Paris at a Certain Age

Sam - c'est moi!

Do you recognize this meal?

You're right!

It's Les oeufs verts au jambon. Ulysses Press (USA) has released a French language edition of the beloved book "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss. Foreign language children's books are a great way to learn a new tongue. But they can be expensive and/or difficult to obtain. This edition is reasonably priced.

It's a delight to read the French version:

Je ne peux pas, ne veux pas
ici, dans la nuit.

Peux-tu, veut-tu
sous la pluie?

Je ne peux pas, ne veux pas sous la pluie.
Pas dans un train. Pas dans la nuit.
Pas en auto. Pas sur un plateau.
Je ne les aime pas, Sam-c'est moi.
Pas dans un placard. Pas dans une maison.
Pas avec un renard. Pas avec un raton.
Je n'en mangerai ni ici, ni là.
Je n'en mangerai à aucun endroit!

Tu n'aime pas
les oeufs verts au jambon?

Je ne les aime pas,
Sam-c'est moi.

C'est ce que tu crois.
Mais tu n'as pas goûté!
Essaie au moins une fois,
tu vas peut-être les aimer?

Sam!
Si tu promets de me laisser,
Je veux bien les essayer.
Et tu verras ce que tu verras,
Sam-c'est moi!

For those of you who do not have the English version permanently imprinted on the brain after reading it to your children, here is the original text:

That Sam-I-Am! That Sam-I-Am! I do not like that Sam-I-Am!
Do you like green eggs and ham?
I do not like them Sam-I-Am. I Do not like green eggs and ham.
Would you like them here or there?
I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-Am.
Would you like them with a mouse? Would you like them in a house?
I do not like them in a house, I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham I do not like them Sam-I-Am.
Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?
Not in a box. Not with a fox. Not in a house. Not with a mouse. I would not eat them here or there. I would not eat them anywhere. I would not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-Am.
Would you? Could you? In a car? Eat them! Eat them! Here they are.
I would not could not in a car.
You may like them. You will see. You may like them in a tree!
I would not could not in a tree. Not in a car! You let me be! I do not like them in a box. I do not like them with a fox. I do not like them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.
A train! A train! A train! A train!. Could you, would you on a train?
Not on a train! Not in a tree! Not in a car! Sam! Let me be! I would not could not in a box, I could not, would not, with a fox. I will not eat them with a mouse. I will not eat them in a house. I will not eat them here or there. I will not eat them anywhere. I do not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-Am.

Sixty Million Frenchmen and One Petaluman

The author couple of this volume (Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French by Nadeau & Barlow)had a grant to live in Paris to research and write the manuscript. If that statement makes you jealous, this is the book for you.
They explain everything from the reason French stores have sales (les soldes) only twice a year (dates back to Middle Age guilds) to the school system (and as a result you'll better understand how the head scarf ban relates to the Revolution and égalité). Each page is dense with discoveries about the culture and society. I read a borrowed copy but now want my own book to re-read and keep as a reference.