Books On Living in France

I guess this book qualifies..."Almost French: Love and a New Life In Paris" by Sarah Turnbull. It tells the story of the author's challenges and adventures in settling into her new life with a new man in Paris. It's quite entertaining, and she talks more about living there than the romance part of it.

French Dirt
At Home in France
On Rue Tatin

Edmund White's Our Paris. (Not about purchasing homes, but about living there).

One I recently finished and was recommended on this board is From Here You Can't See Paris by Michael Sanders. It's not about buying and restoring a house; I'm a bit sick of those. It's a slice of rural French life about a village and a restaurant. I highly recommend it.

The French Life-Vicki Archer.
The olive Farm-Carol Drinkwater.
I assume you have read Peter Mayle's
A Year in provence that brought this type of story alive again but it was Lady Fortescue who started it in the 30s
with her book, Perfume in Provence.

Sorry, the title is Perfume FROM Provence. I gave my copy away long ago but I believe, it took place in Opio.

These are a what I have read....

Books of France



A White House in Gascony, by Rex Grizell
A Walk Across France, by Miles Morland
A House in the Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Village in the Vaucluse, by Laurence Wylie
A Pig in Provence, by Georgeanne Brennan
A Piano in the Pyrenees, by Tony Hawks
A Bright Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman
A Place in Normandy, by Nicholas Kilmer
A Farmhouse in Provence, by Mary Roblee Henry
A Harvest of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Summer in Gascony, by Martin Calder
A Perfect Circle, by Susie Kelly
A Walk in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Month of Sundays, by Ira & Barbara Spectror
A Chateau of One’s Own, by Sam Juneau
At Home in France, by Ann Barry
Bananas in Bordeaux, by Louise Franklin Castanet
Best Foot Forward, by Susie Kelly
Bon Courage, by Richard Wiles
Bon Chance, by Richard Wiles
Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis
C’est La Folie, by Michael Wright
Cast Off, by Jan Murra
Deep France, by Celia Brayfield
Deep France, by William Glover
Dordogne Adventures, by Eric Line
Floating Through France, by Barbara Euser
From Here You Can’t See Paris, by Michael Sanders
Home & Dry in Normandy, by George East
I’ll Never Be French, by Mark Greenside
Lilac & Roses, by Peggy Anderson
Maison Therapy, by Alastair Simpson
Mourjou, by Peter Graham
Ou’ est le Ping? By Grace McKee
Reflections of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater
The Ripening Sun, by Patricia Atkinson
The French Way, by Ross Steele
The Duck With a Dirty Laugh, by Ann Loader
The Bells of St. Paradis, by Ann Loader

Okay....I am crazy!

Are you only looking for books about people who buy houses and moved to France or just books set in France.

Honestly, pretty much anything that has to do with living there, and dealing with life as it is there.

Mine are all packed away because it looks like "the move" to France is actually happening. However, you might like Kristin Espinasse's "A Day in a French Life" and I second the recommendation for "On Rue Tatin." Stephen Clarke's "A Year in the Merde" is amusing.

We have all the "how to books (retiring, building a home, living and working, etc." by David Hampshire and others. They are somewhat repetitive, primarily geared to UK movers and they go out of date very, very fast. We picked up as much info from expat web sites and official government sites.

Am saving your list--wow.

I always thought the classic in this area to be "French or Foe", by the late Polly Platt:

http://www.pollyplatt.com/

Taking to heart her rules for interacting with the French changed our experience of France.

Larry

The only ones that I know of that you've missed are Draine and Hinden's A CASTLE IN MY BACKYARD and Greene's FRENCH SPIRITS. Both great. And what about Peter Mayle's many wonderful books?

The only ones that I know of that you've missed are Draine and Hinden's A CASTLE IN MY BACKYARD and Greene's FRENCH SPIRITS. Both great. And what about Peter Mayle's many wonderful books?

I have read them all, and just haven't update my list.

I also have about ten more titles to add to this list. Indulge me with all this. My wife and I love traveling to the country, and wish we could spend months, if not years there. This is our way of doing that without the money we will never have....

Peter Gethers' A Cat Abroad (the sequel to The Cat Who Went to Paris).

