Best book reads for summer

The summer months lend themselves perfectly to leisurely reading, the chance to catch up on your to-be-read list and be inspired. And our ultimate list of summer reads naturally comes with an added French twist.

Lazy days on the waterways ahead. Evenings beneath a setting sun, glass of Picpoul in one hand, un-put-down-able book in the other. We’ve done our reading, we’ve done our best seller research and we’ve chosen a very French slant for our summer reads. Some you’ll find at the front of the bookstore, others you’ll have to ask for from the archive.

If France is on your holiday horizon, why not jump right in there with a book or two about the country? Whether it’s classic or new fiction, the latest on French food and wine, or a bit of history, there’s a good book waiting for you to open.

Read on to discover our fictional summer reads about France and where best to read them as well as our favourite non fiction options. Fact or fiction, but always France, we’ve got you covered here.

Summer reads – best fiction books involving France

Our first selection of must-reads for summer offers novels about France. All are real page turners and guarantee inspiration for your holiday.

Carcassonne. It is the setting for one of our picks for fiction summer reads 2019.

Juicy historic intrigue

If you’re a Kate Mosse fan or love some juicy historic intrigue, The Burning Chambers is a must on your fiction summer reads list.

As she does in her world famous Labyrinth, Mosse returns to the iconic Cité of Carcassonne for her latest bestseller. This one takes the sectarian tensions between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century as its central theme and offers a whirlwind of secrets, romance and intrigue all set within those iconic Languedoc castle walls.

Best place to read it? On board a hotel barge cruise along the Canal du Midi with a stop off at Carcassonne.

beaujolais

A Beaujolais vintage

Antoine Laurain’s novel, now available in paperback, takes you back in time via an old bottle of Beaujolais, found in a cellar in Paris.

Vintage 1954 tells the story of the four who taste the exceptional wine and find themselves transported back to Paris in 1954. Their discovery of the city as it was then and their quest to return to the current day make a fun summer read.

Best place to read it? On a Rhône river cruise that takes you through Beaujolais en route to more delightful French wines.

paris fromagerie

As only travel can

The Cook combines our triple loves of France, food and travel. Through the story we’re led to consider the brutally visceral – the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the kitchen, and also the cultural aspects of both cooking and dining.

Maylis de Kerangal’s short story follows ambitious chef, Mauro, through the perils of a life lived in the all-consuming restaurant trade. Parisien-born Mauro travels to Berlin, Thailand and Burma to widen his horizons and ultimately to try and find himself through cooking. Superb translation from the original French by Sam Taylor.

Best place to read it? Following in the footsteps of Rick Stein along the Canal Entre Deux Mers savouring the culture of quality produce and dining in south west France.

The Louvre in Paris at dusk

An ever changing world

A masterful debut novel about a young Palestinian man travelling from the Middle East to France between the wars.

The Parisian follows dreamer Midhat Kamal on his journey from Palestine to medical school in France. By the time he returns Ottoman Palestine has been taken under British rule. Midhat’s sense of identity is framed against this frail and ever-changing political landscape. Isabella Hammad has created a sprawling, complicated novel to get your teeth into while you have time on your trip.

Best place to read it? In Alsace, where a once fought over borderland has become a symbol of cultural strength and a magnet for tourists.

Choclate drink Toulouse France

Remembering Chocolat

Joanne Harris captured our imaginations with the publication of Chocolat way back in 2000 and returns with Vianne Rocher settled in the town where she once caused so much stir.

In The Strawberry Thief the chocolate shop we came to love so much and the quintessential French life we hoped she would lead appears to have come to fruition. Yet old rivalries are brought back to the surface and fresh mysteries arise as old Narcisse the florist dies. You’ll be comfortable with the setting and the lilt of this scribe wherever you find yourself this summer.

Best place to read it? Somewhere in Aquitaine not far from the Gers region in south west France, where Harris set her fictional town and left us all longing for her location.

Taking time out to sink into a novel is one of life’s true pleasures. So pick a spot in the shade, and escape into one of these fictional summer reads. We’ll organise the rivers, fine wine and dining.

Hotel barge Randle Burgundy

The Dragonfly

Our next choice for your summer reads list couldn’t have a more appropriate setting or author. The Dragonfly mostly takes place on the beautiful rivers south of Paris and is written by Kate Dunn whose inspiration for the book comes directly from her experience on the canals and rivers of France.

Despite its real-life backdrop, The Dragonfly is a work of fiction describing the river road trip taken by a middle-aged Englishman and his 9-year old granddaughter. Colin and Delphine find themselves thrown together in the small confines of his boat, the Dragonfly, after the murder of Delphine’s mother. The two characters are very different – not only is Colin a solitary figure, he speaks no French and has to deal with the fact that his son is in prison awaiting trial for murder. Delphine, on the other hand, has attitude with a capital A and is dealing with the pain of losing her mother and possibly her father.

As this unlikely couple winds their way along the rivers, they gradually come to trust each other and discover complex emotions. But The Dragonfly isn’t just about relationships; this family drama comes with much darker undertones. You’ll find yourself turning the pages compulsively in your bid to get to the denouement of one of this year’s best thrillers set on the French waterways.

