UPCOMING EVENTS

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• BA101 French Lit for Fun

  • Start
    24 Apr 2024
  •  
  • End
    26 Jun 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom online
  • Spaces left
    4

  Register

  COURSE DESCRIPTION

  Discover and discuss contemporary classics in this lively class for high-intermediate and advanced French speakers. You’ll read a book at home, either a short novel or play, then participate in a class discussion. The instructor will supply context and cultural elements, as well as discussion questions intended to spark reflection and debate. In the spirit of literary cafés, the class will help you gain a deeper knowledge of French societal issues and controversies.

  For the spring term, we will read...

  "Dans les rapides," Maylis de Kerangal : In the 1980s, Lise, Nina and Marie are students in the same high school. Through rowing in the cold, at dawn, they become inseparable and learn to navigate the perils of their daily life : boys, popularity, choosing Debbie Harry or Kate Bush... This poetic short novel captures the subtle essence of adolescence. Éditions Folio.
  

  "Migraaaants, ou On est trop nombreux sur ce putain de bateau ou Le salon de la clôture" Matei Visniec, who fled the Romanian dictatorship himself, wrote this dark comedy after months of investigating immigration issues for Radio France Internationale. In this series of short texts, we will read the point of view of migrants, but also smugglers, politicians receiving media training, and citizens willing to help. Éditions L'Oeil du Prince
  

  "Le petit prince cannibale" : This novel interweaves the story of the narrator, mother of a young autistic child, and the story of the book she is trying to write when he is finally in bed. The little prince she struggles to raise and give access to the world, devours her time, creativity and words. Françoise Lefèvre won the Prix Goncourt des lycéens in 1990 for this beautiful novel. Éditions Babels
  

  About the instructor

  Bleuenn Simon has taught French literature and French as a second language for over 18 years in France and in the United States. She is also a theater teacher, amateur actress, and author.

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• LY031 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Part I), by William Shakespeare

  • When
    03 May 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    To Be Announced
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  A Midsummer Night's Dream - Part I

  
  

  

  Click to enlarge

  "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

  The story unfolds in the enchanting forest of Arden, a mystical forest inhabited by mischievous fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. As the moonlit night unfolds, love triangles unravel, identities are mistaken, and the whimsical intervention of the fairy world weaves a tapestry of enchantment. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

  ---

  This is a relatively long play, with an estimated reading time of 2 1/2 hours. We are going to divide the reading into two parts: one in May and one in June. Each will be approximately 40 pages.
  

  The May reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

  The June reading will take place outdoors at the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the morning of WICE's annual picnic.

  Registering to read a part in the May reading does not commit anyone to also read in June. Nor will roles be maintained among those who do decide to participate in both readings.
  

  As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

  Registration opens on 22 April 2024.

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• LM161 Bookers: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

  • When
    16 May 2024
  •  
    2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    (Cocoon Pad) 10 Rue du Laos, 75015 Paris
  • Spaces left
    9

  Register

  

  Bookers: Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk

  This 2019 Man Booker International prize shortlist is a subversive, entertaining noir novel.

  In a remote Polish village, Janina Duszejko, an eccentric woman in her sixties, recounts the events surrounding the disappearance of her two dogs. She is reclusive, preferring the company of animals to people; she's unconventional, believing in the stars; and she is fond of the poetry of William Blake, from whose work the title of the book is taken.

  When members of a local hunting club are found murdered, Duszejko becomes involved in the investigation. By no means a conventional crime story, this existential thriller by 'one of Europe's major humanist writers' (Guardian) offers thought-provoking ideas on our perceptions of madness, injustice against marginalized people, animal rights, the hypocrisy of traditional religion, belief in predestination - and caused a genuine political uproar in Tokarczuk's native Poland.

  About the organizer: An AI scientist trained in Oxford, UK, Saumya has worked previously as a researcher, technology consultant and a university professor across India and the U.K. Now based in Paris, she is pursuing her long-standing interest in the fine arts, literature and writing.

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• LY241 Café Littéraire: The Braid (La Tresse), by Laetitia Colombani

  • When
    24 May 2024
  •  
    3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    15th Arrondissement (location details to be provided after registration)
  • Spaces left
    8

  

  "The Braid," by Laetitia Colombani, tells the intertwined stories of three women from different corners of the world facing their own challenges. Smita, a Dalit in India, struggles against the caste system to give her daughter a better future. Giulia, an Italian factory worker, seeks to save her family's business after her father's illness. Sarah, a successful lawyer in Montreal, confronts a personal crisis that shakes her life. Despite their diverse backgrounds, their journeys converge in unexpected ways, revealing the resilience of the human spirit and the power of solidarity.

  The novel won the prestigious Prix Relay des Voyageurs-Lecteurs in 2018.

  ---

  

  "La tresse" de Laetitia Colombani raconte les histoires croisées de trois femmes issues de différents coins du monde et confrontées à leurs propres défis. Smita, une Dalit en Inde, lutte contre le système des castes pour offrir à sa fille un avenir meilleur. Giulia, une ouvrière italienne, cherche à sauver l'entreprise familiale après la maladie de son père. Sarah, une avocate prospère de Montréal, est confrontée à une crise personnelle qui ébranle sa vie. Malgré leurs origines diverses, leurs parcours convergent de manière inattendue, révélant la résilience de l'esprit humain et le pouvoir de la solidarité.

  Le roman a remporté le prestigieux Prix Relay des Voyageurs-Lecteurs en 2018.

  ---

  Registration will open on 26 April 2024. Two seats will be reserved for new WICE members up until a few days before the meeting (at which point they will be opened to all WICE members).

