Information from F O A L - progress towards creating some centre for books in English - even if it will not be as large and comprehensive as the one closed down a year ago
FOAL Friends of the Anglophone Library
Lending Library open every Wednesday 3pm-6pm
29 rue Maguelone (IMLS) 1er étage
Montpellier
foal@dbmail.com
We have a permanent Book Sale thanks to donations from members and well-wishers
We will also BUY recent books for a small sum (good literature, fiction or non fiction; from 2010) Contact foal@dbmail.com
You might wish to unload your summers visitors of their summer reading to lighten their luggage on the way back
The Friends of the Anglophone Library are organising a
TALK BY CHRISTOPHER CRIMES
Director of the Domaine d’O
Friday 2nd December at 6.30 at the Domaine d’O south at the indoor theatre area (théatre du sud)
Christopher Crimes became Director of the Domaine d’O in 2009. He set out to create a more coherent and structured organisation which his thirty years of experience as manager and director for several major theatres and arts venues has stood him in good stead. His Anglo-Saxon manner and a certain reserve could be deceptive but the fact he was elected in the face of fierce competition speaks for his experience. His commitment to projects centered on the arts, the environment and the importance of sustainable development is unfailing.
On the home front, Christopher likes to listen to an eclectic variety of music, father of two, he is married to a Frenchwoman, and he is a keen cook and likes to go shopping in the market looking for inspiration.
He will be talking to us on several topics concerning his cultural and educational experiences here in France leading up to his nomination at the head of Domaine d’O, and also about women writers.
After the talk the Domaine d’O bar will be open and we will be able to enjoy a drink together. If you are interested, you can buy tickets for a new play On se suivra de près, a theatrical and existential thriller, at a special price of 8 euros instead of 16 euros. The play starts at 8.30pm
The event is free but we need to know how many of you will be coming to the talk and/or the play so please send an email to foal@dbmail.com before 22nd November
THE LIBRARY IS OPEN ALL SUMMER EXCEPT FOR 3rd and 17th AUGUST
LIBRARY OPENING TIMES
Open all summer except for Wednesday August 3rd and 17th
ANGLOPHONE LIBRARY
INSTITUT MEDITERRANEEN DE LANGUES
29 RUE MAGUELONE 1st Floor (opposite station)
OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 3pm-6pm
12-month library membership fees
Active member 25 euros
Benefactor 40 euros
Student 15 euros
Contact details: foal@dbmail.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
The Friends of the Anglophone Library
The new books have arrived (see list at bottom of page). You will also find a list of recent books donated by members. Thanks to numerous volunteers, we have been able to cover them with plastic film so they will last longer. You will find a green booklet at the library with a selection of book reviews.
Our “front shelf” can now rival the shelf we all made a beeline for in the “old” library.
New membership rules
We have decided to change the membership rules. Your membership will run for a year from date of joining up. If you join now, for example, your membership will run to April 2012. So you get a full year whenever you join. Just remember to put date on the membership form you fill in. You can join at the library (IML 29 rue Maguelone, 1st floor every Wednesday from 3pm-6pm) or send a mail to Foal (see address below). We hope the new rules will encourage you to join if you haven’t done so already.
Date to put in your diaries
The Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday 17th June at 6pm. All members are invited and there will be an apéritif afterwards. The AGM will take place at l’Espace Martin Luther King, 27 Boulevard Louis Blanc.
You will receive by post a letter informing you of the Agenda. Please send an e-mail to the foal address (foal@dbmail.com) confirming your presence so that we have an idea of how much to purchase for the drinks party.
Summer opening hours
In July we will be open every Wednesday; in August, we will be open on 10th and 24th, then back to normal in September.