Best place to read it? From the serenity of the Canal du Nivernais and who knows, you might even bump into the author while you’re there.

rural france

The Road that Runs

Our last suggestion for fictional summer reads with a French twist takes us to rural life in France. The Road that Runs takes place deep in the fruit-growing countryside of Provence. On the face of it, the setting and characters are just ordinary French villagers going about their daily lives. Scratch a little deeper, however, and you’ll find that extraordinary makes a much better adjective to describe the goings-on. After all, it isn’t every day that a villager becomes an international pickle purveyor.

Like Chez Martin, the first book in the series, this book takes the Martin family as its inspiration. And that’s the animal family as well as the human since the people are joined by a motley collection of ponies, cats and Clovis, the wolf dog. There’s a decent sprinkling of expats too. This account of contemporary life in southern France takes you on a fun ride through the everyday events and paints an excellent portrait of the French as they really are.

Lovers of France will recognise a few of the traits as they turn the pages and everyone will laugh a lot. However, it’s not all fun and games so prepare for a sad twist. Little is known about the author, Madame Verte, other than that she obviously knew the Martins and their village life first hand. According to Amazon, she’s now experiencing rural life in Dorset – perhaps she’ll complete the trilogy with an ‘At Home with the Smiths’…

Best place to read it? Having fought the irresistible urge, just head straight for Provence.

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Non-fiction summer reads

Not everyone idealises over a summer holiday involving sun loungers and trashy novel after trashy novel. For fans of fact, we bring you our non fiction summer reads instead.

Whether it’s history, geography or the language that fascinates, read on to discover our top picks for the best non fiction summer reads entwining France.

We bring you a selection of must-reads on French food and wine, history and a touch of travel plus a dose of language learning.

Chateau Chenonceau at the turn of the season

A France for all seasons

Janine Marsh is the expat behind the hugely popular The Good Life France website and a fount of all knowledge when it comes to living in France. She’s written a trilogy of books based on her experience, firstly of turning a dilapidated barn in northern France into a home, and secondly of life in la vrai France.

My Four Seasons in France is the second of the trilogy and as you might expect, takes you on a journey through a year of life in the Seven Valleys. Described as “warm, uplifting and effervescent”, this is a book that tells it as it is but doesn’t put you off finding your own barn and making a go of it in France.

Best place to read it? On a deckchair on a river cruise as it glides you through the bucolic Normandy countryside, at its prettiest at the height of summer.

Provence lavender the region's passion

Finding the key to La Belle Vie 

In Passion for Provence, Gayle Smith Padgett’s adoration for her adopted home in southern France literally drips from the pages. As a result, the memoir provides you with an in-depth picture of all the facets of Provence, from its landscapes to its food via the locals, culture and of course, language.

This page-turner isn’t just about waxing lyrical on anything Provence; it also offers insight into the challenges of the French language and the necessities of everyday life, aka paperwork. But overall, Gayle is head over heels in love and urges you to come under the spell of Provence too with her 22 keys to La Belle Vie, served in snippets at the end of each chapter.

Best place to read it? On board the Pivoine as she takes you from Avignon to the Mediterranean coast via some of the prettiest sights in Provence.

Bucolic Gascony

Southwest France on paper 

Planète Gascogne makes a perfect addition to a coffee table for anyone who loves southwest France or simply enjoys quirky drawings. Author Perry Taylor has dived deep in Gascony and depicted life in this part of the country in his signature drawings, each captioned to make you chuckle in French and English.

Taylor leaves no stone of this very rural part in France unturned, a corner that’s obviously very dear to his heart. Through his beautiful drawings and refreshing outlook on life, this is a catching read and we’re sure that you too will warm to Gascony.

Best place to read it? Seeing is, of course, believing, so you’d be reading Planète Gascogne in the region itself while cruising gently down the Garonne Canal.

 

French riviera marketplace

A culinary ride through history

The greatest ingredients in French cuisine have their origins traced through history in this unique book by Stephanie Henault and Jeni Mitchell.

A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War and Enlightenment tells the story of French gastronomy through the leaders and eras that have shaped the country. Discover Charlemagne’s introduction of honey and then explore the shift from the spices of the Middle Ages to the cream and butter of today along with the defining influences from French colonies. A must for anecdotes to recount when you’re à table this summer.

Best place to read it? On a hotel barge on any French waterway before you sit down to another dinner showcasing the best of local wining and dining.

Omaha Beach - one of the locations in our fiction summer reads 2019

The women behind the scenes

6 June 1944 has lent itself to a whole host of books about the Allied landings that changed the face of World War II, but D-Day Girls changes tack on the usual.

This book by Sarah Rose tells the story of three women, recruited as spies in France and whose intrepid work did valuable groundwork for the Allied invasion. Researched from recently declassified files, D-Day Girls takes you on a thrilling journey through war-ridden France and makes the perfect addition to any World War II library.

Best place to read it? As you travel on a Seine river cruise en route to Omaha Beach and other emblematic D-Day locations in Normandy.