Buying a piece of Paris- A memior Elle Nielsen
The Magic of provence- Yvonne Lenard
Instructions for Visitors- Helen Stevenson

One very moving one is Windows on Provence by Bo Niles
I'm like you Barnum that's why I subscribe to Cotè Sud
and Maison Mediterraneè

French Dirt by Richard Goodman
The Magic of Provence by Yvone Lenard

Cigale, I'd forgotten about Window on Provence; it was quite touching.

COMING DOWN THE SEINE Gibbings
THREE RIVERS IN FRANCE Freda White
THE FLANEUR Edmund White
PARIS TO THE MOON Gopnik
C'EST LA VIE Gershman

I don't think anyone has mentioned these two:
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank--Thad Carhart
My Life in France--Julia Child
Me Talk Pretty One Day (Part Deux)--david Sedaris

and how about A Moveable Feast?

John Merriman's The Stones of Balazuc; A French Village in Time

Jane Webster's At My French Table; Food, Family and joie de vivre in a corner of Normandy

Mort Rosenblum's Secret Life of the Seine and
A Goose in Toulouse; And Other Culinary Adventures in France

Michael Sanders' Families of the Vine; Seasons Among the Winemakers of Southwest France

Elaine Lewis's Left Bank Waltz; The Australian Bookshop in Paris

I just read Harriet Welty Rochefort's "French Toast." It was kind of fun.

I'm printing out this thread and heading over to half.com.

Great suggestions.

I enjoyed Caro's "Road to the Past" which I had never heard of before Fodorites recommended. It's more history than buy and renovate a house, but interesting.

All of you have just made my day---and my summer as a matter of fact. I've only read a few of these and I am constantly searching out books that take place in France, our favorite place to travel.

Merci,Merci!

Polly Platt's books - though i do not agree with many of her observations about Paris and French culture you may get a laugh or two.

My goodness, barnum, you have done a lot of reading! I`d like to order a couple from your list. Any 2 or 3 that you would recommend as being the most interesting? I can`t order your whole list! Thanks.

He didn't live there, he just spent three weeks cycling the route of the Tour de France, but Tim Moore's French revolutions is one of the funniest books I've read for ages. Most of the humour is at his own expense rather than snide anti-French comments.
Jeremy
www.jeremytaylor.eu

I heartily recommend Jean-Benoît Nadeau's "Les Français Aussi ont un Accent", subtitled, "Mésadventures Anthropologiques d'un Québécois en Vielle-France". He and his wife Julie Barlow spent two years in France looking at the French, as he says, "with the same approach of anthropologists towards the Yanomani in the interior Amazon" It's very witty and perceptive.

If you don't read French, they also wrote an account in English of their experience, "60 Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong". It's not a translation, but is also quite good. (In fact, it was later translated for the French market as "Pas si fous, ces Français!")

It's hard to add to any of this, given the extensive nature of the lists. There is one sequel to On Rue Tatin- Tarte Tatin; one to The Pioensing Sun- La Belle Saison; one to One step Forwards:- Two Steps Backward and two to the Olive Farm:- the Olive Season and the Olive Harvest. I would strongly recommend 60 Million Frenchmen- it taught we more about France than anything else has.

I have, however, also read "The Luberon Garden" by Alex Dingwall Main; "The Man Who Married a Mountain"- which is not like the others at all, but is a wonderful book about the Pyrenees which I would recommend to anyone.

A number of people have mentioned Michael Sanders' excellent "From Here, You Can't See Paris". I found it a refreshing change from the "Year in Provence" genre of books in that it was about the people living around him, not about himself.

His subsequent book, "Families of the Vine: Seasons Among the Winemakers of Southwest France" is about a number of winemakers in the area of Cahors.

I have thoroughly enjoyed and learned much from both books.

This is an awesome list... I've read a few but there are so many more to discover! I'm going to check to see what my local library has.

