Remembering Shakespeare and Company

 

Virtual Adventures Club Update:

Looking forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday for my Interview, The Secret Life Of An American In Paris with Heather Stimmler, founder of SecretsofParis.com.

We are going to talk about Christmas in Paris, yes despite COVID, Paris is decked out for the holidays, along with some of Heather’s secret spots!

Not registered YET?

TUESDAY, December 8th

12:30 pm EST/9:30 am Pacific/6:30 pm CET (Paris)/5:30 pm GMT (UK)

Click HERE to Register! It’s Free!

PS — We also have NEW Subscribers  joining us this month

to womanofacertainageinparis.com

Welcome to you all!

Please READ all the way to the bottom to see

a GIVEAWAY BOOK DRAW just for you!

 

 

 

 

Have you been to Shakespeare and Company?

 

As a journalist and writer, I once harboured the dream of spending a night, and I mean overnight, at the world’s most famous independent book store, Shakespeare and Company in Paris.

 

I imagined myself tucking into one of the beds between the bookshelves after all the customers had left, and falling into an inspired sleep conjuring up the likes of its most famous patrons, such as, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce and Ezra Pound.

 

 

 

 

Had I done so, I would be among the 30,000 people dubbed “tumbleweeds” who have spent the night there, something that anyone can request as long as they help out in the bookstore for a few hours before turning in.

 

 

 

 

I actually only visited Shakespeare and Company for the first time a few years back.

The bookstore faces the Seine on the left bank in the Latin Quarter across from Notre Dame cathedral.

It’s Kelly Green exterior with the big yellow sign, and large windows piled high with books is artistic heaven reminiscent of the old world.

 

 

Stepping inside is like being transported into a Harry Potter novel where the narrowest of corridors, with sharp angles and  crammed nooks and crannies are lined floor to ceiling with books and more books.

It was  ridiculously crowded and claustrophobic the day I was there,  but still I managed to squeeze up the slender staircase and plaster myself to the wall for a few minutes to listen to a writer reading from her own book of poems.

That sealed for me the historic charm of the place.

 

 

 

Sadly, Shakespeare and Company, which has been in this location since 1951, was forced to close early on in the pandemic resulting in sales dropping 80 percent.  It was announced last month that it might even have to close for good.

Now, happily, with the addition  of online sales, and benefactors who can’t stomach its demise, the store is back in business and hoping to survive the coming months.

If they do, and when things return to normal,  I am sure there will be a long waiting list of people who want once again to  experience its nocturnal magic, maybe now more than ever before.

For me, the desire to be one of them has waned as I get older and am less likely to forgo my creature comforts.

A night on a hard shelf fending off the ghosts of the literary past no long appeals to me…I don’t think.

Unless of course, one could guarantee I would dream of Hemingway.

For a full history of Shakespeare and Company click HERE!

 

Waking Up In Paris

 

 

By the way, speaking of good books, have you read Sonia Choquette’s Waking Up In Paris?

Sonia is an accomplished American Hay House author who has written a whomping 28 books! She is also a renowned intuitive and spiritual guide in a league with the likes of Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay.

A few years ago after a painful breakup of her marriage, this intrepid woman of a certain age moved to Paris. Her story of braving this new city, finding her new place in the world, and just sitting contemplating life in a variety of charming cafés will have you hanging off her every word.

Click on this LINK to Purchase!

 

 

 

The VIRTUAL ADVENTURES CLUB Interview with Sonia Choquette is Coming SOON!

While Sonia is incredibly busy, and does not grant many interviews, she has agreed to do one with me in February!

Stay Tuned for that!  

(It will be the first of 7 Exclusive Interviews  I will be offering as part my NEW 2021 Virtual Adventures Membership Club)

Giveaway Book Draw Open Only to New (December) Subscribers!

Are you a new subscriber this month? If you signed up for Heather Stimmler’s interview this Tuesday, you have been automatically subscribed as indicated.

So here’s the deal.

Leave a Comment!

The 15th New (December) Subscriber to leave a comment below will WIN Sonia’s Book Waking Up In Paris! Bonne Chance!

Remember you can also catch on up previous blogs by going to my website at www.womanofacertainageinparis.com

Here are a couple to get your started!

Red Lipstick Is Sooo French!

The French Man 

Disclosure Policy: This site uses affiliate links which may generate small commissions based on clicks and purchases in order to support the costs of running this site. I thank you for your support. Any products that I giveaway are personally purchased by me unless otherwise specified. I write all the content on my site unless otherwise specified. And I respect the privacy of my subscribers and do not share their information with any other party or organization.