A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle and C’est La Vie by Suzy Gershman
The French Connection
Summer is almost here and I think of all the people getting
ready for their vacations. I know some dinks (dual income, no kids) who are
able to go snorkeling in Thailand, or others who have soaked in the healing
pools of Iceland, or biked across Germany. And, I’m ashamed to say, I get a
little jealous. I want to travel,
too—like we did in the times of B.C. (before children).
We went to New Zealand (awesome Shotover Jets), Bahamas (delicious conch fritters), and Tahiti (take plenty of sunscreen). I’ve also been to Germany (wunderbar cold cuts and chocolate) and Mexico (oh the fish tacos!). But we've been on a really
long dry spell now and going overseas is a dream we reserve for our twenty-fifth
wedding anniversary (next year, so I better start saving). In the meantime,
I can still travel through books. A Year in Provence was one of my
favorite trips.
A Year in Provenceby Peter Mayleis a humorous account of a British couple who moves to an old farmhouse in Southern France. Thinking back on this book, the IHOP slogan keeps running through my mind. “Come hungry, leave happy.” I read this book over twenty years ago when it was first published and I still drool when I think of all the delectable food Peter Mayle mentioned. From the “sugared slices of fried bread called tranches dorées,” to the“cold roasted peppers, slippery with olive oil and speckled with fresh basil, tiny mussels wrapped in bacon and barbequed on skewers, salad and cheese,” my taste buds never forgot my little jaunt to Provence with Mr. Mayle. His writing style is memorable, too. With charming wit Mayle takes us with him month by month as we explore his new surroundings and neighbors. We learn about truffle hunting, the mistrals, and how to move a frozen stone table with a little help from your friends. I highly recommend this book enjoyable book!
While I prefer having my paperback copy of A Year in Provencethat I can read again whenever I need a “mind vacation” you can read a free version of this book online if you like at http://www.worlduc.com/UploadFiles/BlogFile/35/1102579/a%20year%20in%20provence.pdf
Bonus Review:
C’est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris
and—Voila!—Becomes Almost French by Suzy Gershman is a love and complaint letter of life in Paris. The
book is based on the true events of an American widow who moves to Paris and
immerses herself into a new and exciting culture where even “older” women are
sexy, where joie de vivre is something everyone strives for by enjoying good
food and good company. Living there is
thrilling but can also be complicated. Getting an apartment is an ordeal, installing
or exchanging a fax machine is a nightmare, and by law stores can only hold
sales twice a year, which puts a major crimp in the clothing budget.
My book
club read this memoir and it was not embraced with enthusiasm. The major objection was that it seemed to be
a tad drawn out at times. I don’t dare mention the “chicken juices” to my
sister. According to my sister, Suzy went on about it a little too much. Ditto
for her linen search. More moans came from the fact that Suzy kept lamenting
the fact that she didn't have much money. Well we’d all like to have that
“little” money to buy a cottage on the beach in France. The other half of the book club appreciated it a little more for what it was, an eye opening adventure into the City of Lights,
a dip into a different way of life.
"Suzy Gershman dies at 64; breezy 'Born to Shop' series author" (August 4, 2012). Click here to read article.
Happy Travels Through Reading!
Annette
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