An anthology of French Christmas short stories, from 19th century classics to contemporary, up to and including stories published in 2017.  "Nobody does Christmas like the French" is, of course, monumental sales hyperbole (and that's not even taking into account the ubiquitous non-French usual suspects like Dickens's Christmas Carol and E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nutcracker), but the stories included are enjoyable enough, even if (on balance) a bit on the preachy side.

 

Since several of these stories are set in Paris, I'm using this as my book for the 24 Festive Tasks - International Day for Tolerance square.  Since one of the anthologized stories is by Irène Némirovsky, I'm also using it for the "N" square of the Women Writers Bingo.

 

The volume 3 of the Full Metal Alcehmist books, it was very depitive of the adventure of the Elric brothers.The first and second book full metal alchemist is about two brothers names Edward and Alphonse Elric.The two brothers have gone through a great ordeal since there mother died.When the Elric brothers, mother died they tried to "bring her back" with special alchemy.Edward gave his arm for his mother,but the ritual went wrong and sucked in his arm and his brothers whole body.The ritual didnt work because it was unstable,it messed with "Gods domain".After the ritual went wrong,Alphonse's entire body was sent into the gate,Eric had to give up his leg to bind his brothers body to a suit of armor.He couldnt save his body so he saved his soul, im guessing his brother didnt want to die and Ed knew this so he saved his soul.After this event Ed had to go get a mechanical arm and leg,the procedure is pretty painful but he endurded.He and his brother have become the two most famous alchemist, and they help people while helping themselves.

Alphonse Mucha - Agnes Husslein-Arco,Jea... I have a weakness for Mucha, this is an inspirational catalogue of a decent representation of his work along with some commentary about his inspirations and motivations for some of it.

It's mostly a coffee table book, though the ink appears to have a somewhat funky smell, the colour illustrations are quite beautiful and you often get sketches and finished object side by side.

One I enjoyed, thought it is fairly hefty.

If I remember correctly - and chances are that I don’t - Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) was born during the peak of the Impressionism, mostly as a response to the increase of mass production and industrialism and the "ugliness" of the thereby inspired art and architecture. Instead, Jugendstil feels like an ode to the imagination, to the beauty of nature and to romance. I’m so very fond of it!

And of course this art style is inextricably linked to the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. He died in Prague in 1939 due to pneumonia, shortly after German troops moved into Czechoslovakia and he was arrested by the Gestapo. Although he was released before his death, according to rumors the turn of events had weakened the aging artist considerably. During his life however, he created some of what I consider to be beautiful examples of the Jugendstil.

They're all in Alphonse Mucha by Rosalind Ormiston. And although viewing these paintings in a reduced size does not do them justice at all and the accompanying texts are mostly unnecessary, this book still is a feast of gorgeous, dreamy colors and flowing forms.

Le petit chose - Alphonse Daudet Like [b:David Copperfield|58696|David Copperfield|Charles Dickens|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309281852s/58696.jpg|4711940] Le petit chose ([b:Little What's-His-Name|7058670|Little What's-His-Name (Le Petit Chose. French Classics)|Alphonse Daudet|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347467940s/7058670.jpg|1302899]) is semi autobiographical work. This is a story of young, petit Daniel. He was born in wealthy family but soon after his birth family's fortune turned for the worse.Daniel is spineless and faint-hearted but at the same time he is well wishing and meaning, good and naive that I found myself liking him very much.