How to Be French: Eat Drink Dress Travel Love

by Janine Marsh

Delve into the art of loving and living in every moment.

What does it mean to be French?

Is it pausing to enjoy a glass of good wine or a spread of cheese? Being a flâneur down laneways steeped in history? Knowing just how to dress so you always look effortlessly chic ?

This book is a celebration of the French lifestyle—an education in drinking to savor the moment, travelling indulgently, and cherishing food and culture. A lesson in the joy of taking things slowly. We may not all live in France, but anyone can learn how to be un petit plus français with this guide by Janine Marsh.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Lifestyle

216 pages, Hardcover

Published October 31, 2023

About the author

Janine Marsh is an ex Londoner who gave up life in the city for love and the good life in France. She is known as “flop chef not top chef” to her French friends (Madame Merde behind her back – and that’s a long story that’s in her book My Good Life in France!).

She lives in France with 3 dogs, 6 cats, 4 geese, 28 ducks and 18 chickens who all have names and think she is the maid. She writes in a converted pigsty in her run-down farmhouse in the middle of nowhere rural France when she’s not travelling around France and writing about her discoveries for her blog or newspapers and magazines.

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Be French by Janine Marsh, Eat, drink, dress, travel and love la vie francaise is an exceptionally beautiful presented reference book to France filled with vast information on location mixed with part biography on Janine's life since she bought a property over two decades ago which has since been renovated.

It's filled with beautiful photography and lessons on How To Be French.

You may ask, How Can You Be French? Well, it's easy really ~ just a way of life but it does have its moments!

This book is perfect for those of you who maybe dream of living in France or just want to incorporate it into their everyday life.

It's broken into sections:-

Live, Think, Eat, Drink, Dress, Travel, Love, Fun, Speak, Paris.

There's even a French music 🎶 play list at the end created by Janine.

I've followed Janine on her journey and she's followed mine since 2013.

You can follow Janine at The Good Life France website:- https://thegoodlifefrance.com

* Janine has great knowledge of everything French and is still learning 'How To Be French!'.

I really loved this book and feel as if it was written for me.

Note: The Publishers are Smith Street Books

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book! My mum gifted this to me as a Christmas present and it has certainly taught me a lot, and given me a lot more than just the language to love about France.

It was well organised, with sections on eating, drinking, speaking, loving, dressing, having fun, travelling and living like the French as well as a mini glossary of used but not taught phrases at the back. It was filled with beautiful photos, and was gorgeously presented with pastel pages and pretty designs and such.

I liked that she wrote brief interesting histories on things, and also gave brief overviews of politics (of which there is much) and religion (of which there is not).

I would like to read one of these about Australia to know how much of this book to take seriously. Obviously it’s a generalisation - no cutter fits all cookies - but I’d like to know how much and how accurate of one.

Here’s hoping I actually get to experience some of this for myself one of these days; croigts les doigts ! 🤞

[Veronica Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, history, culture, art, abodes, language, and of course, the food--Author Marsh once again sets the stage for on how to obtain those je ne sais quoi fundamentals Francophiles around the globe hold dear! Chapter after chapter, the author highlights her own journey and experiences throughout, giving readers an inside view of life in France and how to embrace their lifestyle.

I've truly enjoyed reading Author Marsh's books. Her narrative style draws you immediately in, giving readers something new to be learned and bringing a smile to your face as you explore each section. This latest book has certainly brought new additions to my travel bucket list and Francophile goals. It's a lovely read (one to savor again and again--the pictures are gorgeous) and makes a perfect gift idea. Ooh-la-la, highly recommended!

[Edie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books (and I don’t know how anyone could not like them) you’ll love this one. It’s a little different. It’s not memoirs or a story. It’s closer to a how to book. How to be like the French. Of course, unless you are French you can never truly achieve this goal. But it’s fun to learn about and these come across as authentic observations

Beautiful pictures alternate with pleasantly written entries. It’s a pleasure to read.

[Peter Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun - I bought it when I found the page stating:
How to think like the French
- embrace quality over quantity
- make culture part of your daily life
- consider multiple sources and philosophers to form your opinions
- support the arts in all their forms…
- it’s about balance…

I thought how can you argue with that!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janine writes lovingly about her adopted country, and delves deep into the culture, history, language and quirks of the French people and their country. I learned a lot. I have followed Janine on social media for years, and I recommend that any Francophile do the same. Merci, Janine.

[Michele Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely little book. I found it very relatable and informative. However, a message to the editor: it is impossible to comprehend that the absolute howler on page 132 escaped your notice. I mean, is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know that the iconic 2CV vehicle is made by Citroen and NOT Renault, as written in the book?

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree that the type font size is too small and difficult to read. Once I got past that, I enjoyed the book on my flight to and from Paris. I found much of it true to form and it helped me articulate things I felt while in both the Loire Valley and in Paris.

[Jamilyn Aubel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pretty book, loved all the pictures, fun read while Olympics were in Paris.

[Marsha Guerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book prior to a trip to France.

[Larry Hachiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and charming must-read for any aspiring Frenchman/French woman!