Electra

Self portrait of a bookworm. Not sure the « worm » word fits into this community of fly fishermen, right ? But don’t worry, I’m only hooked on books. Well, I grew up in Nantes but as a little girl I spent all my summers in the countryside going fishing with my Dad. Pikes and eels mostly, lots of catch and release. The little girl I was grew up, studied foreign languages, travelled quite a lot. Studied and worked abroad, mostly in the US, I even went fishing into the Mississippi river in Minneapolis. Loved New York and Seattle but I spent more time in Tennessee and Montana. Many road trips later, I’ve learned to know quite well this country. I’ve seen travelled a lot in Europe and to Africa and Asia (where I fostered elephants and gibbons in a wild refuge center).

I’ve got a regular job. A very serious one. I read around 100 books a year, in French or in English. I enjoy both. Lots of nature writers such as Jim Harrison, Norman Mclean, or storytellers about the ordinary people of the Midwest such as Kent Haruf or Bruce Machart, Annie Proulx and back to the wild West with Pete Fromm in Idaho. I also enjoy reading westerns, Lonesome Dove of Larry McMurtry is a must, as well as The Shootist or Homesman by Glendon Swarthout. And of course, I have to mention Carl Hiassen and his novels, such as Double Whammy where the big game fishing is definitely an art. What about the fly fisherman Jim Tenuto and his Bloody Atonement ? Even Burke in his novel Swan Peak brings us back to this sport.

So I started to blog about movies and travels, then I opened a different blog dedicated to books only, Tombée du ciel.  A great way to meet other people also passionate about books or nature writing. I try, to communicate my enthusiasm and admiration for writers who know how to write and especially about the ones who write about Dame Nature. Not always the most famous ones, I have in mind the great Kem Nunn when he writes about the Pacific ocean and surfing or William Giraldi and David Vann who take us both in the wild Alaska.

My other readings are mostly about the Native American culture. My other hobbies include photography, good cuisine, fine wine, as any good French woman, and fine arts in general. And I enjoy travelling on my own.

A fortnight ago, one funny guy from the Mouching’s website has asked me to write books reviews on his website. I said yes because I’m always happy to get into a new adventure. So, if you please, I’m going to invite myself around here and share my last book crushes with you. I’m always looking for great books, so if you have any titles in mind, don’t hesitate to share ! Even if you haven’t read them. I’ll write my reviews both in French and English. One last tidbit about me : I, sometimes, mention my little weenie – guys, it’s only my dog (a mini doxie). So relax and talk to ya soon !

Electra electra@lemouching.com