What Book to Read in France
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What Book to Read in France
Going to France on Sat, mainly Normandy, but doesnt matter. Like to read on vacation and like something relevant to the destination.
I'm asking for suggestions for fiction, not a travel guide. Please not Proust. It's too heavy.
Have enjoyed everyone's suggestions about Paris and Rouen, etc.
Thanks,
Carol
I'm asking for suggestions for fiction, not a travel guide. Please not Proust. It's too heavy.
Have enjoyed everyone's suggestions about Paris and Rouen, etc.
Thanks,
Carol
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very much liked "The Magic of Provence" by Yvonne Lenard. It`s just a light hearted travel story, kind of like Peter mayle writes. it`s mainly about the south but it was fun reading. It`s not a travel guide. You might consider some of Joanne Harris`s novels too, but I liked Yvonne Lenards book more. Also, just read Victorine, the novel about a french woman who ends up moving to Indochina with her lover. A lot of the book is about France though. Pat
#9
For Normandy, "On Rue Tatin."
Brittany, "Horse of Pride."
Provence, "Two Towns in Provence"."
The Southwest, "The Lost Upland."
And the Wonderful, "Lost King Of France,"
The true story of Louis XV11, son of Marie Antoinette that is a detective story that moves along to hold your interest.
Brittany, "Horse of Pride."
Provence, "Two Towns in Provence"."
The Southwest, "The Lost Upland."
And the Wonderful, "Lost King Of France,"
The true story of Louis XV11, son of Marie Antoinette that is a detective story that moves along to hold your interest.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I found "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo a lot easier to read than I imagined.
"The perfume" by Patrick Suskind is a marvelous book.
"The elementary particles" by Michel Houellebecq was the talk of the town a couple of years ago.
If you don't mind a bit of eroticism how about "Salt on my skin" by Benoite Groult? Or even more... "The history of O" or "The sexual life of Catherine M." although the last 2 aren't really ment for reading in public I think
Plenty of classics as well, but won't bother you with that...
"The perfume" by Patrick Suskind is a marvelous book.
"The elementary particles" by Michel Houellebecq was the talk of the town a couple of years ago.
If you don't mind a bit of eroticism how about "Salt on my skin" by Benoite Groult? Or even more... "The history of O" or "The sexual life of Catherine M." although the last 2 aren't really ment for reading in public I think
Plenty of classics as well, but won't bother you with that...
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello. I've read three Peter Mayle books recently and have loved them all. Loads of lovely stuff about food, wine and wonderful French characters. Brilliant recommendation. They really got me in the mood for France, only problem is we aren't going until April/May next year!
Lisa
Lisa
#13
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All easy summer reading
The Last Life ? Clare Messud
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
Instructions for Visitors ? Helen Stevenson
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
Women in Evidence ? Japrisot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
lady in a car with glasses - Japrisot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
The Last Life ? Clare Messud
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
Instructions for Visitors ? Helen Stevenson
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
Women in Evidence ? Japrisot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
lady in a car with glasses - Japrisot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...357132-2294232
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Underhill, you and I may have "discussed" A Debt to Pleasure here before, but you're the only other person I've ever heard mention it! I loved the way the eerie darkness slowly took over the cheerful content at the beginning.
Recommend also: Alain Fournier's Le Grande Meaulnes, an atmospheric, coming-of-age novel.
I liked Cara Black's Murder in the Marais, but cannot say the same for her Murder in Belleville. Anyone else?
Recommend also: Alain Fournier's Le Grande Meaulnes, an atmospheric, coming-of-age novel.
I liked Cara Black's Murder in the Marais, but cannot say the same for her Murder in Belleville. Anyone else?
#16
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I liked the Magic of Provence a lot. And for the region you are visiting, perhaps On Rue Tatin (both were suggested by others).
For fiction, perhaps Madame Bovary or Les Miserables. I've never read Le Divorce, but liked the movie.
For fiction, perhaps Madame Bovary or Les Miserables. I've never read Le Divorce, but liked the movie.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Grandmere,
How nice to find another fan of "The Debt to Pleasure"--our book group read it last year, and all liked it quite a lot. Knowledge of France is a plus for reading the book, I think.
Have you read "Perfume," another odd (even bizarre) novel set in France? That one takes place in earlier days and is partly set in the Grasse region.
I also did not especially like "Murder in Bellevue."
For an all-purpose good read, part of which takes place in Paris, Alice Steinbach's "Educating Alice." Each chapter is set in a different part of the world, and the author is a Pulitzer-Prize winner for reporting.
A truly wonderful book set in Normandy is "The Tides of Mont St-Michel," recently reprinted and available at Amazon.
How nice to find another fan of "The Debt to Pleasure"--our book group read it last year, and all liked it quite a lot. Knowledge of France is a plus for reading the book, I think.
Have you read "Perfume," another odd (even bizarre) novel set in France? That one takes place in earlier days and is partly set in the Grasse region.
I also did not especially like "Murder in Bellevue."
For an all-purpose good read, part of which takes place in Paris, Alice Steinbach's "Educating Alice." Each chapter is set in a different part of the world, and the author is a Pulitzer-Prize winner for reporting.
A truly wonderful book set in Normandy is "The Tides of Mont St-Michel," recently reprinted and available at Amazon.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Madame Bovary, since you'll be in Normandy. But for something light and fun, Le Divorce. I hadn't seen the movie, and enjoyed this on my recent trip to Provence. Agreed, Proust is way too heavy for a trip, in more ways than one!
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Underhill, thanks for the recommendation for Perfume! I'd like my book club to read Debt to Pleasure, too!
Another recommendation: Alan Furst's The World at Night, fiction set in France during WW II.
Another recommendation: Alan Furst's The World at Night, fiction set in France during WW II.