The Feasting Season

by Nancy Coons

Meg Parker, an American travel-book writer, lives in the Lorraine countryside with her two small children and a neglectful husband. Domestic life is beginning to take its toll until Meg is offered her dream to write a guidebook about French history. Unfortunately, there is a catch. Jean-Jacques, a scruffy and imperious photographer, has been assigned to the project. As the dueling pair visits each region in search of the past, what they find is the colorful, food-filled present—the festive bullfights in the Camargue, the sacred gypsy pilgrimage at Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the pictographs and lightning storms of Mount Bégo. And over the course of mouthwatering meals—of lamb daube, paella and rosé, bull steak and anchioade, Brebis and strawberries—their antagonistic collaboration turns into a fiery love affair.

Meg's notions about history—about what we preserve and how we accept the new—evolve, and in the end, she must reconcile her two lives and decide what to hold on to, and what to let go.

Genres: Fiction, France, Food, Foodie

370 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2007

Reviews

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this novel up mainly because I was intrigued with the title…and it’s about food. What can be wrong with a novel that centers on a travel writer exploring the regions of France?

American-born Meg Parker is a travel writer who lives with her husband and two children in the Lorraine region of France. Her home office is a fruit cellar where she keeps her mementos of her grandfather. Plugging away on yet another guidebook, she receives an offer from her publisher to write a book about French history. She’ll have to work with a photographer, but that’s okay.

Meanwhile Meg’ husband is Nigel is out drinking with his friends more often than not. Her kids are whiny. It doesn’t take much for Meg to agree.

The photographer assigned to the project is Jean-Jacques Cahbol. From the first e-mail, the relationship explosive. J-J as he’s known to his friends has one vision for the book, Meg has a completely different view. Meg is a rather uptight American, while J-J has a devil-may-care attitude about life.

As the two hop around France, they enter a torrid love affair that leaves Meg questioning what she really wants in life. Peppered with France’s gastronomical history and wine, the graphic love scenes make for some interesting reading.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be very hard for me not to like a book that takes place in France that is about writing, and food, and has a love story. But this was much more, and I really found myself wondering about the characters when I wasn't with them. When I finished, I eagerly looked up the author to see what else she had written, and if the story continued, and I found out that she had died several years ago. So sad, but I am infinitely glad I read it. Bon appetit!

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story - fiery and delicious (both the affair and the food). Set in France it’s as much a commentary on it’s history as it is of it’s food. I enjoyed the descriptions of Meg’s cooking ... made me hungry! I also enjoyed listening in on her struggle with her conscience as she decided between family and red hot love.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Shoshana · Rating 2 out of 5]

France! Food! What's not to love? Well, the main character, when she's tedious, and makes horrible decisions, and the male lead that we're supposed to love is also pretty irritating when he's not producing food. And I'm sorry but I cannot, CANNOT, sympathize with someone who is *knowingly* leaving her two young children under the care of a negligent father and a young, overworked, taken-advantage-of nanny. The moment she continued her affair and traveling despite knowing that her husband was away at all hours, taking advantage of the sitter, abandoning their kids, I stopped supporting her in the least.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.... Towards the end of the novel, I became bored with the story but was determined to finish it anyhow. I found the character of Meg to be selfish. I understand her desire for writing the book, but then the lies she tells her family to be with JJ... and when her young children really needed her the most...then the dog runs away... When I think she redeemed herself, the last page had me saying ?#$*&! The parts I enjoyed were the history, the description of the sites and food. I just do not enjoy stories that involve infidelity.

[Beckysmiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book follows the story of a woman who falls in love with another man and must choose between her new love and her husband and two small children, it is really about France--and food. Lots and lots of food. And sex. This is enough to give anyone the travel bug and a deep relationship with a bottle of wine. Delicious. The plot is really beside the point--who cares, really. But the food. Ah, the food...

[Bridget · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot give this book more than one star. The writing was choppy and at times painful, and the storyline was just sad and depressing. I finished it because I bought it and felt I needed to bring some closure. It was like watching a dark movie about someone's life. The main character was weak and continued to make the same poor decisions, even though she knew she was wrong every time. Her learning curve was more like a straight line. Next, please!

[Terry Tschann Skelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seldom have I found writing this good to be so sluggish that I've had to force myself to keep picking it up. Although I'm a big fan of French cooking, the French countryside, wine and sex, the pace was so slow and repetitious that I kept skipping pages of redundant emails and text messages trying to find the plot. The main character was really too naive to be believable and I kept wondering what the "worldly" photographer saw in her. Nice sensual descriptions, but not enough story.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is indeed "delicieuse". A saucy tryst set in France. Anyone who has (or hasn't) had to decide between fidelity and passion can identify with the main character Meg. An extremely enjoyable read for all who love food especially French cuisine. I hear the next book is a continuation of Meg's story but this time about wine. I can't wait.

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yawn - then a bang! The first few chapters of this book are presented as a mundane suburban-fam-does-a-remodel but then it bursts into this unexpected tale of travel, adventure, adultery, lustful luncheons, culinary canoodling. You're so swept up with the fun that you have to wonder, does this book end? And will it suck?

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book around Thanksgiving and it was a nice romp through the French countryside. Being a vegetarian, I did not enjoy all the descriptions of the food as much as I might have, but I did appreciate how much the protaganist luxuriated in the food. If you are in the mood for a fairly light read with good character development, I would recommend.

[Tennessee O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book ...took me a little longer to read it then other books, so I could put it down more often! Must say that I always felt like wine and coffee again reading it. Interesting storyline with the fact that the main character is a writer and her partner in crime is a photographer.

[Kwoomac · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story follows a journalist and a photographer as they travel all around France. She's tracing history, he's eating the local foods. I think what kept me going was the beautiful descriptions of the food. The relationship between the two main characters was cliched.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had bright hopes for this one, but alas as i slogged through to page 87 I just could not bear to go further. It felt so damn dark, the main character getting smashed about by the elements of her life and the struggle to write a book she had dreamed of, I just could not read the rest. Desole!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of all the possibilities life has to offer! The side story is about writing a history book.... I skipped over all the historic part and loved the main theme!

[Rachel Burward-hoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and absolutely delicious- if you're into France, history, great food and illicit affairs. I had a very hard time putting it down and felt transported to the French countryside.

[Mariela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth the read. Chic lit at almost its worst and all it does it make you hungry. coons' writing is nothing special and her imagery is way too obvious.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's kinda housewife romance novel-ish, but the food descriptions are fantastic.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very romantic book! I am looking forward to the sequel!

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent read if you love food and reading about cooking and eating. Love story is fine, but takes a back seat to the food writing. Yum.

[Teryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really pretty good. It took me a few pages to get into it. What I loved the most about it was the description of the food. Definitely a book for an older audience.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started out really liking the story, but ended up becoming bored with both the characters and storyline.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sultry book about food and wine journey in France

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given this 5 stars had I liked the main character more. She was difficult for me to understand, but I enjoyed this novel anyways.

[Jillian Dobrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun guilty pleasure read. Excellent ending. I would highly recommend it for someone who is interested in learning a little more about French food. Fun book! Well worth my $5 off the clearance rack.

[Aubrey Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Coons' description of food and frolicking around the French countryside, but the story was lame.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like books about cheating spouses.

[Cathy Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to be Meg. Enough said