The Secret Life of the Seine (Mort Rosenblum). About living on a barge on the Seine, but also history and geography too.

since this drifted from People who have home there, I
can add a few.
Provence A-Z...peter Mayle.
Out to Lunch in Provence...Mike Aalders,
A corner of the Marais...Alex Karnel,
Pagnol's Provence...Julian Moore,
Time was soft there...Jeremy Mercer
(a Canadian who goes to work and live at Shakespeare&Co.),
A Goose In Toulouse...Mort Rosenblum,
We'll Always have paris...Harvy Lenenstein
(about American tourists since 1930),
Three Rivers Of France...Freda white,
provence...Ford Maddox Ford,
Memories of Childhood...Marcel Pagnol,
most books by MFK Fisher,
YoYo in provence..douglas Duncan( the true story of his dog
kidnapped by gypsies. He also wrote Picasso&Lump, Lump was Picasso's dog. Duncan is a famous journalist/photographer and was a friend pof Picasso, whom he's written about),
Kiki's Paris...Klover&Martin,(famous model and mistress of Man Ray and others),
Pariss 1900...borse&Godoli (anout the architecture),
fictionerfume...Patrick susskind.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog,
Across Paris...Marcel Aimee
and reference:
Undiscovered France,
Undiscovered Paris, Secrets of Provence

typo:That smily should be a P as in Perfume

Aha, cigale,

You tried to write:

  fiction: Perfume

But, probably due to a typo, you left off the space after the colon, so you wrote:

  fiction:Perfume

But Fodor's saw the :P part, and automatically expanded it into the smiley

et voilà.

(See the Fodor's page on smileys at:

http://www.fodors.com/community/smileys/

That one is in the second row from the bottom.)

- Larry

Six more that I didn't have on my list...

Hot Sun...Cool Shadow by Angela Murrills
Life in a Postcard....by Rosemary Bailey
Mourjou....by Peter Graham
A Summer in Gascony by Martin Calder
Bight Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman
Seeking Provence by Nicholas Woodsworth

you really are a teckie, Larry

Thanks, cigale.

I might also add that I found most of these titles on Amazon, and most came from the UK. Delivery time was very fast however.

And while we're at it, a few more which don't fit the original criterion, but well worth checking ut all the same IMO -

Alastair Maitland's Wild Thyme and Saladelle; Journeys Round Western Provence

Mirabel Osler's The Elusive Truffle; Travels in Search of the Legendary Food of France

Glynn Christian's Edible France; A Traveller's Guide

Sheryle Bagwell's My French Connection - Australian journalist living and working in Paris & Lyon

Sally Hammond's Just Enough French and Pardon My French - entertaining journeys by car around France by Sydney based food and travel writer and her photographer husband; her Just a Little Italian; Exploring the South of Italy also recommended

And, for a change of pace, Oliver Andrew's Crossing France on Foot; One Man's Walk from Dieppe to the Pyrenees

Love it....finding a lot of new titles. Keep them coming.

Just thought of another i don't think has been mentioned: Running in Place: Scenes from the South of France by Nicholas Delbanco. I see that its paperback copyright date is listed as 2001, but I read the hardback several years ago.

.....and don't forget the classic by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes", from the 1800s.

Here are some more books specifically on French culture, all of which I have. Hmm, this seems like more than a bit of overkill. I need to control myself better in book stores.

Savoir Flair! Polly Platt
Customs & Etiquette of France, Danielle Robinson
The Alien's Guide to France, Jim Watson
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong, Jean-Benoît Nadeau & Julie Barlow
Culture Shock! France, Sally Adamson Taylor

I was somewhat reluctant to post this topic, but guess I am not the only one to love reading about this wonderful country. I still have about ten titles to add to my original list, and you folks have given me even more to look for (three of which I ordered from Amazon today).

Going to Live in France and Going to Live in Paris by Alan Hart, 'one of the preferred local commentators on France for BBC Radio' according to the blurb.

Have added a few more titles to my collection in case anyone is interested.

