Published by 3C Style
Scientific journalist, author and fashion blogger from Montreal - Journaliste scientifique, auteure et blogueuse mode de Montréal
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My friend Darren (a.k.a. The Arty Plantsman) has nominated me for this tag. I’m glad he did. I normally don’t do these things, but this time I just couldn’t resist. I am thrill to take part in this Harry Potter Book Tag as I am a huge J. K. Rowling fan and an eclectic reader.
The Harry Potter Book Tag was created by Trang and Lashaan at Bookidote (who also made these wonderful graphics for us to use). Important rule: you can’t use any of the HP books in the answer. *smirk*
A book you found the theme interesting, but you’d like to rewrite it.
Beauty and the Beast. What if the beast was the woman? We’d probably have a different ending.


The first book in a series that got you hooked.
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Epic. World Without End is also remarkable. Beautiful characters, romance and intrigue makes for a full experience.

A book you wish you could have right now.
Perfume: the story of a murderer by Patrick Süskind. I recently order it for a friend and I can’t wait to give it to him. I read this novel when I was a teenager and that got me thinking a lot about social isolation. This is a story about not belonging in the world and the negative effects this can have on one’s mind. It’s also a story about obsession, a singular pursuit of an ideal regardless of the costs.


A killer book. Both senses. Take it as you like.
Agatha Christie’s novels introduced me to the joy of fashion at a very young age. Christie brings characters to life through her descriptions of deco fashions from the 20s & 30s – dainty dresses, beaded frocks and glamorous evening gowns. I got hooked, both on fashion and the Queen of crimes. Pick any Christie book and I’m happy. Here’s Christie’s first novel.

By the way, did you know that Agatha Christie and her first husband Archie called their house Styles after The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
A book that you found really confusing.
Illuminatus. None of it made sense!
And since I am feeling a bit rebellious…

I shall name another really confusing book:
How to talk about books you haven’t read by Pierre Bayard. The author’s premise is, “Why waste time reading Joyce and Proust when you can skim the work of others?” Definitely not in my wheelhouse, but some of Bayard’s arguments made me giggle.


Your spirit animal book.
My spirit animal is a fox – emblematic of intelligence! Maybe I should actually own some books with a fox in them. Wait! I have Fox in Sox by Dr Seuss. I also have yet to read The Fantastic Mr Fox by Ronald Dahl. Ok – I’m not a very good fox!

A dark twisted book.
You pick one for me! My dark and twisted may be your sunshine and rainbows.

A book that surprised you in a great way, reveals more than it is.
Every good book reveals something more upon multiple reads – too many to count! But if I have to pick one that really surprised me I’d say Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I’m not a ‘tragedy – struggle to fit in’ type of reader, but I thought maybe I’d better read this one book because so many loved it… It moved me tremendously. It’s all about acceptance and the courage it sometimes takes to be a friend.

Thank you Darren for giving me the opportunity to talk about one of life’s simplest but most satisfying pleasures: books –this was fun. Now, I fell light as a feather!

I tag these three keen readers: Lisa, Ortensia and Cathi.
And anyone else who wants to take part too! 🙂

