Francophiles discussion

I am about half way through this book and find that the author really seems to have thoroughly researched a variety of resources regarding this subject. Everything I have thought about the French's feelings regarding love and relationships, especially comparative to the U.S., is confirmed and explained in detail in this 'documentary' of the French regarding seduction. When I think she has covered every aspect of the subject, I find the next chapter reveals even more. If any of you have any interest in this subject, I would highly recommend it although I have not yet completed it. I am curious to know if any of you have read it and if so, what are your thoughts?

In your opinion is it a "chick book?"

Not read this, but have you read "Petite Anglaise"? Sounds somewhat similar to this title. Not "seduction" exactly, but romance, marriage & "cyber-affairs" from the point of view of an Englishwoman married to a Frenchman.

William wrote: "In your opinion is it a "chick book?""

Definetly not. My husband can't wait to read it.

Nancy wrote: "Not read this, but have you read "Petite Anglaise"? Sounds somewhat similar to this title. Not "seduction" exactly, but romance, marriage & "cyber-affairs" from the point of view of an Englishwom..."

I haven't but sounds like I would like to. I'm adding it to my 'tokindle read' list. Thank you.

Richt now I'm reading The Greater Journey by David McCullough. An engrossing and well written history of early Americans in Paris. I don't want it to end! I am a BIG reader of French history (anyone else?) and am always looking for recommendations in this area

Ooooh. That sounds good too Nancy. Another one to add to my list.

"Paris Discovered: Explorations in the City of Light" takes you through the dark and unfamiliar streets and buildings of Paris bringing history to life in the less touristy/familiar areas. I enjoyed it.

This sounds like something I might have on my shelf but haven't gotten to yet. Thanks for the recommendation Debbie

I have the McCullough book here and have leafed through it but not read it completely yet. It looks so good. I'm reading Eiffel's Tower: And the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled, and Thomas Edison Became a Count , its great so far. I'm putting the Paris Discovered book on my list. I have Paris Under Water here too, Cant wait.

I have Eiffel's Tower but haven't gotten to it yet. Also Paris Underwater sounds fascinating. Must buy that one!

This is a kids book but takes place in Paris and mentions some of the big clocks, its "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". I just finished it and its a very quick read, like an hour.

I just finished The Greater Journey and have started Sleeping With The Enemy" re: Coco Chanel and her involvement with Nazi occupied Paris Anyone read this yet?

No but I saw it and thought it looked interesting. I hate to think she was a Nazi sympathizer.

Based on this book (Sleeping with The Enemy) it was more than just sympathizer. Apparently this has been sort of common knowledge in France but the details were never much talked about. Interesting

Looks like I have to add this to my list. :)

Noticed that I cannot "pull up" Sleeping With the Enemy" on Goodreads. This happens to me ocasionally...a book is not listed here. Happen to anyone else?

Yes this happens to me too. I have to look through the author or once, I had to find the book on my friends list and pull it up that way. weird.

I have had the same issue Nancy and found that searching by author typically works.

I'm not sure how I finally found it, but I did manage to post it. BTW, I was reading the reviews on Amazon that were only lukewarm, a few saying that it was written like a 'textbook' and really difficult to slog through to the end. For my part, although I'm only 3-4 chapters in, I'm not finding that at all

This discussion is going to add a lot of books to my "to read" list! Here's a couple of my favorites: Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik, The Yellow House by Martin Gayford (about Vincent van Gogh in Arles) and anything by or about Marcel Proust.

Read both of those. I LOVE "Paris to the Moon" and frankly ALL Adam Gopnick's work (he writes regularly for The New Yorker, BTW)He has a new book coming out soon entitled "Winter:Five Windows on the Season". It's not France related, as far as I know but I just ordered it and it should be arriving soon..so I'll let you all know. I read "The Yellow House" a few years ago when we first visited Provence (I always take a 'location' related book to read with me when we travel). I thought it was excellent and a really fascinating account of the relationship between Gaugan and Van Gogh during their time in Arles
(9 weeks, I believe). Currently I am almost finished with "Sleeping With the Enemy"...it's good but getting a little bogged down in minutae related to the Third Reich at the moment. I'll let you all know more when I get to the end.

The Yellow House is excellent! I put Paris to the Moon on my list. :)

Just finished "Hot Sun, Cool Shadow" by Angela Murrills. This is the perfect book to have read before heading for the Languedoc Region, esp. with regard to local food specialties. It even has recipes at the end of each chapter. It's of the Peter Mayle variety about a transplanted family (Canadian) purching a home in France, however, it concentrates more on their travels in search of the house than on where they ended up living.
Also finshed Sleeping With the Enemy, which I thought was fascinating, if a bit 'draggy' in parts. I will never view CoCo Chanel the same way again, tho.

I've been wanting to read Hot Sun Cool Shadow for quite some time especially since our maison secondaire is the Languedoc. So glad to hear your positive feedback Nancy. Can't wait to start it.

Nancy: So glad you liked "Hot Sun". You never know when you make a book suggestion if others will enjoy it
as well. Like Debbie, I have a special affinity for the area which made it especially interesting (loved the recipes although I can't imagine making my own confit de canard!!)

