features the two stars in a hopelessly romantic moment, sailing down the Seine aboard the Bateau Mouche.

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L i t e r a t u r e

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
I always remind myself that as writers we may feel futile and pointless at times—wondering if anybody actually reads what we've written—but our power is real nonetheless. Peter Mayle decided to abandon his advertising career in England and move to Provence in search of a better life. He wrote A Year in Provence about this journey, the restoration of his ancient home, and the discovery of a life of the senses, sampling the flavors, sights, and smells of the Provencal countryside. This funny and insightful book inspired me to follow suit, to abandon my advertising career and head out for a new life. And the journey hasn't stopped since. Thank you, Peter! —Cathleen Miller

Simone de Bouvoir's Second Sex
Whenever I want a man to understand me better I hand him a copy of this classic book. My brother, my lover — haven't got my father to read it yet — and friends have all said they're grateful for it. Women, if you don't see yourself in this text, you are truly not of this Western culture. A must for everyone's permanent collection. —Carla King

If you really want to get into the philosophy of those times, go sit in the Cafe deux Magots and read:

Simone de Beauvoir, A Biography by Deirdre Bair

Sartre, A Biography by Ronald Hayman

In Transition, A Paris Anthology: Writing and art from Transition magazine 1927-30
Very cool anthology of writing from this 1920's Paris literary magazine. Very likely out-of-print. Works by: Samuel Beckett, Paul Bowles, Kay boyle, Hart Crane, Giorgio De Chirico, Andre Gide, Robert Graves, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, C.G. Jung, Franz Kafka, Paul Klee, Archibald MacLeish, Man Ray, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Kathrine Anne Porter, Rainer Maria Rilke, Diego Rivera, Gertrude Stein, Tristan Tzara, William Carolos Willams, and others. Now if that list of names doesn't send you running to the library, you probably don't have a desire to visit Paris. —Carla King

The First Man, The final novel by Albert Camus
This unfinished novel was by his daughter Catherine Camus in March 1995. Now, if you think that you're not a good writer it will be enlightening for you to read this, because in this draft there are unfinished characters, plot dead-ends, and even some just plain bad writing. It was going to be a masterpiece, of course, because Camus was brilliant. Who does not admire his work? I browse through The First Man draft and see a writer's confusion, and all the work ahead, and I think, I hope, that I may become a writer yet! —Carla King

French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France
I recently moved to a house in the Richmond district of San Francisco with a large garden that once had been lovingly tended. Among the waist-high weeds were markers for organic plants from Occidental Nursery and Annie's Annuals. Turning the dirt I found quartz crystals and river stones and a path that had sunk in last winter's rains. "It has good bones," said my mother, surveying it with her expert gardener's eye. Six months later I'm in love with the creative process and thankful to the gardener who planted the flowers and vegetables that have sprung up in every glorious color. I have hopes that French Dirt will inspire and entertain. I'll let you know. —Carla King

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M u s e u m s

Musee d'Orsay
The most recent project by the woman who re-architected Paris' Gare d'Orsay into the Musee d'Orsay was San Francisco's Asian Art Museum, a superb transformation from the main public library. Open only a few months it is already a San Francisco favorite. The Musee d'Orsay has always been a favorite of mine in Paris, not only because of the art, but the light and its manageable size. —Carla King

For more on the arts, see our Fall 2003 arts page for film and book recommendations.

Picasso Musee
This excellent little museum is a journey through the career of Picasso. Whether you're a fan or not, you'll appreciate the insight into his transition from traditional art to his own special style. —Carla King

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