A White House in Gascony, by Rex Grizell

A Walk Across France, by Miles Morland

A House in the Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre

A Village in the Vaucluse, by Laurence Wylie

A Pig in Provence, by Georgeanne Brennan

A Piano in the Pyrenees, by Tony Hawks

A Bright Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman

A Place in Normandy, by Nicholas Kilmer

A Farmhouse in Provence, by Mary Roblee Henry

A Goose in Toulouse, by Mort Rosenblum

A Harvest of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre

A Summer in Gascony, by Martin Calder

A Perfect Circle, by Susie Kelly

A Walk in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews

A Month of Sundays, by Ira & Barbara Spectror

A Chateau of One’s Own, by Sam Juneau

At Home in France, by Ann Barry

Au Revoir Agnleterre, by Paul Jenner & Christine Smith

Bananas in Bordeaux, by Louise Franklin Castanet

Best Foot Forward, by Susie Kelly

Bon Courage, by Richard Wiles

Bon Chance, by Richard Wiles

Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis

C’est La Folie, by Michael Wright

Cast Off, by Jan Murra

Deep France, by Celia Brayfield

Deep France, by William Glover

Dordogne Adventures, by Eric Line

Floating Through France, by Barbara Euser

France, A Travelers Literary Companion, edited by Rodarmor/Livia

French Cricket, by George East

From Here You Can’t See Paris, by Michael Sanders

Home & Dry in Normandy, by George East

Hot Sun, Cool Shadow, by Angela Murrills

I’ll Never Be French, by Mark Greenside

Instructions for Visitors, by Helen Stevenson

Life in a Postcard, by Rosemary Bailey

Lilac & Roses, by Peggy Anderson

Maison Therapy, by Alastair Simpson

More France Please, We’re British, by Helena Powell

Mourjou, by Peter Graham

My Father’s Glory & My Mother’s Castle, by Marcel Pagnol

Narrow Dog to Carcassone, by Terry Darlington

Ou’ est le Ping? By Grace McKee

Reflections of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre

Rene & Me, by George East

Seeking Provence, by Nicholas Woodsworth

Strangers in Paradise (A Memoir of Provence, by Paul Chrsitensen

The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater

The Ripening Sun, by Patricia Atkinson

The French Way, by Ross Steele

The Duck With a Dirty Laugh, by Ann Loader

The Bells of St. Paradis, by Ann Loader

Time was Soft There, by Jeremy Mercer

Travelers Tales/Provence, Edited by James O’Reilly

Yes, I am interested, and hope you can keep them coming. This is going to be my next winter's reading list. What a great thread!

I was disappointed by Tony Hawks' A Piano in the Pyrenees. Everything seemed to run pretty smoothly but Tony seems to make out that the move was a disaster on wheels. A shame - I liked his other stuff.

I didn't read it like that at all, I have to say. It's not as well crafted as some of the others, but it was truly fun; and I know the area which made it even more interesting.

Another update, if you care...


Books of France


A White House in Gascony, by Rex Grizell
A Walk Across France, by Miles Morland
A House in the Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Village in the Vaucluse, by Laurence Wylie
A Pig in Provence, by Georgeanne Brennan
A Piano in the Pyrenees, by Tony Hawks
A Bright Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman
A Place in Normandy, by Nicholas Kilmer
A Farmhouse in Provence, by Mary Roblee Henry
A Goose in Toulouse, by Mort Rosenblum
A Harvest of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Summer in Gascony, by Martin Calder
A Perfect Circle, by Susie Kelly
A Walk in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Month of Sundays, by Ira & Barbara Spectror
A Chateau of One’s Own, by Sam Juneau
Adieu, Dordogne by Roger Kohn
At Home in France, by Ann Barry
Au Revoir Agnleterre, by Paul Jenner & Christine Smith
Bananas in Bordeaux, by Louise Franklin Castanet
Best Foot Forward, by Susie Kelly
Bon Courage, by Richard Wiles
Bon Chance, by Richard Wiles
Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis
C’est La Folie, by Michael Wright
Cast Off, by Jan Murra
Deep France, by Celia Brayfield
Deep France, by William Glover
Dordogne Adventures, by Eric Line
Floating Through France, by Barbara Euser
France, A Travelers Literary Companion, edited by Rodarmor/Livia
French Cricket, by George East
From Here You Can’t See Paris, by Michael Sanders
Home & Dry in Normandy, by George East
Hot Sun, Cool Shadow, by Angela Murrills
I’ll Never Be French, by Mark Greenside
Instructions for Visitors, by Helen Stevenson
Life in a Postcard, by Rosemary Bailey
Lilac & Roses, by Peggy Anderson
Maison Therapy, by Alastair Simpson
More France Please, We’re British, by Helena Powell
Mourjou, by Peter Graham
My Father’s Glory & My Mother’s Castle, by Marcel Pagnol
Narrow Dog to Carcassone, by Terry Darlington
Ou’ est le Ping? By Grace McKee
Provence je t’aime, by Gordon Bitney
Reflections of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
Rene & Me, by George East
Seeking Provence, by Nicholas Woodsworth
Strangers in Paradise (A Memoir of Provence, by Paul Chrsitensen
The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater
The Ripening Sun, by Patricia Atkinson
The French Way, by Ross Steele
The Duck With a Dirty Laugh, by Ann Loader
The Bells of St. Paradis, by Ann Loader
Time was Soft There, by Jeremy Mercer
Travelers Tales/Provence, Edited by James O’Reilly

