i went to PARIS | art, proust, & sightseeing

[@KetevanReads]

Love this trip! I always tell people not to come to Paris with a massive itinerary and a checklist of things to do every day. Wandering around, reading in cafés, a couple of museums and it's the ultimate Parisian experience. You're brave to stand on that line--I basically avoid Shakespeare from spring until fall. If you come back in winter time, it's a normal bookstore again!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! Yes, i learnt the hard way that first day of doing too much haha but it's a beautiful city and that's good to know re Shakespeare!

[@christinebarone7496]

I have had Mrs Dalloway on my reading list forever...this year is it I think. Thanks for taking us to Paris with you, it was lovely.

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for watching!

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Despite doing French in school for 5 yrs , I’ve never been to France. Thanks for taking us with you🤗

[@neilturner2368]

Thanks for doing this - great video! You’ve inspired me to venture into Proust, which I keep attempting and then get lured away by new releases and book prizes etc

[@ariannelg]

When I was living in France as an English reader Shakespeare was my go to bookstore (and another one in rivoli right by the park where it’s perfect to sit and read) and it’s not usually that busy except around holidays. I read les miserables while I was there but of course you can’t or shouldn’t do that in a weekend trip to Paris 😂 but I loved that you picked Proust for that! Great vlog and good to see you !

[@ariannelg]

I have this cliché dream of reading Mrs Dalloway while walking like her throughout London

[@somebenfen]

Yeah someone else had said it's far more quieter away from the summer, I'd love to be able to have a good rummage around. Thanks so much for watching!

[@oshrathalfon442]

You make us smarter and happier with every new video. Please stay.

[@somebenfen]

☺️☺️

[@djhedgepath7967]

Great video as always (thanks for taking us with you); it seemed like a fun, relaxing trip. Question - what edition is your Proust books because I'm having a hard time finding them?

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for watching! So they're the old Vintage classics editions, (their newer versions have the big flowers on the cover and the red spines) they're out of print now so you have to find them second hand which can be tricky!

[@shiningyoonie]

Reading Proust in France is suchhhh a flex!! Yasss Goddd!!

[@somebenfen]

I love this comment so much 😂😂

[@jamespolk5428]

Very happy for you! And even a bit jealous. Apart from the thrill of being out and about in a famous cultural Mecca, I have a novella concept that I’d love to conduct research for in Paris proper. You have such a lust for life that’s infectious, Benny Boy. Never lose that, chap 😉 Also, the temptation to make a “Monet Moves” joke in the impressionist exhibit must have been strong, haha! 😜

[@somebenfen]

Thanks James ☺️ I hope you get to go soon, it's a lovely city!

[@barbarahelgaker390]

What fun to join you on a trip to Paris - wonderful Paris!

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for following along! 😀

[@barbarahelgaker390]

@@somebenfen interested to hear your view on God of Small Things - I gave up on it several years ago.

[@johncrwarner]

I did the same museums as you but started at the Musée D'Orsay and then wandered through Paris to Centre Pompidou hitting loads of French language bookshops on the way. BTW you know that "middle of June" 1923 is the date of Mrs Dalloway so perhaps we should all read Mrs Dalloway in June as it is the centennial year!

[@danecobain]

Thanks for taking us along!

[@emmavd]

Great vlog, Ben, thanks!🌷

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for watching!

[@carolbresnahan1244]

Looks like you had a great time, I enjoyed watching 🌻

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! ☺️

[@janethansen9612]

I enjoyed your Paris trip (so many people). I had always seen Shakespeare & Co portrayed as a quiet little piece of bookstore history, was not expecting there to be a queue.

[@somebenfen]

Thank you 😊 Shakespeare & co is a very nice store, very friendly staff. It was very busy when I went but I was probably unlucky with my timing. I'll be interested to see how other vloggers try to portray it ha

[@whatpageareyouon]

Thanks for taking us along Ben! Also it feels like a personal victory for all of us getting to see you read Proust in Paris haha 🇫🇷 📚

[@somebenfen]

Aww thanks Alex! 😄😄

[@mame-musing]

Thanks for sharing your experience in Paris. I’m glad you enjoyed your getaway. Happily, it refreshed my memories of being there quite a few years ago. I DNF’d “...Small Things..”, just could not get into it. I hope you enjoy Mrs. Dalloway, I just finished “To the Lighthouse” - my first experience reading Virginia Woolf. The stream of consciousness style reminded me of Milkman by Anna Burns. I guess Burns was an admirer of Woolf. Best wishes for continuing your journey with Proust.

[@somebenfen]

Thanks so much! I'm really looking forward to reading Mrs D, I've read the waved and Orlando before so interested to see how this ranks.

[@naomilexii]

Such a great vlog, Ben, I really enjoyed it 😊I'm actually going to Paris soon as well, so this was really fun to watch :)

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! Enjoy your trip :)

[@sandra7319.]

Bought Proust in England and Ms. Dalloway in France!! It totally works and the vlog was fantastic! or Fantastique!! You said you wanted to mix up your channel, well that was great!