We have a Facebook site: Foal-Friends-of-the-Anglophone-Library-Montpellier
BOOKS MARCH 2011
Non fiction
Tolstoy : A Russian life Rosamund Barlett
Why not say what happened: A memoir Ivana Lowell
Narcissism of minor differences Peter Baldwin
Life of Irene Nemirovsky Olivier Philippoonat
Hitch-22 Christopher Hitchins
The Masque of Africa V.S. Naipaul
Must you go Antonia Fraser
Life and opinions of Maf the dog
And of his friend Marilyn Monroe Andrew O’Hagan
Through the language glass Guy Deutscher
Payback Margaret Atwood
A widow’s story: a memoir Joyce Carol Oates
Moonwalking with Einstein: Joshua Foer
The art and science of remembering
everything
E.M. Forster; A new Life Wendy Moffat
Fiction
The Imperfectionists Tom Rachman
Pulse Julian Barnes
Daughters-in-law Joanna Trollope
Tinkers Paul Harding
The Finkler Question Howard Jacobson
Parrot and Olivier in America Peter Carey
Blood count Robert Goddard ( May 24th)
Saints and Sinners Edna O’ Brien
Caribou Island David Vann
Fear itself Andrew Rosenheim
London Satyr Robert Edric
The empty famiy Colm Toibin
Full dark, no stars Steven King
Trick of the dark Val McDermid
The wings of the sphinx Andrea Camilleri
Tigerlily’s ordhids Ruth Rendall
Book of secrets Michael Holroyd
The house at sea’s end Elly Griffiths
Fall of giants Ken Follet
Perfect lives Polly Samson
Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart Michelle Lutze
Drawing conclusions Donna Leon (April 2011)
Pereira Maintains Antonio Tabucchi (new translation)
Sing you home Jodi Pecoult
LIST OF RECENT BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN DONATED BY MEMBERS
Conspirata Richard Harris
One Day David Nicolls (was on our order)
Solar Ewan Mc Ewan
Hancox Charlotte Moore
The Big Short Michael Lewis
Facebook effect Story of Marc Zuckerberg
Inheritance Robert Sackville West
Mad World Paula Byrne (bio Evelyn Waugh)
In tearing haste Deborah Devonshire (last Mitford sister)
Rosamond Lehmann Selina Hastings (biography)
The Duchess Amanda Foreman
Charlotte & Lionel Stanley Weintraub ( a Rothschild marriage)
Love and Louis XIV Antonia Fraser
Marie Antoinette Antonia Fraser
Antony Powell: a life Michael Barber (A Powell wrote “ a Dance to the
Music of time)
Graham Greene, the man within Michael Shelden
The Courtesan and the Samurai Leslie Downer
Nine lives William Dalrymple (his latest travel book)
D-Day: the battle for Normandy Antony Beevor
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The Friends of the Anglophone Library
The news is pretty good, we have over 40 members and the library is starting to take off. We are now open every Wednesday afternoon from 3pm to 6pm and this seems to suit the majority. We have plenty of volunteers to man the library and I would like to thank everyone for their offers of help and encouragement. As you will have seen, we want to keep things informal, just create a nice atmosphere. When the room next to the library is free, you are welcome to go in there for a chat, space in the library being at a premium! The Reading Committee is meeting again on 10th March and by mid April we shall have another 40-odd books on offer. Don’t forget to put your suggestions in the suggestion book or send them to: foal@dbmail.com Books you suggest need to be recent and mainstream. Books you bring to the Book Sale should also be quite recent.
The first Book Chat session was a success, for information mail:
mishex@wanadoo.fr
We have a big event coming up and you need to put the date in your diaries, it should be a very interesting evening and we are working hard to publicise it. In the past we have been disappointed by turnout at our events but we are giving it another chance as we believe it is one of the roles of FOAL.
Da Vinci - The true code?
A talk by Jonathan James, the barrister who represented two authors in a court case against
Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code
March 25th from 6pm to 8pm
Espace Martin Luther King
27 boulevard Louis-Blanc
The Da Vinci Code is a global best seller which has sold 86 million copies to date. The authors of “The Holy Grail” and “The Holy Blood” sued Dan Brown for plagiarism in an internationally publicized court case. Jonathan James will discuss the case in detail from the initial charges to the shocking outcome. Come hear the inside story of this riveting case told first-hand by the well-known barrister, Jonathan James who now lives in Pezenas, France.
There will be a wine-tasting after the talk with wine grown by Jonathan James on his estate near Pezenas
Sponsored by Friends of the Anglophone Library
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Second of January - News from F O A L
The Friends of the Anglophone Library
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
You probably all remember the shock you got this time last year when you opened your in-box to learn that the library had been closed. You have probably followed the news and it now looks as if we won’t get our library back. However, our own little library is starting to take shape and we are getting a trickle of new members.
The more members we have, the greater our buying power will be. We have a small group of Foal members who were long-standing readers at the former library who meet to choose new books and we have a Suggestion Book at the library for you to write down your ideas. You can also use a star system to rate books you have borrowed. We aim to order recent fiction and non-fiction (see list below). Unfortunately, we don’t have either a lot of money or space, so we can only provide the children’s books members donate. We hope to be able to order regularly, but it will come down to membership dues in the end. (See membership form below)
Venue
Institut Méditerranéen de Langues, (IML) 29 rue Maguelone (1st floor), next to the McDonalds at the station.
