Speaking of birthdays...

Asterix turns 50 this month! One of the first French icons I was introduced to back in high school, I still to this day have trouble understanding all of what goes on in his world, but he remains hugely popular here. The 34th Asterix comic book has just been released to help celebrate, and with the last book having sold over 8 million copies, I can only imagine that this anniversary edition will be a huge bestseller.

This is one part of French culture that's never really enticed me; this love of the bande dessinée. I love Snoopy as much as the next girl, and I used to collect Archie comic books when I was younger, but the French take the comic book to a whole new level. A level I equate with that of the cryptic crossword- something I know I should be able to 'do' but somehow my brain seems to let me down everytime I try.

Does a copy of Asterix For Dummies exist? I can't help thinking that maybe if I could understand something that seems so quintessentially French, I may be able to better understand the psyche of some of my neighbors...