wordelicious:

“THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU DON’T THROW OUT IN FRANCE – BREAD AND BOOKS” http://buff.ly/Lqp4Mo (via NYT)

I’ve been living in Paris for 6 weeks now while having an internship and I have noted that the French, in general, seem to be a more literary-centric society than the United States. Everywhere I look in Paris I see somebody reading a book. I’d say 75% of daily commuters on the metro/rer pull out a book. Attorneys in courtrooms waiting for their case to be called read to pass the time. If the sun is shining, every park you pass you’re sure to see at least five people out and reading. And what I love about the French literary-culture is that this crosses all age groups and genders. It’s been refreshing living in such a book-centric city. (And it’s true the French almost never throw out their bread, usually a family will finish an entire baguette in one day and if not they use the bread for chevre chaud.)