[@somebenfen]

Aww thank you!

[@curioushmm9027]

that was an unexpected treat especially since i'm reading a memoir by tony judt 'the memory chalet' and he recalls with great love taking the train and ferry to paris. loved also seeing some of the street and museum footage..thanks for sharing.and i'm delighted you had this vacation.

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! ☺️

[@andrewskinner4614]

You’re so wonderful and could listen to you all day ❤

[@sgriffin9960]

Wow! That was fun to watch! I’ve tried to read Swann’s Way three times but never made it through!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! It's a tough old slog haha but I'm buddy reading it so I think that's helping.

[@penelopegough6050]

Thanks

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

I had a semi-frustrating day today, and I needed the laugh. Thanks.

[@somebenfen]

Sorry to hear that, I'm glad you had a laugh though, thanks for watching 😊

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

This was great fun! Thanks for taking us along. Love the art and books. It's been about 20 years since I've been to Paris. I must get back there. I really enjoyed the use of language in The God Small Things. Some beautiful lines but the story has not stayed with me. 😊💙

[@yenasung]

Lovely vlog!! So jealous you saw the pierre bonnard cat painting ❤️ I love kandinsky and my lower back is already hurting in solidarity as my seoul trip is nigh upon me!

[@somebenfen]

Haha hamstring stretches! I had a bit of a Kandinsky phase when i was younger lol and I'd never seen that cat painting before, it's glorious 😂

[@yenasung]

@@somebenfen no notes indeed 💯

[@seashanties8927]

This was lovely!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! ☺️

[@originaltwyla4991]

Thank you for taking me to Paris with you!

[@somebenfen]

😊😊

[@sophieschmaltz4206]

5:09 good to see she's back!!

[@somebenfen]

Yes! ☺️ A fair bit still under work it looked like but looking good

[@bibliobelle5586]

Great vlog! Just curious which hotel you stayed in? I’ve been to Paris once and stayed at Hotel Diana (I think that’s the name) and your hotel room/view reminded me of when I went!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! I stayed at Hotel Basss which is near Sacre Couer :)

[@astrieddwiastuti2358]

I've been stuck in Prisoner n Fugitive for awhile, though am starting to pick it up again. Nice to know somebody else will be reading it too at the same time! :)

[@somebenfen]

I'm looking forward to it!

[@-ParisTexas-]

Oooh, the summer exhibition. I'm jealous. I only recently found out about that and it seems amazing. I'd love to see it.

[@somebenfen]

It was really awesome, and very inspiring too! Def check it out if you're in London before end of August!

[@-ParisTexas-]

@@somebenfen Unfortunately, yesterday was the last day. I just checked. Next year!

[@ludd7929]

Bonjour 😀 Good you enjoyed your trip in Paris. I think Balzac is a great author, hope you will enjoy to read him too (he wrote many novels and novellas...)

[@somebenfen]

Bonjour! I'm looking forward to reading Lost Illusions!

[@penelopegough6050]

It was splendid! I just discovered the $ Thanks button. Is that new? Pressed it anyway, hope it goes to you!!! I too am having a break but in rural Victoria and looking at heaps of art - silo art! Am in an area full of history and reading a history of Ned Kelly by Peter Carey. I loved your trip

[@somebenfen]

Thanks so much! That sounds fab. (And yes, the $ is new, not sure how it all works haha but thank you!)

[@Thomas-fu8vp]

Do you wear contacts? With all that reading. Flaneuring is best done in the chillier months. The scarf, the headgear, the furlined coat..... Yes, like MP.

[@JosieGoms]

Un gran descubrimiento 👏🏽

[@somebenfen]

☺️☺️

[@teresateri4803]

looks like a fab trip. thanks for sharing. 📖📚👍

[@somebenfen]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@sophieschmaltz4206]

i cant believe you wore jeans in the heat!!!! respect

[@somebenfen]

Haha! I actually found a public loo and changed to shorts then never looked back 😂

[@SavidgeReads]

Loooooooved this. Oh my flipping heck. Haha. I always think I don’t love Paris as much as I do. I don’t know why that is… but now you’ve made me want to go back. Sodom and Gomorrah in Paris eh?!?

[@somebenfen]

I really enjoyed it! Obvs some bits nicer than others lol but it's a lovely city. S&G is wild 😄😳

[@Nastya-uj9bg]

Just recently finally bought myself to the lighthouse and Waves! My first Woolf. For whatever reason I don't want to read Mrs D, maybe because of Nicole Kidman??!

[@somebenfen]

Hahaha I was obsessed with that film when I was younger but never got round to reading the book (cunningham's or Mrs D) so will see what this is like!

[@ale950921]

10\10

[@somebenfen]

☺️☺️

[@ismael4463]

you are almost beautiful

[@somebenfen]

I should start an "almost beauty channel" 😂

[@ismael4463]

@@somebenfen I'm sure you would be amazing, as you already are as a booktuber.