Opening Hours
We are open on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2pm-6pm. At the moment, this seems sufficient but we could envisage opening every Wednesday if we had volunteers for manning. There is a Permanent Book Sale, the books are priced very low, it is well worth having a rummage and the proceeds will go to buying new books. You can bring books for the sale if they are in good condition and not too old (we don’t have enough space to accommodate boxfuls of books!!) Next opening day: Wednesday 5th January
HERE’s A GOOD IDEA FOR A NEW YEAR’s RESOLUTION, JOIN THE ASSOCIATION TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LIBRARY
As you know, one of our aims is to organise “cultural” events. This is what we have in the works at the moment, again, if you have any suggestions, do let us know. (Send an email to foal@dbmail.com )
In March we shall welcome Jonathan James, the barrister who defended two authors against Dan Brown (of the Da Vinci Code fame). They accused Dan Brown of plagiarising their work. The talk will be followed by a wine tasting as Jonathan James now makes wine near Pezenas. His wife, Anne, managed the Monty Pythons. Later in the spring we shall be organising a jazz concert by Art Fell and friends.
Philippe Marchand has set up Book Chat sessions, the first of which will take place on 26th January. These will provide an opportunity for members to meet as a group of readers, with each person talking briefly about a book she or he has read. Books are passed round so one can note titles and authors. Eight to ten books will normally be ‘highlighted’ at each session. If you would like to participate in a Book Chat meeting, send your name, telephone number and “best time to contact” to Philippe via mishex@wanadoo.fr Venue : 22 rue de Lorraine, 34060 Montpellier (Quartier Gare méditerranée) (Apartment of Mathieu Di Miceli, red door on the first floor.)
Scroll down for membership form and list of new books
FOAL MEMBERSHIP FORM 2011
Name (capitals)
First name
Address
Email address
Telephone
___________________________________________________________________________ _____
Profession
Membership fees
40 euros Benefactor
25 euros Active Member (this includes all family members)
15 euros Student
Please send the form, a stamped, addressed envelope and a cheque made out to “Friends of the Anglophone Library” to:
Mme S. Erickson
Mas de Calage
Chemin de Calage
34130 St Aunès
and you will receive a membership card which will give you access to the library
______________________________________________________________________________________
The Friends of the Anglophone Library
As you know, we have set up a new association, also called FOAL (Friends of the Anglophone library). Unfortunately, all our efforts to keep the original collection intact and accessible have come to nothing. We have decided to set up a small lending library for members of Foal at 29 rue Maguelone , Montpellier on the 1st floor at the IML (near the station). We are starting small but the idea is for members to bring along recent books they not longer want to keep (not older than two years) and donate them to the library, or, alternatively, lend books which they could take back after a few months. (in which case, you need to affix a sticker with your name on it). Some of the books you bring will go on the shelves to be lent out, others will go into a permanent Book Sale, the proceeds of which will allow us to buy new books. We hope all this will have a snowball effect.
We have already bought a selection of 42 recent books. (see list below)
The library will be open two afternoons a month from 14-18, the first and third Wednesday of each month and members will be able to take out two books at a time for two weeks (there will be a small fine for lateness, 50 cents). We will start functioning on Wednesday 1st December. The organisation will be informal, based on trust. A member of the Board will be there to help.
We also plan to organise some cultural events about which you will be kept informed in a Newsletter. Members will be asked to make a small contribution and /or participation to expenses for these events in aid of the book fund (3 euros).
In February we shall welcome the barrister who defended two authors against Dan Brown (of the Da Vinci Code fame). They accused him of plagiarising their work. The talk will be followed by a wine tasting as Jonathan James now makes wine near Pezenas. Later in the spring we shall be organising a jazz concert by Art Fell and friends.
Our Vice President, Edwin Hill is hoping to set up a Ciné Club, and Philippe Marchand is going to set up Book Chat sessions, the first of which will take place in January. These will provide an opportunity for members to meet as a group of readers, with each person talking briefly about a book she or he has read. Books are passed round so one can note titles and authors. Eight to ten books will normally be ‘highlighted’ at each session. If you would like to participate in a Book Chat meeting, send your name, telephone number and “best time to contact” to Philip viamishex@wanadoo.fr
We are open to all suggestions for new activities.
Many of you have voiced support over the past few months; by joining Foal you will be showing this support and, we hope, getting something in return.
If you join now, your membership will run until the end of 2011
Membership fees
40 euros Benefactor
25 euros Active Member (this includes all family members)
15 euros Student
If you wish to join, please fill in the attached form and send it, along with a cheque and a stamped, addressed envelope to:
Mme S Erickson
Mas de Calage
Chemin de Calage
34130 St Aunès
and we will return a membership card which you will need to show when you come to the library. Alternatively, you can also join up at the library when you come to check out books.
