Dans son jus : voyage sur les zincs (French edition) by Patrick Bard

In Its Own Juice: Journey on the Zinc Counters by Patrick Bard, magnificently illustrated by Cendrine Bonami-Redler, is much more than just a beautiful book. It's a true immersion into the history and atmosphere of Parisian cafés and bars, those iconic places where generations have mingled, where memories were created, and where the soul of the city was forged.

The book begins with a nostalgic introduction, where Patrick Bard takes us back in time, tracing his own childhood memories in the Lilas neighborhood. When you grow up in the same neighborhood, even ten years apart, you inevitably have the same memories, he writes, setting the tone for an intimate and poetic exploration.

As the pages turn, the illustrations by Cendrine Bonami-Redler precisely and sensitively capture the essence of these zinc counters, those café counters that have seen so many lives unfold. Each drawing is a tribute to the details that create the magic of these places: the worn stools, the glass carafes, the steaming coffee machines. The texts accompanying the images are tinged with a bittersweet melancholy, recalling the good times spent in these cafés before some of them disappeared.

This beautiful book stands out for its unique approach to Parisian culture. It’s not just about telling the history of these places but also paying tribute to the people who frequented them, who brought them to life. In Its Own Juice thus captures a unique moment in Parisian history, a moment fading away with the progressive closure of many traditional cafés.

Patrick Bard and Cendrine Bonami-Redler successfully convey palpable emotion through their words and images. The reader is invited to feel the warmth of a café, to hear the lively conversations, to smell the aroma of freshly ground coffee. It's an invitation to nostalgia, but also to reflect on the evolution of the city and its meeting places.

The planned demolition of certain cafés, like the Café de la Poste in Pré Saint-Gervais, was the catalyst for this project. This book is a heartfelt cry, a desire to preserve the memory of these places before they completely disappear from the urban landscape. Before the last ones turn off the light on their way out. Before closing, as the author so aptly puts it.

In Its Own Juice is a work for all those who love Paris, its cafés, its stories. It's a perfect gift for lovers of beautiful books, nostalgics of the zinc counters, and those who wish to keep a part of the old Parisian soul with them.

Technical Information:

• Format: Hardcover
• EAN13: 9782356392657
• ISBN: 978-2-35639-265-7
• Publisher: Elytis
• Publication Date: 23/08/2018
• Collection: BEAUTIFUL BOOKS
• Number of pages: 130
• Dimensions: 23 x 23 cm
• Weight: 684 g
• Language: French