Staying in : July Journal
Each month, I share a few things that have been meaningful lately - from recipes, books, films and artists. This journal is a quiet celebration of shared meals and meaningful dialogue. A sacred, delicate practice of connection through food and art.
Recipes
This month’s recipes come from a collection of meals once served at Claude Monet’s home in Giverny. The cookbook, which I found in 2021, offers a glimpse into what was frequently served at his table. These dishes feel rooted in tradition and remind me how much beauty there is in simplicity.
Poached Truffles
Download
Chicken Chasseur
Download
Madeleines au Citron
Download
Books
A Girl’s Story by Annie Ernaux
This is the second book by Annie Ernaux I’ve read, who is quickly become one of my favorite authors. I am always moved by her subjects and style of writing. Intimate and precise, she gives a raw portrait of a formative time in her adolescence. Through exploration of shame, sexual desires, intellectual intrigue and self-discovery. It’s a reflection of the shame found in memories and the pull between who you once were and who you still are. I’ve just picked up La Place to read in French. Wish me luck! I’ll let you know how it goes next month.
The Outsider by Albert Camus
A well-known book is well known in the existentialist movement. It makes a stance in not confirming to how society expects you to. In the emotions you show, the meaningless of life, in the absurdity of reality. The book bounces between scenes of detachment which feel dreamlike, to an empty state of emotion. It challenges norms and conditioning, rejecting the acceptance of society as performative.
Seven Ages of Paris by Alistair Horne
Informative and engaging. This book reads like a walk through history, exploring the transformation of Paris from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It blends storytelling with fact in a way that feels effortless. I’ve added this to my re-read list as I begin preparing to apply for French naturalisation next year. If you have any recommendations for books on French history, I’d love to hear them.
.
Films
Shoot the piano player (François Truffaut, 1960)
This film caught me off guard, in a good way. It follows a quiet pianist with a complicated past. He gets pulled into a strange crime plot involving his brothers. You are constantly being moved between scenes which are romantic, slightly comic and tragic. Giving the film an awkwardness about it, which I really enjoyed.
Belle de Jour (Luis Buñuel)
I watched the film without knowing the plot. Strange and beautiful, it follows Séverine, who secretly works at a brothel while living a quiet life. The film blurs reality and fantasy so well I often couldn’t tell the difference. It explores hidden desires and the tension between our true selves and societal roles. By the end of the movie, and true to the theme I felt slightly disoriented and thinking about the internal contradictions we never fully explain.
Le Mépris (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963)
This film is the story of a screenwriter working on a film adaptation of The Odyssey, while his relationship with his wife quietly falls apart. You feel the push and pull between communication and compromise. How relationships change in the small, everyday moments, both through reality and projection. The use of architecture, adds to the sense of emotional distance. It’s most famously recognised in the apartment scene, but I would argue the architectural structure of the house they’re filming at holds just as much significance.
Thanks for being here. If you make any of the recipes or pick up one of the books, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
- Jessie