Francophile Library – Winter 2018-9 Edition

We've come full circle! I started out this past year with the springtime version of this series, moved into summer and then autumn. Today I share some of the latest winter Francophile book releases or releases that were missed previously. I know there are plenty of Amazon gift cards floating out there from the holidays, perfect for putting one or two of these on your bookshelf or in your Kindle!

Le Cinéma Français

When the inner Francophile awakened in college, I was hard-pressed to access French films to feed my desire for soaking in all things French. I read a lot of books, but could only rely on watching the movie page for the foreign cinemas in the San Francisco Bay Area. I wish I would have had Anne Keenan Higgins's book Le Cinema Francais: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of French Films! Luckily I met my French hubby who helped me navigate through all the classics, but that doesn't mean I didn't absolutely adore exploring this illustrated encyclopedia! It is perfect for the movie fan (me!) and someone who is looking to expand their French cultural knowledge.

From the publisher:

An irresistible illustrated guide and primer to the best of French films, starting with the 1950s, through the spectrum of French New Wave, and on to modern-day confections. Le Cinéma Français captures their spirit in whimsical detail. Each movie is covered with a plot summary; back stories; and illustrations …

Are We French Yet? Keith & Val's Adventures in Provence

When I first saw this title, I thought my friend Charli James who has a blog with a similar title had written a book. But alas, it is a fictional book written by Keith Van Sickle! As an American Francophile and ex-expat, I could really relate to the antics that Val and Keith face and had plenty of opportunities to giggle – a fun read!

From the publisher:

Can Two Americans Really Become French? Val and Keith turned their lives upside down when they quit their jobs to begin a part-time life in Provence. But they wondered: Can we fit in? And maybe become French ourselves?

Paris Postcards: Short stories

This book from Guy Thomas Hibbert is a collection of short stories set in Paris and all contain a postcard. Each postcard has a message and the stories span from 1925 to the present. The stories are all linked in one way or the other and I couldn't stop reading! …these are stories of yearning and longing where hopes and dreams are kindled by the powerful mystique of Paris. And within each story is a simple postcard which may have dramatic consequences.

From the publisher:

The unique sights, smells and sounds of the famous city are the luminous backdrop to these eleven tales whose colorful characters are lured to the City of Light and Love, like moths to a flame.

Cereal City Guide: Paris

From the editors of travel and style magazine Cereal, Rosa Park and Rich Stapleton is a guide to Paris through the eye of design. It is their curated list of their choicest locations in a city they love and not necessarily a full-fledged guidebook. I prefer this type of guidebook these days. Not one that tries to be all things to everyone, but rather one that takes a point of view and sticks to it.

From the publisher:

A portrait of the French capital offering a finely curated edit on what to see and do for discerning travelers and locals alike. Cereal City Guide: Paris is a design-focused portrait of an iconic city, offering a distinctive look at the best museums, galleries, restaurants, and shops.

Le Mot Juste

 

Not living in France and remaining constantly immersed in the French language means that my French suffers horribly. But while I was learning French, working in Switzerland, living and visiting France, I found that if I mastered a few select phrases and words that I could “fake it.” And that is exactly the concept behind Imogen Fortes's new book Le Mot Juste: How to Impress Tout le Monde with Your French! Bon chance!

From the publisher:

Celebrating the art of the French language with a charming collection of words and phrases to bring into everyday conversation. C'est parti! Have you ever wondered exactly what déjà vu is? Have you made a faux pas? Eaten an hors-d'oeuvre? Voulez-vous an explanation of the above? Then voilà, here is a collection of les bons mots so you can start to learn that certain je ne sais quoi of the French language.

Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way

When I transferred to the French part of Switzerland for work, one of the first things I learned about was the apéro, a getting together with drinks and light food, that many offices in the French part of the world practice (usually on Fridays). Little did I know that my 3 years of practice in Switzerland would come in handy while working in a bank in San Francisco because that was something I did every Friday for almost 3 years! When you are participating in an apéro, you are usually (if you are doing it right) drinking an apéritif and if you need a little help there, then Rebekah Peppler has the perfect book for you!

From the publisher:

Apéritif is about kicking off the night, rousing the appetite, and doing so with the carefree spirit of connection and conviviality. Apéritif celebrates that easygoing lifestyle with simple yet stylish recipes for both classic and modern French apéritif-style cocktails, along with French-inspired bites and hors d'oeuvres.

Let's Eat France!

Whenever Mr. Misadventures and I are preparing for a visit to Paris, or if Mr. Misadventures is feeling nostalgic, he reminisces and seeks out French foods that his grandmother used to make. Increasingly, except for a few chefs, that is becoming harder to find in restaurants, and my husband doesn't have all his grandmother's recipes. Which is why I can't wait to get my hands on (the very long titled) Let's Eat France!: 1,250 specialty foods, 375 iconic recipes, 350 topics, 260 personalities, plus hundreds of maps, charts, tricks, tips, and … you want to know about the food of France from François-Régis Gaudry!

From the publisher:

There’s never been a book about food like Let’s Eat France! A book that feels literally larger than life, it is a feast for food lovers and Francophiles, combining the completist virtues of an encyclopedia and the obsessive visual pleasures of infographics with an enthusiast’s unbridled joy.

A Bite-Sized History of France

There is nothing I like more than food. Except for the history of food! Mr. Misadventures will watch any documentary associated with the history of food and I am constantly on the lookout for books. However, somehow I missed the release of A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War, and Enlightenment from Stéphane Henaut and Jeni Mitchell which came out summer 2018. It is something I am remedying right away!

From the publisher:

…a thoroughly original book that explores the facts and legends of the most popular French foods and wines. Traversing the cuisines of France’s most famous cities as well as its underexplored regions. This innovative social history also explores the impact of war and imperialism, the age-old tension between tradition and innovation, and the enduring use of food to prop up social and political identities.

SoulStroller

I included SoulStroller: experiencing the weight, whispers, & wings of the world from Kayce Stevens Hughlett because Paris is featured in it. But I really liked the underlying travel theme throughout the book as you explore the inner and outer journies the author faces in her life. It is poignant and well written and I truly enjoyed her pull-at-the-heart-strings stories!

From the publisher:

Seductive, sincere, and at times hysterical and heartbreaking, this memoir follows author and good girl, Kayce Stevens Hughlett out of her carefully constructed comfort zone into the world of international travel, healers, wise winged mentors, and inspiring versions of humankind. Ethereal, gritty, and relatable, SoulStroller is the evolution of a woman too timid to speak her mind into someone who writes her own rules and redefines what it means to live with silence, compassion, and joie de vivre.

Winter is the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch and dive into some great reading material. I hope you enjoy my suggestions!

How about you? Do you have any books to add to this list? Do share?

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