5 Books Of All Kinds About France

5 Engrossing Reads For Francophiles

Watch the Trailer For My (Part-Time) Paris Life with Lisa Anselmo

Gift Ideas For Wine Lovers

• Wine totes for transporting cold bottles to dinner parties & picnics
• Electric bottle openers that make uncorking easy
• Aerators that bring out the best flavor
• Wine savers to keep unfinished wine from spoiling
• A set of nice glasses for classy parties
• A set of unbreakable glasses for outdoor get-togethers
• Cork holders that turn corks into works of art
• Racks for nicely displaying bottles
• Wine pourers that increase exposure to oxygen
• Decanters to enhance the bouquet

Cooking with Patricia Wells in Paris

In Depth

As a country with a rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage, France is a widely influential nation with a plethora of beautiful historical sites and landmarks. If you want to learn more about the country or just want to experience it through the eyes of another, then here are, in no particular order, some fantastic books about France.

First up, at #1, is The Food Lover's Guide to Paris, a go-to guide to the best restaurants, cafes, wine bars, bistros, and even outdoor markets in the city. It's written by Patricia Wells, a former restaurant critic for the International Herald Tribune who has spent more than 30 years in Paris.

Aside from containing nearly 500 of Paris's finest gastronomic addresses, the guide also includes 40 recipes from some of Wells's favorite chefs and purveyors. There's also an app of the same name, which is regularly updated by Wells and her small team. It features a constantly expanding list of food destinations, covering every category from casual bistros to Michelin 3-star restaurants.

It features a constantly expanding list of food destinations, covering every category from casual bistros to Michelin 3-star restaurants.

At #2 is My Part-Time Paris Life, the memoir of Lisa Anselmo, whose mother, a strong woman who was a defining force in her life, passed away from breast cancer. Realizing that she hadn't built a life of her own, she started wondering who she was without her mother and her expectations. Desperate for answers, she impulsively bought a small apartment in her favorite city, Paris.

Lisa quickly learned that living as an expat isn't easy, and she started to doubt herself and her love of the city. The book explores her search for peace and meaning, and how the ups and downs of expat life in Paris taught her to let go of fear and find self-worth. Her story has been featured on the show House Hunters International.

Next up, at #3, we have The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands. The novel is about Katherine Price, who, on the evening of her 22nd wedding anniversary, receives a note from her husband asking for a divorce. After a year of heartbreak, she impulsively agrees to a home exchange in the south of France.

The novel is about Katherine Price, who, on the evening of her 22nd wedding anniversary, receives a note from her husband asking for a divorce.

Charmed by the picturesque countryside, the breathtaking Cote d'Azur, and the enchantment-filled boulevards of Paris, Katherine feels life opening up once again. Chance encounters hint at romance and passion, but her former life waits for her back home, and lingering memories of betrayal cause her to struggle in her search for happiness.

At #4 is The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris. Written by Evie Gaughan, it tells the story of Edith Lane, who escapes heartache in Ireland and sets off to find her fortune in France. She imagines her new life will be one big fairytale, but in reality, her dream job turns out to be in a quirky old bakery in the town of Compiegne, one hour north of Paris.

Edith soon discovers that the bakery on Rue De Paris, which is run by the most ill-tempered woman in France, is not what it seems and that some ghosts from the past are harder to escape than others. As the family's secrets reveal themselves, she finds herself drawn into a mystery that will force her to choose between love and friendship.

Edith soon discovers that the bakery on Rue De Paris, which is run by the most ill-tempered woman in France, is not what it seems and that some ghosts from the past are harder to escape than others.

Finally, taking the #5 spot is We'll Never Have Paris. Edited by Andrew Gallix, it's a collection of short stories, essays, and poems that builds up a captivating portrait of Paris as viewed by English speakers today. It includes the work of seventy-nine authors from the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

The French capital has always radiated an unmatched cultural, political, and intellectual brilliance in the anglophone imagination, maintaining its status as a modern cosmopolitan city better than any of its kind today. The book explores this enduring fascination with this myth of a bohemian and literary Paris, bringing together many talented and adventurous writers, such as Joanna Walsh and Lauren Elkin.