La Première Gorgée de Biere, which can be translated as The Small Pleasures of Life or We Could Almost Eat Outside, actually means ‘the first sip of beer’. It was chosen by Emma from Book Around the Corner for my 2013 Humbook.

It consists of récits, which are brief meditations on the simple pleasures of life. Although I could have purchased it in English for my Kindle, I decided to buy the French edition. This was to revive my school French in preparation for my next trip, which I hope will be in 2015.

Fishpond didn't have it in their catalogue initially, but due to their excellent personalised service, they now do, along with other books by Delerm.

The récits are one or two-page stories, so if you have some basic French knowledge and a dictionary, they aren't too difficult to translate. So far, I've found that I can understand the general idea of Delerm's thoughts on the first reading, and then I need to refer to the dictionary.

I have more difficulties with irregular verbs and tenses (tenses have always been my weakness), and of course, some idioms completely elude me. For these, I try using Google Translate, but the results are usually quite humorous.

To see my clumsy attempts at translating one of these récits, please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2014/02/09/la...

Surtout le Banana Split

The Banana Split is truly a remarkable dessert.

It consists of a long, ripe banana split lengthwise and placed in a dish.

On top of the banana, a generous amount of ice cream is added. There are usually three scoops of different flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Then, a variety of toppings are drizzled over the ice cream. These can include hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream, and chopped nuts.

The combination of the sweet banana, creamy ice cream, and decadent toppings creates a symphony of flavors and textures in your mouth.

It is a dessert that is not only delicious but also visually appealing.

Whether enjoyed on a hot summer day or as a special treat, the Banana Split is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and bring a smile to your face.

So, the next time you're in the mood for a truly indulgent dessert, don't forget about Surtout le Banana Split.

This is tender, overflowing with nostalgia, and has a clairvoyant vision of the daily pleasures that we no longer take notice of.

It is a small happiness to read.

It seems to transport us back to a time when simple things brought great joy.

The words are like a gentle breeze, caressing our hearts and awakening our senses.

We are reminded of the beauty that surrounds us every day, if only we would stop and look.

Whether it's the warmth of the sun on our faces, the smell of freshly baked bread, or the sound of a child's laughter, these are the pleasures that make life worth living.

This piece of writing is a precious gem, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the little things in life.

It is a source of inspiration and a haven of peace in a busy world.

Let us all take a moment to read and reflect on these words, and find our own small happiness within.

Oi, kui tore väike retk! This little journey through the author's described simple and charming moments is truly a delight. The book consists of these moments, some of which we have surely all experienced in life, perhaps without even noticing. Many of them evoke a pleasant warm feeling (such as reading on the beach, Agatha Christie novels, the rustle of autumn leaves or the feeling of the last days of summer), awakening certain special memories that bring joy. Some of the moments I couldn't quite identify with, but the author's delightfully sharp, beautiful and detailed writing style was able to transport me instantly into his own memories.

In any case, I recommend this book to everyone. If, like me, you have also thought about and even tried to notice and enjoy these little special moments in life, then you will surely enjoy this book too! It is also a great exercise for stimulating creativity and practicing gratitude - try to think about and why not also write down for yourself those little enjoyable moments that could be put together into such a book.

A restful reading can drive away negative thoughts. We cannot expect anything else from this book. I am content with just that... a fleeting, yet intense moment of carefreeness.

From the book:

\\n  \\n    It snows inside us, in an inaccessible winter where lightness triumphs over heaviness.\\n  \\n

This simple statement holds a profound truth. The idea of an internal winter, a place within us that is cold and perhaps a bit mysterious, is both captivating and relatable. The contrast between lightness and heaviness is also a powerful one. It makes us think about how sometimes, even in the midst of our own personal winters, we can find moments of lightness and freedom. These moments can be like a breath of fresh air, helping us to let go of the burdens that weigh us down and to embrace a sense of carefreeness.

A Pearl of Reading!

I read this little book as if I were flipping through an old photo album.

This collection of very short texts is pure emotion. The memories, the sensations that Philippe Delerm shares with us with a lot of tenderness in his writing. Many of them reminded me of my own childhood memories: the train compartments or the warm croissants on Sunday mornings. Others were like sepia photos. Memories that I haven't shared but that have the flavor of those that my parents or grandparents told me.

This book is a nostalgia bomb that you may or may not savor, it all depends on your age or your generation.

For my part, at 50 years old, it was a real pleasure.

It took me on a journey through time, allowing me to relive those precious moments of my past. The simple and yet powerful language used by Delerm made it easy for me to connect with the stories and feel the emotions he was trying to convey.

Whether you are young or old, this book is worth reading. It might just bring back some forgotten memories or create new ones.

