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As the Olympics are taking place, it seems an obvious choice for the monthly theme. Just remember that we read classics only for the challenge. It’s an easy challenge that you can complete with just 1 book, or read as many books as you want. There are lots of choices, so choose carefully!

The Olympics are in Paris this year, so read a book that is set in France. For example, Villette by Charlotte Brontë
or
Choose a letter from one of the words MEDAL, GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE, PARIS, & read a book where the title (ignoring “The”), or author’s first name or surname starts with that letter. For example, The Maltese Falcon (If, like Jazzy, you read very fast then perhaps you can spell out a complete word!)
or
Read a book that was first published in either 1900 or 1924

The Paris Olympics - template

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
0/?

A book set in France

Spell out - one or more letters from
MEDAL
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
PARIS

A book first published in either 1900 or 1924

1.

2.

3.

1 2 3

My books…

The Paris Olympics

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
1/1

A book set in France:

The Fortune of the Rougons, Émile Zola

Great photos, Jazzy - thank you! I had to go out this morning, ran out of time before I left then was delayed getting home. You found amazing photos!

The Paris Olympics

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
3/3

A book set in France

Spell out - one or more letters from
MEDAL
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
PARIS

A book first published in either 1900 or 1924

✅1. Around the World in Eighty Days - Jules Verne (1872) [French author] 8/3/24

✅2. The Sky Above the Roof: Fifty-Six Poems by Paul Verlaine - Paul Verlaine (1957) [French poet]

✅3. The Travels of Babar - Jean de Brunhoff (1932) [French author]

Tr1sha wrote: "Great photos, Jazzy - thank you! I had to go out this morning, ran out of time before I left then was delayed getting home. You found amazing photos!"

Yes Jazzy, how did you outwit Gettys?

The Paris Olympics - template

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
4/4

Spell out - one or more letters from

G O L D

GoldfingerbyIan Fleming FIN10/8/24✅
On Her Majesty's Secret ServicebyIan FlemingFIN14/8/24✅
The Living DaylightsbyIan Fleming
Dr. NobyIan FlemingFIN1/8/24✅
Diamonds Are ForeverbyIan FlemingFIN6/8/24✅

The Paris Olympics
August 1-31

A book set in France: L'Attaque du moulin by Émile Zola✅


MEDAL
M: The Prisoner in the Opal by A.E.W. Mason ✅

E: The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton ✅


GOLD
G: The Grey King by Susan Cooper ✅

O: On the Nature of the Universe by Lucretius✅


SILVER
L:Fell Murder by E.C.R. Lorac✅


BRONZE
B: The Case of Naomi Clynes by Basil Thomson


PARIS
P: Peig: The Autobiography of Peig Sayers of the Great Blasket Island by Peig Sayers✅


First published in 1900:
1900- Seconde Patrie by Jules Verne ✅

The Paris Olympics - template

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
6/4 - 14/8/24

A book set in France - The Fortune of the Rougonsby Émile Zola 4 stars


Spell out - one or more letters from

MEDAL - Marcel Proust - Sodom and Gomorrah 5 stars

GOLD - George Sand - The Country Waif 3 stars

SILVER - Simone de Beauvoir - Inseparable 5 stars

BRONZE - BALZAC (Honoré de). The Girl With The Golden Eyes 1 star


A book first published in either 1900 or 1924

5. Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill 4 stars


1 2 3 4 5. 6.

A great selection of ideas already, Vicky & Nidhi.

August…
Just going for Bronze…
Violette Leduc - La Bâtarde 1964

Yes! Oui! 🥇🥈🥉🇫🇷🥐🍷🍾🍇🎨

2/2

Paris starts with P like the wonderful, suggestive
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay Publ 1967

Both MeDal and GolD has got the letter D in them. So I will read Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie Publ 1935

Nidhi wrote:
A book set in France - The Fortune of the Rougonsby Émile Zola


Spell out - one or more letters from

MEDAL - Marcel Proust - Sodom and Gomorrah

GOLD - George Sand - The Country Waif

SILVER - Simone de Beauvoir - Inseparable

BRONZE - BALZAC (Honoré de). The Girl With The Golden Eyes

I love this list of French authors, Nidhi!

Thanks Kathy, I am on a reading spree of great French authors Zola, Balzac and Proust.

And I will be reading Beauvoir and George Sand for the first time..... very excited for them. I like this group for the variety of options it gives.

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
1/1

A book set in France

Dangerous Liaisons

Spell out - one or more letters from

MEDAL - Mary Barton
GOLD
✅SILVER - So Many Doors
BRONZE - The Banquet Ceases
PARIS

The Paris Olympics - template

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
2/2

A book set in France


1. Sarrasine by Honoré de Balzac(1830) August 31, 2024 4*

2. Two Friends by Guy de Maupassant (1883) August 31, 2024 5*



1 2

Finished my challenge of 4 books. I still have two books which i would like to finish before the month ends.

I finished my challenge of one book for each category.
I may still add more books if they fit.

I finished a book the other day that I fell totally in love with 💜. And now I realised it suits this month's challenge. The Picnic at Hanging Rock is a gem.

Nike wrote: "I finished a book the other day that I fell totally in love with 💜. And now I realised it suits this month's challenge. The Picnic at Hanging Rock is a gem."

Have you seen the movie? It's a visually stunning movie.

Rosemarie wrote: "Nike wrote: "I finished a book the other day that I fell totally in love with 💜. And now I realised it suits this month's challenge. The Picnic at Hanging Rock is a gem."

Have you seen the movie? ..."

Yes, I have. I watched it a few years ago and I fell in love with the story then. This must be the first time that I equally love a book and the film made of it!

Nidhi wrote: "The Paris Olympics - template

01/8/24 - 31/8/24
4/4 - 14/8/24

A book set in France - The Fortune of the Rougonsby Émile Zola


Spell out - one or more letters from

ME..."


I love your choice of authors, Nidhi.

Rosemarie wrote: "I finished my challenge of one book for each category.
I may still add more books if they fit."

Great work, Rosemarie 🌺

Thanks Nike. These authors are easily available in English translations. Zola and Balzac are available in Delphi Complete works and so is George Sand, I enjoy reading them because of social history, France was (is) always a happening place. The first book I read in my teens was A Tale of Two Cities, it left a lasting impression on me.

Nidhi wrote: "Thanks Nike. These authors are easily available in English translations. Zola and Balzac are available in Delphi Complete works and so is George Sand, I enjoy reading them because of social history..."

I read "A Tale of Two Cities last year! It's a masterpiece.

France… Paris…
Going for Bronze…
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 Violette Leduc - La Bâtarde 1964
Going for Silver…
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 August Strindberg - The Inferno 1897

Finished two books for this month.

Finished one book.

Well done everyone!

I read a novella by Honore de Balzac and a short story by Guy de Maupassant. I like both of the these authors and the theme of "set in France" let me read more by them.

Lynn wrote: "I read a novella by Honore de Balzac and a short story by Guy de Maupassant. I like both of the these authors and the theme of "set in France" let me read more by them."


I still haven't read Balzac but Guy de Maupassant is a favourite of mine 🙂