Susan, we are leaving for France on Friday morning. Will be in the Languedoc from 11/5 until about 11/12.
If you are there, or will be there, we will be travelling all over between Montpellier & Toulouse, you can private message me at Faundance5@aol.com and maybe we can work out un rendez-vous(-:

Susan: I am sooooo envious. How I wish I could be there to meet you. I have been out of work for 10-months due to a back injury so I do not have any accrued vacation unfortunately. I do hope you have a WONDERFUL time! Please tell us all about it when you return.

Nancy: thank you for the kind offer of a rendez-vous,
but instead of going to Collioure this fall, it's time
to visit my family in Alsace so I'm waiting until the
end of Nov. so I can take in the Christmas markets at
the same time. I will be in the Roussillon for 2 weeks at Easter and again in June and July, so maybe we'll find another opportunity in the future. Bon voyage!

We will be in Strasbourg through mid-December. I can't wait to go to the Christmas market! I hope I will have room in my bags for some of the wonderful treasures.

It's the best Christmas market in France so you'd better bring an extra bag! Although the smaller ones in Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Saverne, etc. or also
nice. A lovely time to be there.

One day we will all meet in Paris! After all isn't the saying: "When good Americans die they go to ....Paris!" LOL

I don't if it's correct or not but I like it :0)

Nancy wrote: "Read both of those. I LOVE "Paris to the Moon" and frankly ALL Adam Gopnick's work (he writes regularly for The New Yorker, BTW)He has a new book coming out soon entitled "Winter:Five Windows on t..."

Adam Gopnik just came out with a new book called "The Table Comes First: Family, France, and the Meaning of Food". Another to put on the to-read list!

Now that's what I love about this site! Merci Mari for
the heads-up about the new Gopnik book. It obviously
slipped by me, but I ordered it immediately! Let's keep
those suggestions coming......

Debbie: I read a review of La Seduction and it mentioned there are 16 pages of photos. I was planning to download on Kindle but I'm wondering if I should get the book for the photos. Does it matter?

Hi William. I read the kindle version and it had no photos. I am dissappointed now that I didn't get the hard back. Without knowing what the pictures are of I don't know if they would be beneficial to the text or not. If you buy the book, let us know.

Hi, I just joined the group, my name's Alex and I am currently reading Books, Baguettes and Bedbugs: The Left Bank World of Shakespeare and Co by Jeremy Mercer. I traveled around the south of France a little when I was a child but I am currently working to save money to see Paris for the first time.

Hi Alex and welcome! I have not heard of this book and it is always nice to have more suggestions. I'll definitely check it out. Good luck on your savings. I recently put a post on my blog site about Paris. You can see it at www.afrenchlife.com if you are interested.

We're back from Provence & Languedoc. Am currently reading "Death In The City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi Occupied Paris" and find it quite good. It's part history (of the Occupation), part mystery and all true and seems well researched. The author does get off on some tangents, but since those tangets concern Paris in the 40's, I don't mind (-:
Anyone have any recommendations for good historical fiction about Cathars? Since we spent a good deal of time in Cathar Country, I feel up for reading something about them.

Although it might not qualify as "good" historical
fiction, "Labyrinth" by Kate Moss seems to be a
must read for everyone in the Languedoc/Roussillon.

Read it a few years back. It's what sparked my interest in the Cathars and that time period. Anything else come to mind?

Just downloaded "The Table Comes First", by Gopnick and "La Seduction" on my Kindle and started both today

I picked up the hard back of La Seduction and am about 1/3 of the way through. The photos generally emphasize the points she makes in the book with shots of Sarkozy doing the hand kiss and things of that nature. It wouldn't say you're missing anything significant with the Kindle version but if you see the book in a bookstore you may want to flip through and check out the photos.

Thanks William! Will do.

Finished La Seduction a while back and found it really fascinating. I've passed it along to my husband who is really enjoying it also. This was a great recommendation from this group...and one I may not have found on my own. What's the latest, hottest that everyone is now reading?

I recently finished some earlier recommendations from this group: A Trick of the Light and The Paris Wife. I enjoyed them both and have Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co. on my To-Read list.
Also finished La Seduction; it's hard for me to give an overall opinion as some of the chapters I liked a lot, and others not so much.

Currently reading Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas, who moved to Paris for a couple years. So far I love it. She loves chocolate and sweets so half the book is her chronicling the bakeries and chocolate shops in Paris that she tries out every weekend. She lists all the addresses so we can try them too. She is from New York so she compares the shops in NY to the Paris shops, also listing their addresses. Very informative!!

I was just listening to the podcast Books on the Nightstand and there was a recommendation for the writer Cara Black. She writes murder mysteries set in Paris. I'd never heard of her before but looking at her books/reviews on Amazon she seems to have a devoted following. Any opinions from those of had read her books?

I say give one a try. It's not great literature, but
I like the cultural details of the different areas of
Paris she describes.

William, I have read a few and would say that some are better than others. If you peruse the reviews (hey, that rhymes!) you should be able to see which are the better ones. But she does a great job of making you feel Paris, which is always a huge plus in my book.