Doux et réconfortant, ce charmant petit livre explore les minuscules plaisirs qui ont le pouvoir de transformer la vie quotidienne en une succession de moments extra-ordinaires. Le parfum délicat des pommes, la première gorgée rafraîchissante de bière, le journal agréablement feuilleté lors du petit-déjeuner sont tous ces instants précieux que Delerm redécouvre et partage avec nous ici. Il écrit avec une joie contagieuse, tout en restant serein et lucide. C'est un véritable petit délice à lire, capable de faire sourire et de remplir le cœur d'une douceur ineffable. Chaque page est comme une invitation à découvrir les merveilles cachées dans les simples choses de la vie. Lisez-le et laissez-vous transporter par cette ode aux plaisirs simples et authentiques.

A highly pleasurable read awaits you as Delerm takes us on a journey through the ephemeral happiness found in seemingly ordinary daily events. Each observation is composed into 2 - 3 pages, presenting a vivid and detailed account. The language he uses is not only descriptive but also poetic, painting a beautiful picture in the reader's mind. The Swedish translation is excellent, further enhancing the reading experience.

Although Delerm is a Frenchman and his experiences may sometimes lean a bit towards Eurocentrism, one can hardly fault him for describing what he sees in the world around him. The book is so engaging that it is difficult to put down and can easily be devoured in one sitting. Moreover, it has the charm to invite the reader to return to their favorite passages time and again, savoring the words and the emotions they evoke.

Overall, this book truly deserves the praise it has received. It offers a unique perspective on the simple joys of life and reminds us to look for the beauty in the ordinary.

Des petits moments de bonheur, pas plus de trois pages. These are the simple pleasures in life that often go unnoticed but are truly precious. Having a knife in your pocket, shelling small weights, staying at a friend's place for a meal unexpectedly, going out early in the morning on tiptoe to buy croissants, and of course, that first sip of beer. What a brilliant idea to tell about these ordinary yet so precious things. In an absolutely enthusiastic language, Philippe Delerm treats us.

I recommend that, in order to provide one of these moments to your guests, you place a copy of this small book prominently on the bedside table for them. They can then savor some of these stories before falling asleep and will remember this pleasant moment for a long time.

http://www.aubonroman.com/2010/10/la-...

A small booklet, to be read when one allows oneself the luxury of a mind-relaxing break.

The pages turn quickly, yet it has an enormous strength: it teaches us to observe again with wonder all the details of the environment that surrounds us, and to retain the pleasant sensations to remember them in the future, as if they were little madeleines.

Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of daily life, we forget to slow down and notice the beauty and the little joys that are right in front of us. This booklet serves as a gentle reminder. It encourages us to take a moment, look around, and truly see the world. Whether it's the way the sunlight filters through the leaves, the colors of a flower, or the sound of a bird chirping, these details can bring us a sense of peace and happiness. By learning to appreciate them and hold onto those feelings, we can add a touch of magic to our ordinary days.

La première gorgée de bière et autres plaisirs minuscules was recommended in an article I read. In this article, French bookstore owners and librarians suggested books for intermediate level French readers. Philippe Delerm's book is truly a charming collection of récits that revolve around the petite pleasures of life. Its style is somewhat reminiscent of Roland Barthes' Mythologies.

The book is a mix of sweet and funny moments. However, I think that some of the intended humor might have been lost in translation for me. Among the many récits that Delerm muses upon, there are several that stand out. For example, \\"Le croissant du trottoir\\", \\"On pourrait presque manger dehors\\", and of course, the titular \\"La première gorgée de bière\\".

These are all everyday sorts of pleasures. They are the little things that we often take for granted. For me, having come from a colder climate and having lived in Southern California for half of my life, the pleasures of autumn hold a special charm. I love being able to wear autumn sweaters, something that is not always possible in my part of the world. The smell of apples and the possibility of almost being able to eat outdoors are also wonderful.

These little pleasures are things that we often overlook until they are denied us. For me now, as I write this, it's the first sip of coffee in the morning that I truly relish. It's warm and velvety, and it gives the illusion that my body is just now waking up, even though I've already been up for twenty or thirty minutes. This magic elixir awakens my senses and makes the minutiae of the day more bearable.

Reading in a bath, kneading a dough, strumming on a ukulele - these are all small things that can make life feel a bit more enjoyable and a little less heavy. They are the kinds of pleasures that Delerm writes about so beautifully in his book, and they are the pleasures that we should all take the time to appreciate.

34 brief reflections by Delerm on the "minor pleasures", the small things that make daily life pleasant.

From the childish satisfaction of looking through a kaleidoscope to the inescapable discomfort of reading on the beach. Reading this book is, in itself, a minor pleasure, because of the brevity of its chapters, the lightness of the subject matter, and the beauty of the prose. Naturally, the degree of enjoyment depends on the degree of coincidence with the tastes of the author, unmercifully French.

The acceleration of time has added an aspect that probably Delerm did not expect. This book was published in 1997 but many of the pleasures described my daughters will no longer know: they will neither call from a phone booth, nor hear the buzz of the bicycle dynamo, nor dedicate the Sunday morning to reading the newspaper. I hope they will still know the cinema.

There will always be that first sip of beer.