I read A Piano in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago and thought it was hysterical; much funnier than Round Ireland with a Fridge. I was laughing out loud through much of the book.

Im surprised no one has mentioned Adam Gopnik's PARIS TO THE MOON.
grandmere, also reading again French dirt and my old favorite. WINDOW ON PROVENCE.

A village in the Vaucluce in reality is Roussillon.
Like when I first visited Gordes, back in the 60s they are unlike what you see today.
I'm rereading, also RUNNING IN PLACE because it was written before I first visited Provence.

Since this thread has been brought back to life: I just noticed that nobody has yet mentioned Words in a French Life, subtitled "Lessons in love and language from the south of France", by Kristin Espinasse. This contains selections from her popular blog, which can be found at http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/ (on which you can also subscribe to her e-mail list).

Although oriented towards the French language, this book contains a great deal of discussion about life in France, and particularly in Provence.

OMG, I'm in the middle of "The Olive Farm" and loving it. I don't think I'll be alive long enough to read all of the books mentioned, but I'll try.

Have you ever been in a place where you thought you've been before? That's me with France. My father's family way back when came from France and it's like I've come home. Every time I'm there, I feel like it's a part of me.

Wow, what great titles! I read these before visiting Paris and Provence a few years back:

THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS, the Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism by Ross King (modern art)
IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE by Don Krohn (with pics)
THE YELLOW HOUSE, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles (sad)
CEZANNE IN PROVENCE by Evamarie Schmitt
CAESAR’S VAST GHOST, Aspects of Provence by Lawrence Durrell (classic)

Most of the above are about French art, culture, and topography.

For a harrowing but fascinating history of Vichy France and the Holocaust try
BAD FAITH, A Forgotten History of Family, Fatherland, and Vichy France by Carmen Cahill

Thanks for sharing!

TPayt I have indeed felt like I've lived there....every time I visit. Given my birthdate, the nostalgic songs of the early forties, the war, etc., perhaps I did live there in another life.

Another book I would recommend and didn't list....Wine & War, by Donald Kladstrup. Fascinating story about how the French protected their wines and their vineyards during the Nazi occupation.