Much love to you all!
If you liked this post, you’ll love these
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As an avid book reader, I find that most of Bayard’s arguments are ludicrous. While I agree that you can convince a lot of people that you have read a certain book by just using your superficial knowledge of the book (since they most likely haven’t read it too!), I wouldn’t do that. I’d rather admit that I haven’t read a book and look like a fool at that moment than to pretend that I read it by talking about some of the miniscule information that I know about the book with a sprinkle of BS.
It would be akin to those mathematicians who talk about specialized topics they barely know anything about as if they know them just to impress other mathematicians who also don’t know those specialized topics. Sometimes, they’re unfortunate enough to talk to someone who really does know the topic. It’s so awkward and painful to watch them making fools of themselves…
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I totally agree with you, Edmark. I was actually curious about what Bayard had to say and wanted to make my own mind about this book. As silly as his premise is, I think It is still worth the read… I wouldn’t recommend to buy it, but rather to borrow it from the library. About the lying, same goes with little things in life. While I was in L.A. I once heard a lady say to a friend that she spoke French. I was so happy to be able to speak my maternel language so I spoke to her in French. Unfortunately, she did not understand a word I said. It was an awkward moment to say the least. Thanks so much for your comment on my blog. Truly, I always enjoy reading you.
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I borrowed it from a friend a few years ago. Bayard is a French literature professor so it’s a shame for him to claim to be a “non-reader”. The French literature is full of gems and it’s so deep to be understood by just skimming.
I agree that there are books that are meant to be skimmed. Nevertheless, skimming the works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Milton or Poe and claim that you read them is ridiculous. I personally have skimmed many books over the years either to find something, to have a broader understanding of it or to see if it’s worth reading. However, if I have to talk about a book that I have only skimmed, I won’t profess that I read it fully. I know that I can get away with it most of the time but I think that doing so is disingenious.
Bayard argued that you don’t have to read the whole book to “understand” it. As a reader, you have to be creative enough to come up with your own interpretation. Also, it’s important that you’re aware of the public’s knowledge of a book (e.g. what people generally know about The Lord of the Rings) so you’d be able to also talk about it together with your own interpretation (the BS you came up with). I agree with it to an extent, but I’d only “analyze” a book after reading it as I’m not that pretentious to offer my load of wit on something I hardly understood.
Yes, that’s what I’m talking about and it happens more often than many may think. For example, when people talk about classic literature with me, I can easily tell those who don’t know what they’re talking about. They assume that as a mathematician, it’s “safe” for them to talk about literature with me since I must barely know anything about it. I just don’t want to call them out since that would be too embarrassing for them.
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So fun! Love the outfit, too!💚
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💚💚💚 Enjoy your vacation Sis!
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Driving now. We were so close to Lisa!! I so wanted to message her, but we have a 10 hour drive and want to get to our destination before dark.
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Oooh poor you. That must have been a difficult decision to make.
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And I am sure she would like a little warning!😂😉
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Perhaps, you could meet her for a tea on your way back home?
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We have to leave at 5am to get back in time for an event that evening! Crazy schedule, but exciting.
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That’s too bad. Enjoy hiking and take lots of pictures. xoxo
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Beautiful post. Well, I’m still wondering how did I miss reading any of the Agatha’s novel.😂
And yeah, I’ve started just recently, a YouTube channel. subscribe if you liked it. :):) Hope you’ll.😘
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuhCrplZW926m5Y0Bl5AMfw?view_as=subscriber
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On my way to look at it Shreya.
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It is very nice to see you drawing, Shreya. My daughter would love your video. I will send her your link.
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Haha. Thank you so much for supporting me. :):):)
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My pleasure. You are very talented! 😊
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Only as much as you take me to be. :):):)
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😊
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Wow… Lovely books this was a fab tag Dominique.. You have chosen fabulously
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This was so much fun to read–we have a lot of the same ideas in literature. :o)
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Now I am curious. Would you like me to tag you next time?
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Nooooooo. I often don’t make time to be tagged. But, I do thank you!
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That’s what I thought… You have so much on your plate already. Hope everything is alright with you. Sending a big hug your way.
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bless you!
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🌼💕🌼💕🌼
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Such a fun post, Dominique! And it’s no wonder we get along so well – I looove foxes!!! 😄 Though my spirit animal is a wolf. 😉 And I didn’t know Agatha Christie named her house after her first book, what a wonderful thing to do! xoxo 💕
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I think of you as a beautiful bird, but I love wolf! About Christie -It’s a cool thing to do indeed. I was thinking of doing the same but my first book title is Can love make you mad? (In French though) That means I would have to name my house The Mad House! Hehe… That’s not far from the truth. 💕
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LOL! The Mad House actually sounds rather good to me, definitely memorable. 😉 And now I need to see if I can get my hands on a copy of your book!! Even if my French won´t be good enough to read it, or at least to understand it very well. 😉 xoxo
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Haha, that’s what my hubby said! It would be my pleasure to send you a copy of my book. Good way to practice your French. Just send me your address by email. 😊💕
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I will!! 😀 Thank you! 💗
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My pleasure! 😀
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I read this soon after you posted it but am now just getting round to commenting. I really enjoyed this post Dominique. It gives a great deal of insight into your intellect and I like what it tells me. Most of your choices are not familiar to me but I know how much you liked The Perfume, and that you are a huge Agatha Christie fan.
The fox? Interesting and appropriate. Lovely reading more about you. x
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Thank you again for the tag. I had fun doing this.
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So did I. And I loved learning more about you.
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Anything else you want to know? 😀
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Lots😄
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Ok Make a list. I’ll do my best to make you laugh with my answers.
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I think I prefer you mysterious and enigmatic…
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As you wish my friend. Mysterious and enigmatic it is then. 😊
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😄😄😄
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But I am more of a straightforward person. What you see is pretty much what you get.
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That would make you pretty much unique for a woman. Let me imagine you have some mystery eh?
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Your choices were wonderful and I agree with Darren. Roda was so close to me! We will definitely have to meet up soon 😊 Thank you for the tag! I love the Harry Potter theme. I had always hoped for a letter from Hogwarts 😘😊
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Thanks, Lisa. One day you will have to show us your Hogwarts pajama!
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This was so much fun to read!❤
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It was so much fun reading this post Love some book ideas here I might have to check them out Have a wonderful weekend gorgeous xoxo Cris
https://photosbycris.blogspot.com/2018/07/glamour-in-park.html
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Glad you like it Cris. Have a gorgeous weekend too. I saw your last post. Boots and coats season for you already? The winter in Australia looks like our Summer in Quebec. Lol!
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Glorious fun post to read. I adored Pillars of the Earth and I’ve always been a Dr Seuss fan, oh and Harry Potter too. Happy weekend 😊
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Somehow I had the feeling you would agree with my choices. 😊
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Absolutely! 🙂
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So appropriate that I should read this post now! I happen to be watching the Harry Potter Marathon while catching up on my favorite bloggers!!😉
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So nice of you to say that. I’m going to sleep with a smile on my face. Thanks.
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I read this and thought I wrote it – I love all your choices! Perfume was excellent, I’ve loved Agatha Christie since I was ten. I binge re read her!
I’m going to recommend The Athenian Murders by Juan Carlos Somoza as a dark and twisted story. It’s one of the cleverest books I’ve ever read and literally took my breath away with the end twist. Based on the above I think you’ll love it 😊
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Thanks. I will add this book to my To-Read List for sure as it seems we have similar tastes in literature. Watch out for my post tomorrow. It is my monthly collaboration with three of my WP friends, When Fashion and Nature Collide, July edition.
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Have fun!
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Great post!!! I just posted a this or that blog with the well known Stephanie Finardi and I decided to check out similar posts.I’m definitely following 😍😍😍
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Yay! Thank you so much. I will visit you soon.
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Fabulous post
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I am a new blogger
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Please read my first post
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I sure will. Have fun Blogging!
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Your site is a potpourri of exceptional, well-timed posts that greatly enthrall this reader. Top-drawer all the way!
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Thank you so much Lance. Your lovely comment goes straight to my heart.
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My sincere pleasure. You’re exceedingly talented!
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Thank you so very much. You are very kind. Take care and keep well, lance
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My sincere pleasure. Thank you. You as well!
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