L'Arc de triomhpe - an iconic road to drive in France

Off the beaten road

Inspired by France but fancy getting off the beaten track? Then pop the latest edition of Back Roads France from DK Eyewitness Travel Guides on your list of summer reads.

The guide includes 24 routes in France that take you off the beaten autoroute to discover lesser known parts of the country. It includes maps and plenty of useful tips and practical advice.

Best place to read it? While on board a self-hire boat on any of the French waterways to inspire you to discover the country behind a different kind of wheel.

Wine in a cart in Alsace

Alpine wine

Think French wine and you won’t necessarily put the Alps on your map, but this region turns out to be home to some exceptional vin.

Wines of the French Alps , new for this summer, takes you on a snow-capped journey to discover wines from Savoie, Bugey and even Isère. Behind the words is wine expert Wink Lorch who has the local’s lowdown because she lives part of the year in the French Alps.

As well as an education, this coffee-table book is also a must if you fancy a change from the Bordeaux and Burgundy wine stories.

Best place to read it? As you ride your luxury hotel barge from Lyon through Provence with the snowy Alps on the horizon.

Big book learn to speak French fast

Speak French fast

Your holiday in France will be so much more enjoyable if you speak at least a bit of the lingo.

Fast Talk French from Lonely Planet takes your language skills up a level whether you’re starting from zero or de-rusting your school French. Useful phrases plus handy tips on pronunciation will help you get the very best from your stay in France.

Best place to read it? On any cruise in France where you try out your new language skills on the staff and then on the locals when you visit the sights.

Hunting for truffles in the undergrowth

A tasty underworld

Digging deep into the murky world of truffles is no easy feat for investigative reporter Jacobs, in this non-fiction addition to our list of best summer reads.

In this revelatory tome, The Truffle Underground, it seems that truffles, the ‘finest, scarcest and most valuable ingredients in fine dining’ are tainted by crime along every step of their production journey.

With underworld trading, poisoning of truffle-hunters and one French farmer literally willing to kill to protect his truffles, you’ll be immersed in the shady world of the fields and groves of France and Italy where truffles are harvested.

Best place to read it? Cruising Provence where the Luberon is most associated with truffle harvesting in France.

Cognac brandy with ice

The World of Cognac

If your glass of a little something French isn’t cognac, it soon could be. If you have chosen cognac as your tipple, read on to discover just what’s behind that amber-coloured nectar.

Author Michelle Brachet knows exactly what she’s talking about – not only has she written extensively about the king of French liqueurs, she has won awards for her expert knowledge.

The latest edition of The World of Cognac contains lots of excellent photographs and just about everything you could possibly want to know about cognac. From its rich history and the distillery process to an overview of the principal brands. Michelle also includes a long list of anecdotes surrounding the liqueur, which adds a fun and interesting aspect to all the alcohol. And of course, no world would be complete without advice on how to drink cognac and recipes for the perfect cocktails.

Best place to read it? as part of the fabulous craic served intuitively aboard hotel barge St Louis cruising the heavenly waters of Aquitaine.

Warning: after reading this you will probably feel the irresistible urge to treat yourself to a VSOP. À votre santé!

Picasso statues Antibes museum

Art through another’s eyes

A revealing memoir from Pablo Picasso’s mistress and muse, Françoise Gilot has been brilliantly co-written with art critic Carlton Lake.

Gilot, an acclaimed painter and critic, was just 21 when she met 63 year old Picasso in a Parisian cafe during the 1943 German occupation in France. In Life With Picasso, she has much to complain of in her decade-long relationship with the notorious womaniser but this book is an astute analysis of Picasso’s character and work as it reflects against 20th century politics and art history.

The book (which Picasso tried to block when it was first published in 1964) has recently been re-released by New York Review Books Classics.

Best place to read it? On a Seine river cruise dotted with excursions to take in Picasso’s most famous works of art.

Bike in France. Cycling the country was at the centre of this non fiction summer reads book

On yer bike

Determined to quash all manner of misleading stereotypes about the French, Graham Robb delves deep into history and his own fitness to get to the truth.

In The Discovery of France Robb takes his readers along for a 14,000 mile bike ride through France and French history. On his very own tour de France he gets under the skin of the meaning of what is it to be French today through his unravelling of the origins of a language, culture and landscape we all take for granted. Fixating and thoroughly brilliant if the concept of the real France fascinates you.

Best place to read it? Absolutely anywhere you find yourself in France!

River cruise France Seine Paris

Through the City of Light

Here’s a book not to judge by its cover, because inside is a wonderful excursion behind the scenes of the Paris most of us see when passing through. However one such visitor, Elaine Sciolino, was so enchanted by the river Seine during her time in Paris as a foreign correspondent that it has become a focal point for her settlement in the city and her book, The Seine – The River That Made Paris.

It’s an indulgent dive into the history, source, characters and occupants of this mighty waterway. One we wish we’d got around to reading sooner because once we picked it up, we struggled to put down its fascinating revelations and delightful stories. Don’t just take our word for it, the New York Times review is compelling too.

Best place to read it? On a Champagne cruise tasting the finest bubbles in the world, just like Sciolino did

Now… which of these non fiction summer reads will make it into your suitcase?

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20 best summer reads with a French connection