Another update

Books of France


A White House in Gascony, by Rex Grizell
A Walk Across France, by Miles Morland
A House in the Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Village in the Vaucluse, by Laurence Wylie
A Village in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Pig in Provence, by Georgeanne Brennan
A Piano in the Pyrenees, by Tony Hawks
A Bright Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman
A Place in Normandy, by Nicholas Kilmer
A Farmhouse in Provence, by Mary Roblee Henry
A Goose in Toulouse, by Mort Rosenblum
A Harvest of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Summer in Gascony, by Martin Calder
A Perfect Circle, by Susie Kelly
A Town Like Paris, by Bruce Corbett
A Walk in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Month of Sundays, by Ira & Barbara Spectror
A Chateau of One’s Own, by Sam Juneau
Adieu, Dordogne by Roger Kohn
At Home in France, by Ann Barry
Au Revoir Agnleterre, by Paul Jenner & Christine Smith
Bananas in Bordeaux, by Louise Franklin Castanet
Best Foot Forward, by Susie Kelly
Bon Courage, by Richard Wiles
Bon Chance, by Richard Wiles
Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis
C’est La Folie, by Michael Wright
Cast Off, by Jan Murra
Come to the Table, by Louise Luiggi
Deep France, by Celia Brayfield
Deep France, by William Glover
Dordogne Adventures, by Eric Line
Floating Through France, by Barbara Euser
France, A Travelers Literary Companion, edited by Rodarmor/Livia
France in Mind, Edited by Alice Powers
French Cricket, by George East
French Toast, by Harriet Rochefort
From Here You Can’t See Paris, by Michael Sanders
Home & Dry in Normandy, by George East
Hot Sun, Cool Shadow, by Angela Murrills
I’ll Never Be French, by Mark Greenside
Instructions for Visitors, by Helen Stevenson
Life in a Postcard, by Rosemary Bailey
Lilac & Roses, by Peggy Anderson
Maison Therapy, by Alastair Simpson
More France Please, We’re British, by Helena Powell
Mourjou, by Peter Graham
My Father’s Glory & My Mother’s Castle, by Marcel Pagnol
Narrow Dog to Carcassone, by Terry Darlington
Ou’ est le Ping? By Grace McKee
Provence je t’aime, by Gordon Bitney
Reflections of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
Rene & Me, by George East
Running in Place, by Nicholas DelBanco
Savoir Rire: The Humorists Guide to France
Seeking Provence, by Nicholas Woodsworth
Strangers in Paradise (A Memoir of Provence, by Paul Chrsitensen
The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater
The Ripening Sun, by Patricia Atkinson
The French Way, by Ross Steele
The Duck With a Dirty Laugh, by Ann Loader
The Bells of St. Paradis, by Ann Loader
The Magic of Provence, by Yvonne Lenard
The Oysters of Locmariaquer, by Eleanor Clark
Time was Soft There, by Jeremy Mercer
Travelers Tales/Provence, Edited by James O’Reilly
We’ll Always Have Paris, by John Baxter

I am now reading, "A corner in the Marais": Alex Karmel. I think someone has mentioned it. Charming.

Mary Moody has written four memoirs (Au Revoir, Last Tango in Toulouse, The Long Hot Summer and Sweet Surrender) and a delightful book about a small French village restaurant (Lunch with Madame Murat). She is an Australian who bought a house in the Lot.

Am currently reading "A Goose in Toulouse" and absolutely cannot read it when I'm hungry. I was almost drooling on the treadmill.

Some of us are not so impressed with Mary Moody, who has overly publicized a very nice local restaurant.

Plus I find it hard to sympathize with someone who wants to come to France to fit into French life and then wonders why her French isn't improving while she spends her time with English speakers.

"Immoveable Feast: A Paris Christmas" by John Baxter (2008) was delightful.

Just finished :A Corner in the Marais": If Le Marais is of interest to you, historically, I recommend this one by Alex Karmel.

Thank you for all these titles. If you want to know more about the history of la France profonde, the Indre and the Creuse, then Gillian Tindall's well researched book 'Célestine: voices from a French Village' [Minerva] is excellent. The people of the Indre value and keep alive their family memories. The author uses these memories and the records of this small village and La Châtre to shine a light on the Indre [and to some extent the Creuse]in the 19th and 20th centuries. I now look at my village with new eyes.

A new book with recipes (have tried two and they were good)...Lunch in Paris ( I think by Elizabeth Bard)

And a funny book, We'll always have Paris by John Baxter

Has anyone read anything recently set in or about Paris or Provence that they loved and would like to recommend?

What a fantastic list. I think I have only read about 10 of these. I can tell you that Elizabeth Bard's Lunch in Paris, a love story with recipes is absolutely hilarious, and also poignant at the same time.

Fiction, I highly recommend the Elegance of the Hedgehog.
Takes place in Paris.
For Provence, non fiction is Luminous Debris, reflecting on vestige in Provence and Languedoc, and, his haunting fiction
The Fly-truffler by Gustaf Sobin, a poet/writer who was from my town, Boston and moved to Provence and there for many years he wrote richly.

