16.05 - When Books Fight Back & Temples Whisper
In this FREE le Bulletin immerse yourself: France's love affair with print endures, Paris reveals its sacred soul, and AI learns that French books may be harder than they look.
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today, at the beginning of a new year! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find these wonderful fresh articles taking you to France beyond the cliché,
Don’t miss the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin in your inbox: “16.04.a - .“ It’s not too late to upgrade & read it←
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 7.2.2026
1. MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
Our list of valued Contributors →
a) France, where print is not dead
by Kathryn Ivey
I recently read that I am a part of a niche generational group called the Xennials. Those born in the late 1970s and early 1980s are a cross-over group who sit between Generation X and the Millennials, not quite identifying fully at either end of the range.”
According to Wikipedia, “Xennials are described as having had an analog childhood and a digital young adulthood. They are almost exclusively the children of baby boomers and came of age during a rapidly changing period that was the 1990s.” When I read this, it made complete sense…” writes Kathryn Ivey.
b) 24 Hours of Spirit in Paris
by Patricia Russo
An interfaith pilgrimage through the city’s sacred sites.”
Within a single day, you can encounter nearly every great tradition of the world: Catholic vigils, Buddhist mantras, Hindu pujas, Islamic hammams, Jewish song, Marian chapels, and interfaith silences.”
Together, they weave a living temple across the arrondissements.”
This guide offers one possible way to spend 24 hours moving through all of them. It is not about rushing or collecting, but about entering the rhythm of devotion.”
Choose what resonates, pause often, and let Paris meet you as a pilgrim...” writes Patricia Russo..
c) French Book Recommendations From AI—Be Careful What You Ask For
by Keith Van Sickle
I love reading in French and am always looking for book recommendations. So I thought, why not use AI? Maybe I’ll get some good ideas. And I did, but it wasn’t as straightforward as I had hoped.”
Getting Started
I’m not an AI user, and I wasn’t sure how to pose my question, so I googled it and got an answer from Google’s AI. In other words, AI was helping me use AI...” writes Keith Van Sickle.
3. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife™ Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Chers amis (dear friends)
This week reminded me why I love what we do here. Kathryn is defending print like it’s a sacred art (because it is). Patricia is mapping a spiritual journey I want to take tomorrow. Keith is proving that even AI can’t quite capture the French soul ;)
These aren’t just articles—they’re invitations:
To slow down. To look up. To remember that the best things in life refuse to be rushed, digitised, or simplified.
Your free subscription connects you to these stories every week. But remember that there’s more waiting for you in the PAID edition—” Deep-dive French culture articles”, exclusive features, our “Writers’ Room” Contributor profiles, and conversations where you meet the humans behind these words.
Come join us? We’d love to have you.
À bientôt, mes amis,
Judy x
judy@myfrenchlife.org
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