FOAL MEMBERSHIP FORM 2011
Name (capitals)
First name
Address
Email address
Telephone
_______________________________________________________________________
Profession
Types of books you would like to find at the library:
Literature and recent fiction Biographies and Memoirs
Mystery and thrillers Science fiction and fantasy
Cooking, food and wine Children’s books
Others (there will be a suggestion book at the library)
NEW BOOKS November 2010
NON FICTION
Bill Bryson A short history of private life
Tim Parks Teach us to sit still
Olivier Philippoonat The life of Irene Nemirovsky
Colum McCann Let the great world spin
Lesley Blanch The wilder shores of love
Amy Lawrence The passion of Montgomery Clift
Michael Soussan Backstabbing for beginners
Miranda Seymour Chaplin’s girl
Michel Bloch James Lees-Milne: A life
Miranda Carter Three emperors, three cousins and the road to the first World War
Robert Gottlieb Life of Sarah Bernhardt
Peter Baldwin The narcissism of minor differences
Michael Steinberger Au revoir to all that
Edited by Paul Kulikovsky 25 chapters of my life: Memoirs of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna
Nassim Nicolas Taleb Black Swan
FICTION
Philip Roth Nemesis
Jonathon Franzen Freedom
Paul Auster Invisible
Philippa Gregory The Red Queen
Nicci French Complicit
Elisabeth George This body of death
Ariane Franklin A murderous procession
William Boyd Ordinary Thunderstorms
C.J.Sansom Heartstone
James Patterson Worst case
Shilipi Gowda Secret daughter
Kate Pullinger The Mistress of nothing
Paul Harding Tinkers
William Trevor Love and summer
J Carol Oates Little bird of heaven
Michel Gregario A visible darkness
Jane Gardam The man in a wooden hat
John Updike My father’s tears
Jonathan Kellerman Evidence
Howard Jacobson The Finkler Question (Man Booker prize)
Kathyrn Stockett The Help
Jo Nesbo The Devil’s star (the new Stieg Larsson)
Jo Nesbo The redbreast
Sofi Oksanen Purge
Don Delillo The falling man
Michael Chambon Amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay
C Tom McCarthy
Kate Atkinson Started early, took my dog
FOAL MEMBERSHIP FORM 2011
Name (capitals)
First name
Address
Email address
Telephone
___________________________________________________________________________
Profession
FOAL MEMBERSHIP FORM 2011
Name (capitals)
First name
Address
Email address
Telephone
___________________________________________________________________________
Profession
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There has been quite a lot of hoo-ha in the press recently. Georges Frêche has said that 20,000 out of the 30,000 books are useless and need to be destroyed. Interview in Midi Libre today. Could you inform your readers and remind them of the online petition?
www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethelibrarymontpellier
we have 2600 signatures to date (between the paper one and the online one)
Here are some of the letters to press which have been published and which have created a rumpus
and which will put you in the picture
Best
Vicki
Jusqu'à fin décembre 2009, Montpellier disposait de la deuxième plus grande bibliothèque anglophone de France, une collection de 30000 livres, existant depuis près de 50 ans à Montpellier. Ce fût, à l'origine, un enfant de la bibliothèque américaine de Paris devenu autonome avec un statut un peu bâtard, mais fonctionnant au plus grand bonheur des étudiants et du public anglophone de la ville et des environs. Fin janvier, l'université Paul Valéry, qui assurait le salaire de la bibliothécaire (les locaux furent prêtés par la bibliothèque interuniversitaire Richter et les frais de fonctionnement payés par les cotisations des adhérents et des dons), a fermé intempestivement la bibliothèque sans consultation et sans en avertir les intéressés (les abonnées, les étudiants et le grand public). La bibliothèque américaine de Paris avait fait don de la collection originale à l'université Paul Valéry en 2001, celle-ci n'a cru bon d'accepter ce don que fin décembre 2009, quelques jours avant la décision de fermeture.
Depuis janvier, les Amis de la Bibliothèque se démènent pour trouver une solution pour rouvrir ce qu'un des membres du Conseil Municipale appela "un trésor", assurant ce groupe que la collection devait rester intacte et accessible. Malheureusement, ces paroles enthousiastes sont restées sans suite et l'Agglo et la municipalité ont maintenant décidé de "désherber" la collection, (selon quels critères?) donc, elle ne restera pas intacte; de laisser une partie à l'université. et de dispatcher une infime partie dans la médiathèque centrale, (voir photos). Qu'adviendra-t-il du reste? Il a été question de les mettre dans la nouvelle médiathèque qui ouvrira ses portes en ....2014. En attendant il semblerait que la plus grande partie de cette collection inestimable va rester dans des cartons.
