Archives: Events

The library is pleased to offer a showing of “Adaptation”.

Adaptation is a 2002 American comedy-drama metafilm directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film is based on Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book The Orchid Thief and stars Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep with Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston and Maggie Gyllenhaal in supporting roles.

The self-loathing Charlie Kaufman is hired to write the screenplay for The Orchid Thief. Kaufman is going through depression and is not happy that his twin brother Donald has moved into his house and is mooching from him. Donald decides to become a screenwriter like Charlie and attends one of Robert McKee’s famous seminars. Charlie, who rejects formulaic script writing, wants to ensure that his script is a faithful adaptation of The Orchid Thief. However, he comes to realize that the book does not have a usable narrative and that it is impossible to turn into a film, leaving him with a serious case of writer’s block. Already well over his deadline with Columbia Pictures, and despairing at writing his script with self-reference, Charlie travels to New York to discuss the screenplay with Orlean directly. Unable to face her and with the surprising news that Donald’s spec script for a clichéd psychological thriller, called The 3, is selling for six or seven figures, Kaufman resorts to attending McKee’s seminar in New York and asks him for advice. Charlie ends up asking Donald to join him in New York to assist with the story structure. Donald pretends to be Charlie and interviews Orlean, but is suspicious of her account of the events of her book because she acts as though she is lying. He and his brother Charlie follow Orlean to Florida where she meets Laroche, the orchid-stealing protagonist of Orlean’s book and her secret lover. It is revealed that the Seminole wanted the ghost orchid in order to manufacture a drug that causes fascination; Laroche introduces this drug to Orlean. After Laroche and Orlean catch Charlie observing them taking the drug and having sex, she decides that Charlie must die. Orlean forces Charlie at gunpoint to drive to the swamp, where she intends to kill him. Charlie and Donald escape and hide in the swamp, where they resolve their differences and Charlie’s problems with women. Laroche accidentally shoots Donald. Fleeing, Charlie and Donald drive off but crash into a ranger’s truck; Donald dies in the accident. Charlie runs off into the swamp to hide but is spotted by Laroche. However, Laroche is killed by an alligator before being able to kill Charlie. Orlean is arrested. Charlie makes up with his mother, tells his former love interest Amelia that he is still in love with her, and finishes the script. It ends with Charlie in a voice-over announcing the script is finished and that he wants Gérard Depardieu to portray him in the film.

Screening begins at 15:00 sharp. This activity is free of charge for all library members. Please sign up at the front desk in advance if possible. A discussion in English will follow the film.

Treat yourself to an afternoon of a collective reading of Shakespeare. The activity consists of watching a BBC production on DVD and then reading relative scenes. This is a great activity for lovers of language and fans of the great wit. The activity is free for library members. Please sign up at the front desk.

Come along and bring your knitting,

Have a natter while you’re sitting,

Or learn to knit with wool provided,

Needles loaned and stitches guided.

Knitted garments are très chic,

So be in vogue and start this week.

Knit and natter is a free activity open to all members and generally runs each Friday except during school holidays. No need to reserve, just come and enjoy yourself!

This is a special moment when the community gathers together to talk about everything and anything (…in English of course!) and sips coffee and tea. Coffee House is free and open to all library members. Just drop in, no need to reserve! Coffee house is every Friday except during school holidays.

In collaboration with the MIEL the library is pleased to invite you to an evening of readings in French by the author.

Luc-Michel Fouassier est né en 1968 et vit en région parisienne. Révélé par des publications en revues (Harfang, Rue Saint-Ambroise…) il connait un réel succès en 2008 dès son premier recueil Histoires Jivaro (100 micro-nouvelles de 100 mots). Depuis, 3 recueils publiés aux éditions Quadrature alternent avec 3 romans publiés aux éditions Luce Wilquin. Grand Défenseur de la nouvelle, il est aussi depuis une dizaine d’années l’organisateur du Salon d’Ozoir-la-Ferrière et du Prix Ozoir’elles.

Bibliographie

Histoires Jivaro nouvelles Quadrature 2008

Les hommes à lunettes … nouvelles Quadrature 2010

Un si proche éloignement roman Luce Wilquin 2011

Fragments d’un fait d’hier roman Luce Wilquin 2013

Le Zilien roman Luce Wilquin 2014

Deux ans de vacances et plus nouvelles Quadrature 2016

Once a month the library offers a CV and cover letter workshop. Please bring in your materials to have an English-speaker correct them. No need to sign up! This activity is free for members of the library. Dates for the coming months are March 31st and April 28th.

The Garden Club starts up each new year with a seed exchange…otherwise known as the Great Cake Extravaganza.This is a fun afternoon of discussion on what gardens to visit in 2016.

If you would like to join the Garden Club and receive invitations to the outings in private and public gardens one Thursday afternoon a month between the months of April and October. The Garden Club is free of charge to members of the library. For more information please send an email to the President.

The pizza and board games evening is scheduled one Tuesday a month from 6-8 pm. Cost is 7 euros (covers pizza and non-alcoholic drinks, 5 euros for children 12 and under and native English speakers). No reservations necessary, just come and enjoy! Upcoming dates for 2016 are February 23rd, March 15th, April 19th, May 24th and June 14th.

The library is pleased to invite you to a concert of young boys from England. Warwickshire County Boys Choir brings together well over 100 enthusiastic boy singers between the ages of 8 and 14 to perform and experience a wide repertoire. Approximately 25 will be traveling to France for this tour.

Reservations possible, call the library or send an email. Just come and enjoy the concert! Donations will be accepted in order to cover costs.

The February read for the bookclub is “The Dinner” by Herman Koch: a summer’s evening in Amsterdam and two couples meet at a fashionable restaurant. Between mouthfuls of food and over the polite scrapings of cutlery, the conversation remains a gentle hum of polite discourse – the banality of work, the triviality of holidays. But behind the empty words, terrible things need to be said, and with every forced smile and every new course, the knives are being sharpened.

Upcoming dates for 2016 are February 19th, March 18th, April 22nd, May 20th & June 17th.