Books On Living in France

Old Aug 2nd, 2009, 03:22 AM
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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!
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Old Aug 2nd, 2009, 05:30 AM
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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.
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Old Sep 8th, 2009, 07:52 AM
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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
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Old Apr 25th, 2010, 09:32 PM
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I am now reading, "A corner in the Marais": Alex Karmel. I think someone has mentioned it. Charming.
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Old Apr 25th, 2010, 09:43 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 26th, 2010, 09:51 AM
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Am currently reading "A Goose in Toulouse" and absolutely cannot read it when I'm hungry. I was almost drooling on the treadmill.
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Old Apr 26th, 2010, 12:30 PM
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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.
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Old May 5th, 2010, 08:52 AM
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"Immoveable Feast: A Paris Christmas" by John Baxter (2008) was delightful.
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Old May 5th, 2010, 02:48 PM
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Just finished :A Corner in the Marais": If Le Marais is of interest to you, historically, I recommend this one by Alex Karmel.
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Old Nov 12th, 2010, 06:42 AM
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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.
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Old Nov 12th, 2010, 11:40 AM
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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
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Old Apr 15th, 2011, 12:16 PM
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Has anyone read anything recently set in or about Paris or Provence that they loved and would like to recommend?
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Old Apr 16th, 2011, 10:32 AM
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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.
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Old Apr 16th, 2011, 03:15 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 16th, 2011, 07:32 PM
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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.
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Old Apr 16th, 2011, 10:18 PM
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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!
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Old Apr 16th, 2011, 11:00 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 29th, 2011, 10:40 PM
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The Elegance of the Hedgehog: just finished
Liked it very much. Especially the 2nd half. Exquisite, sensitive, highly recommended
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Old Aug 30th, 2011, 01:22 AM
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Wow, what lists! Does anyone move to France and NOT write a book or set up a blog or web-based newsletter?
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Old Aug 30th, 2011, 01:55 AM
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Jane Paech's A Family in Paris
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