Les Amis de la Bibliothèque avaient prôné une solution intermédiaire peu coûteuse qui aurait consistée à laisser la bibliothèque sur place avec un bibliothécaire (à mi-temps, l'association étant prête à assurer une permanence). Malheureusement, la trésorerie de l'Agglo, dirigée par M. Frêche, doit faire face à un certain nombre de dépenses incontournables, notamment les 1 million six cent mille euros pour les statues en bronze, de grands hommes, dont Lénine, qui sont, pour certaines d'entre elles, déjà érigées à l'espace Odysseum. Récemment, à la Comédie du Livre, grande manifestation annuelle, le pays hôte fut les Etats Unis. Alors, Montpellier, une ville au rayonnement international, une ville qui se targue d'être "English friendly". Nous en doutons.
Victoria Metherell
(Présidente "Friends of the anglophone Library)
----- Original Message -----
From: vickimetherell
To: freche.georges@cr-languedocroussillon.fr
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 5:40 PM
Subject: Fw: Droit de réponse "Les livres anglophones trouveront refuge à Zola"
Permettez-moi de répondre aux remarques que j'ai lu dans le Midi Libre du 30/09.
Vous avez dit en me concernant "elle cherche la guerre inutilement". Si vous estimez que le fait de vouloir sauver un patrimoine de 30 000 livres qui existe à Montpellier depuis 50 ans équivaut à "faire la guerre", alors vous et moi, nous ne sommes pas sur la même longueur d'ondes. Quand je lis que "parmi les 30 000 ouvrages de langue anglaise, 20 000 ne valent rien", permettez-moi de me poser des questions. Les trois quarts de ce fonds, légué par la bibliothèque américaine de Paris, mérite-il d'être destiné à la destruction? Selon quelles critères est-ce que l'estimé Directeur du réseau des médiathèques de Montpellier se fond-t-il pour prendre une telle décision?
Je lis également "je ne supporte pas qu'elle m'attaque sans même m'avoir consulté". Mais si, M. Frêche. Non seulement vous ai- je envoyé trois méls restés sans réponse, je suis venue vous parler au mois de juillet, au Corum, de la bibliothèque. Vous avez même demandé à un de vos chefs de cabinet de faire une note à M.Gudin de Vallerin, Directeur du réseau des médiathèques de Montpellier, en m'assurant que je serais tenue au courant.(cela n'a pas été le cas). Parlons-en de la consultation. Malgré les assurances répétées des personnes contactées à la Mairie que cette précieuse collection resterait intacte et accessible, il a fallu trois mois et demi et une lettre de ma part aux journaux vous accusant de préférer les statues aux livres avant qu'on ne m'accorde un rendez-vous pour m'entendre dire que je faisais le jeu des électeurs de M. Le Pen?? Je ne fais pas de politique M. Frêche, je ne sais même pas si M.Le Pen s'intéresse aux livres, j'essaie tout simplement de préserver la deuxième plus grande bibliothèque anglophone de France. Je ne suis pas seule, 2600 personnes ont signé une pétition pour sauver cette bibliothèque. Nous voulons simplement garder la collection intacte et accessible.
Je lis dans le même article du 30/09 que les livres anglophones trouveront refuge à Zola, cela n'est pas tout à fait exacte, 2500 y trouveront refuge. Que faites-vous du reste?
Vous dites "si ça doit faire un problème, on prendra les 30 000 livres et on les laissera pourrir sur une étagère à la médiathèque Emile Zola". A quoi je réplique, "oui, on veut garder les 30 000 livres mais pourquoi doivent-ils pourrir". Avez-vous si peu de respect pour les livres et pour cette collection, vous, historien, homme éclairé, que vous puissiez envisager de laisser moisir un tel trésor?
Deux villes, Nancy et Angers ont été confrontées au même problème. La bibliothèque américaine de Paris, la maison mère, s'est délestée de ses antennes provinciales. Ces deux villes ont pu s'entendre avec les différents acteurs en jeu (notamment les universités) et aujourd'hui elles jouissent de bibliothèques florissantes. Elles n'ont pas désherbé les collections, elles les ont gardé intactes au plus grand bonheur de tous; les étudiants, le grand public, la communauté anglophone. Montpellier devrait pouvoir en faire autant, ce n'est pas grand'chose à demander, n'en faites pas une affaire d'état, M. Frêche.
Citoyenne britannique, j'habite dans votre beau pays depuis 50 ans. J'espère ne pas être reconduite à la frontière du Languedoc Roussillon simplement parceque je défend les livres!
Victoria Metherell
(Présidente "Friends of the anglophone Library)