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• LJ131 Bookers: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

  • When
    13 Jun 2024
  •  
    2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    TBD
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  Bookers: The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray

  This brilliantly funny, deeply sad portrait of an Irish family in crisis is also a 2023 Booker Prize shortlist.

  Dickie’s once-lucrative car business is going under - but rather than face the music, he’s spending his days in the woods, building an apocalypse-proof bunker. His exasperated wife Imelda is selling off her jewellery on eBay while half-heartedly dodging the attentions of fast-talking cattle farmer Big Mike. Meanwhile, teenage daughter Cass, formerly top of her class, seems determined to binge-drink her way to her final exams. And 12-year-old PJ, in debt to local sociopath ‘Ears’ Moran, is putting the final touches to his grand plan to run away.

  Yes, in Paul Murray’s brilliant tragicomic saga, the Barnes family is definitely in trouble. So where did it all go wrong? And if the story has already been written – is there still time to find a happy ending? 

  About the organizer: An AI scientist trained in Oxford, UK, Saumya has worked previously as a researcher, technology consultant and a university professor across India and the U.K. Now based in Paris, she is pursuing her long-standing interest in the fine arts, literature and writing.

  Show details
• LU211 Play Reading: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Part II), by William Shakespeare

  • When
    21 Jun 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    To Be Announced
  • Spaces left
    13

  A Midsummer Night's Dream - Part II

  
  

  

  Click to enlarge

  "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

  The story unfolds in the enchanting forest of Arden, a mystical forest inhabited by mischievous fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. As the moonlit night unfolds, love triangles unravel, identities are mistaken, and the whimsical intervention of the fairy world weaves a tapestry of enchantment. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

  ---

  This is a relatively long play, with an estimated reading time of 2 1/2 hours. We are going to divide the reading into two parts: one in May and one in June. Each will be approximately 40 pages.
  

  The May reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

  The June reading will take place outdoors at the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the morning of WICE's annual picnic.
  

  As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

  Registration opens on 05 April 2024.

  Show details
• LL051 Café Littéraire: The Elegance of the Hedgehog (L'Élégance du hérisson), Muriel Barbary

  • When
    05 Jul 2024
  •  
    3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    15th Arrondissement (location details to be provided after registration)
  • Spaces left
    8

  

  "The Elegance of the Hedgehog," by Muriel Barbery follows the lives of two women, Renée, a concierge in a wealthy Parisian apartment building who hides her intelligence and cultural interests, and Paloma, a precocious 12-year-old girl who plans to end her life on her 13th birthday. Through their perspectives, the novel delves into themes of class, philosophy, and the search for meaning in life. As they form an unlikely friendship, they discover the beauty in the everyday and the importance of human connection.

  The novel won the prestigious Prix Relay des Voyageurs-Lecteurs in 2018.

  ---

  

  "L'élégance du hérisson" de Muriel Barbery suit la vie de deux femmes, Renée, concierge d'un riche immeuble parisien qui cache son intelligence et ses intérêts culturels, et Paloma, une jeune fille précoce de 12 ans qui prévoit de mettre fin à ses jours le jour de son treizième anniversaire. À travers leurs points de vue, le roman aborde les thèmes de la classe sociale, de la philosophie et de la recherche d'un sens à la vie. En formant une amitié improbable, ils découvrent la beauté du quotidien et l'importance des liens humains.

  Le roman a remporté le prestigieux Prix Relay des Voyageurs-Lecteurs en 2018.

  ---

  Registration will open on 24 May 2024. Two seats will be reserved for new WICE members up until a few days before the meeting (at which point they will be opened to all WICE members).

  Show details
• LS031 Play Reading: Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard

  • When
    04 Oct 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    To Be Announced
  • Spaces left
    13

  "Arcadia" is a 1993 stage play by Tom Stoppard that intertwines two storylines set in the same English country house, Sidley Park, but separated by two centuries.

  In the early 19th century, the story follows the inhabitants of Sidley Park, including Thomasina Coverly, a young girl fascinated by mathematics, and her tutor, Septimus Hodge. Their intellectual pursuits intersect with romantic entanglements and the landscape architecture of the garden.

  In the present day, a group of academics and historians investigates the events of the past, attempting to uncover the truth behind a mysterious hermit who lived on the estate and the fate of Thomasina.

  As the play unfolds, themes of love, science, literature, and the elusive nature of truth emerge, with Stoppard blending humor, intellect, and emotion to explore the interconnectedness of past and present, and the eternal quest for knowledge and understanding.

  ---

  This play is 48 pages and has 13 characters. The estimated reading time is 1 1/2 hours.

  The reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

  As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

  Registration opens on 09 September 2024.

  Show details
• LU141 Play Reading

  • When
    01 Nov 2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    To Be Announced
  • Spaces left
    12

  On the 1st Friday of the month, WICE has a cold play reading group that is open to all WICE members. This group looks for plays to read out loud that meet the following criteria (although that is not always possible):

      English language 

      Award winning (or nominated)
  

      One or two acts

      7 - 10 characters

      Able to be read out loud in 1 1/2 hours
  

  Plays are generally chosen on a month-to-month basis, primarily (but not exclusively) from the candidate list of plays located on our webpage, From Page to Stage: Readings of Award-Winning Plays. When the play for April has been chosen, this listing will be updated.

  Note: Because the Paris Writers Workshop is taking place the entire first week of June, we are doing the June play reading on the 2nd Friday of the month.
  

  Registration the June reading session opens on 03 May.
  

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