My favorite subject. Thanks for bringing it up again.

Elegance of the Hedgehog is on my list as are many of Barnum's selections.

I think I'll go out and buy a lottery ticket Oh, how I wish I lived in France. Yes, they have their political problems, but the USA is getting ugly in that department.

Thank you Cig; all your recommendations have been superb. I will report back after reading.
Tpayt, I would like to live there part of the year.....how wonderful that would be. I think every country has political strife, however; it's the nature of governments or so it seems. We could imagine a better world, politically, but I think it's better to be realistic about who we are as human beings. If we don't learn to treat each other with kindness and compassion we aren't going to survive. In France, there's no doubt, that the manners are much nicer. That counts for a lot. And then there's the produce.......get me a lottery ticket while you're out!

The Hare with the Amber Eyes is set in Paris, Vienna, Tokyo. Difficult to characterize, I suppose a family history but that doesn't do it justice. Best book i've read in 2011.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog: just finished
Liked it very much. Especially the 2nd half. Exquisite, sensitive, highly recommended

Wow, what lists! Does anyone move to France and NOT write a book or set up a blog or web-based newsletter?

Jane Paech's A Family in Paris

Current airplane reading on the way home for OR to AK:

Time Was Soft There, A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co by Jeremy Mercer (re: the second S and Co)

and "Paris was Ours" Rowland

Another update....if anyone is interested.

Books of France


A White House in Gascony, by Rex Grizell
A Walk Across France, by Miles Morland
A House in the Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Village in the Vaucluse, by Laurence Wylie
A Village in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Pig in Provence, by Georgeanne Brennan
A Piano in the Pyrenees, by Tony Hawks
A Place in France (An Indian Summer), by Nigel Farrell
A Place in the World called Paris, Edited by Steven Barclay
A Bright Sun & Long Shadows, by Val Littman
A Castle in the Backyard, by Draine & Hinden
A Place in Normandy, by Nicholas Kilmer
A Farmhouse in Provence, by Mary Roblee Henry
A Goose in Toulouse, by Mort Rosenblum
A Harvest of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
A Summer in Gascony, by Martin Calder
A Perfect Circle, by Susie Kelly
A Town Like Paris, by Bruce Corbett
A Walk in the Vineyards, by Thomas Mathews
A Window on Provence, by Bo Niles
A Month of Sundays, by Ira & Barbara Spectror
A Chateau of One’s Own, by Sam Juneau
A Vineyard in the Dordogne, by Jeremy Josephs
Adieu, Dordogne by Roger Kohn
An Englishman in la Campagne, by Michael Sadler
At Home in France, by Ann Barry
Au Revoir Agnleterre, by Paul Jenner & Christine Smith
Backpacks, Boots & Baguettes, by Calder & Webb
Bananas in Bordeaux, by Louise Franklin Castanet
Best Foot Forward, by Susie Kelly
Bon Appetit, by Peter Mayle
Bon Courage, by Richard Wiles
Bon Chance, by Richard Wiles
Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis
C’est La Folie, by Michael Wright
Cast Off, by Jan Murra
Come to the Table, by Louise Luiggi
Courage & Croissants, by Suzanne & Jean Roux
Deep France, by Celia Brayfield
Deep France, by William Glover
Dordogne Adventures, by Eric Line
Floating Through France, by Barbara Euser
France, A Travelers Literary Companion, edited by Rodarmor/Livia
France in Mind, Edited by Alice Powers
French Cricket, by George East
French Leaves, by E.V. Lucas
French Toast, by Harriet Rochefort
From Here You Can’t See Paris, by Michael Sanders
Hidden Triangle, by Valerie Thompson
Home & Dry in Normandy, by George East
Hot Sun, Cool Shadow, by Angela Murrills
I’ll Never Be French, by Mark Greenside
In the Heart of France, by Cobley and Gallant
Instructions for Visitors, by Helen Stevenson
Je Ne Sais Quoi, by Charles Timoney
Life in a Postcard, by Rosemary Bailey
Lilac & Roses, by Peggy Anderson
Maison Therapy, by Alastair Simpson
Mommy, Are we French Yet, by Shawn Underwood
More France Please, We’re British, by Helena Powell
Mourjou, by Peter Graham
My Father’s Glory & My Mother’s Castle, by Marcel Pagnol
My Life in France, by Julia Child
Narrow Dog to Carcassone, by Terry Darlington
Notes from the Languedoc, by Ruppert Wright
Ou’ est le Ping? By Grace McKee
Perfume from Provence, by E.H. Shepard
Provence je t’aime, by Gordon Bitney
Reflections of Sunflowers, by Ruth Silvestre
Rene & Me, by George East
Running in Place, by Nicholas DelBanco
Savoir Rire: The Humorists Guide to France
Seeking Provence, by Nicholas Woodsworth
Serge Bastarde At My Baguette, by John Dummer
Ten Years in Provence, by Anne-Marie Simons
Strangers in Paradise (A Memoir of Provence, by Paul Chrsitensen
Tarte Tatin, by Susan Loomis
The Collected Traveler, Southwest France by Fodor’s
The Olive Farm, by Carol Drinkwater
The Ripening Sun, by Patricia Atkinson
The French Way, by Ross Steele
The Duck With a Dirty Laugh, by Ann Loader
The Bells of St. Paradis, by Ann Loader
The Magic of Provence, by Yvonne Lenard
The Oysters of Locmariaquer, by Eleanor Clark
Time was Soft There, by Jeremy Mercer
Tout Sweet, by Karen Wheeler
Travelers Tales/Provence, Edited by James O’Reilly
Tabvelers Tales/France, Edited by James O’Reilly
Vive La Renovation, by Trevor Morris
We’ll Always Have Paris, by John Baxter

