Book suggestion taking place in France?
Apr 14th, 2009, 11:57 AM
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Book suggestion taking place in France?
I love to read books (fiction) that take place in the area that I'm going to be visiting for vacation. I find I learn a lot that way and love learn about the culture beforehand. I'll be going to Paris and France wine country in July and was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for an easy-read that would set the scene for my trip?!? Thanks!
Apr 14th, 2009, 12:04 PM
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You didn't specify which area of France you'll be visiting (quite a few areas in France produce wines) but Peter Mayle's A Good Year takes place in Provence in a vineyard. The book was also made into a movie.
Apr 14th, 2009, 02:27 PM
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I enjoyed: "Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure" by Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup
Wish I had read it before our trip to France. It's non-fiction
Wish I had read it before our trip to France. It's non-fiction
Apr 14th, 2009, 02:53 PM
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Thanks to you all for your GREAT suggestions! I'm about to order up a bevvy of reading!
In researching your suggestions I also came across this :
"The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It"
... which I will also be purchasing as we are planning a trip there in Reims!
In researching your suggestions I also came across this :
"The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It"
... which I will also be purchasing as we are planning a trip there in Reims!
Apr 15th, 2009, 10:31 AM
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m fifi -- You can buy French language books through amazon.ca often cheaper than from France, at least the shipping is cheaper since it is shipped from Canada (assuming you live in the US). They do have L'Elegance du Herisson and only charge CAD $10 for std shipping to the US of one book, which is around US$8. That isn't that much more than a lot of folks charge for shipping a book if you buy one used on ebay or amazon within the US. The book is CAD$29, which is about the same as in France versus the USD. In France, I think it is about 20 euro new.
I could have kicked myself for not buying Le Scaphandre et le Papillon in Paris last Fall when I was there as I thought for sure I could get a cheap paperback French version in the US for less than in Paris (where they jacked up the prices due to the movie and put out a new trade paper edition for around 20 euro), even on Amazon or used somewhere, but I haven't been able to find any cheap ones used and I won't pay 17 euro delivery from France, so I know where you are coming from.
I could have kicked myself for not buying Le Scaphandre et le Papillon in Paris last Fall when I was there as I thought for sure I could get a cheap paperback French version in the US for less than in Paris (where they jacked up the prices due to the movie and put out a new trade paper edition for around 20 euro), even on Amazon or used somewhere, but I haven't been able to find any cheap ones used and I won't pay 17 euro delivery from France, so I know where you are coming from.
Apr 15th, 2009, 03:10 PM
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Hi
You said "easy-read" fiction. I loved Elizabeth Adler's "The Last Time I Saw Paris". It is a romance based on the trip of a woman trying to relive her honeymoon in France. As the trip goes on it becomes clear that the honeymoon so dearly remembered, was actually a disaster. The author gives a host of information about each area, with hotels and restaurants. It is chick-lit of course, but enjoyable.
Rosemary
You said "easy-read" fiction. I loved Elizabeth Adler's "The Last Time I Saw Paris". It is a romance based on the trip of a woman trying to relive her honeymoon in France. As the trip goes on it becomes clear that the honeymoon so dearly remembered, was actually a disaster. The author gives a host of information about each area, with hotels and restaurants. It is chick-lit of course, but enjoyable.
Rosemary