What a great list! Have you read all these books? I also read and collect travel books, not necessarily about moving to France, just France in general.

here are some from my collection.

French Spirits - Jeffrey Greene
The Luberon Garden - Alex Dingwall- Main
The Vine Garden- as above
French Leave - John Burton Race
Just Enough French - Sally Hammond
Pardon My French - as above
Arazat's Aubergines - Patrick Moon

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong, Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow, Sourcebooks Inc., 2003

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris, Sarah Turnbull, Gotham Books, 2003

Paris to the Moon, Adam Gopnik, Random House, 2001

C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris and--Voila!--Becomes Almost French, Suzy Gershman, Penguin, 2005

The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love and Olive Oil in the South of France, Carol Drinkwater, Penguin, 2002

Instructions for Visitors: Life and Love in a French Town, Helen Stevenson, Washington Square Press, 2002

Thanks for the update. I'm making my way through Barnum's list and now have a few more to add.

I recently read "The Last Time I Saw Paris" by Lynn Sheene and loved it from the very first page. It's fiction, but the descriptions of Paris were great.

Also, "Extremely Pale Rose" by Jamie Ivey. The vineyards of France and searching for one of my favorite wines. There is nothing like a glass of cold, dry French Rose on a hot summer's day.

The next one I'm going to try is "Dordogne Adventures" from Barnum's list as we hope to travel there in the fall.

Not a book but a blog actually 2 blogs by a pair of gentlmen who moved from NC , I think, to a village in The Loire

http://ckenb.blogspot.com/

Yes I have indeed read all of these books....couple of them twice. I appreciate hearing about new ones. Thank you.

Barnum
Looks like you haven't read A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clark. Merde in French of course means "perfume"!

I see that Morningglory47 has recommended "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong" which is a wonderful book, even if the title doesn't really reflect the book's contents.

For those who haven't read all the way through this thread, I will repeat my recommendation from 2009 (was it that long ago?):

I heartily recommend Jean-Benoît Nadeau's "Les Français Aussi ont un Accent", subtitled, "Mésadventures Anthropologiques d'un Québécois en Vielle-France". He and his wife Julie Barlow spent two years in France looking at the French, as he says, "with the same approach of anthropologists towards the Yanomani in the interior Amazon" It's very witty and perceptive.

If you don't read French, they also wrote an account in English of their experience, "60 Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong". It's not a translation, but is also quite good. (In fact, it was later translated for the French market as "Pas si fous, ces Français!")